Get both - the Tadlow has voicings & harmony I never heard, until I went back to the OST & found them buried. The blu ray is amazing. The Music Box is just a beautiful package all around.
It's great to hear both the original recording and Tadlow's interpretation of Herrmann's work.
I prefer many of Tadlow's tracks over the original recording, including: "Prelude", "Sandra", "New Orleans" and "The Plane". There are elements of the score that stand out in Tadlow's recording that I just can't pick up in the original recording. I'm not sure if it's due to the quality of the original tracks or the lack of emphasis in the actual recording.
As Mr. Herrmann said, "There’s no one performance of a piece that can ever reveal the whole piece... It’s not finished. It goes on and on and on. Each performance reveals something new about it again." That's true with Tadlow's recording.
I have both recordings. At present I prefer the Music Box release of the original tracks. It should be understandable because this is the version I've heard since the film's theatrical release. It will take several listenings to really digest both versions. The same occurs when one listens to multiple recordings of the same symphony or concerto. There will be moments when the re-recording blows me away and vice versa. This is the nature of classical music.
I suppose I prefer the original (Music Box), because that has been the only performance we've had of the score since its theatrical release in 1976, until now. The Tadlow reveals some notes, instrumentation, and shadings that I haven't heard in the score before, which is a treat in itself. I believe that true lovers of OBSESSION could make room for a copy of each CD in their collections (although I'm not trying to be argumentative with anybody). This has been a stellar year!
I have and treasure both, but the Tadlow on blu-ray is just astounding. The Music Box release is a must for archival and historical value, not to mention it sounds infinitely better than it had been feared it might. Music Box did wonders with those old tapes. Plus the liner notes are great (have not read Tadlow's yet).
OK, so if I have the Tadlow AND the Phase 4 LP, how much do I really need the Music Box version? I mean, I love Herrmann, but I love lots of stuff, and I can justify buying things only so many times.
