One of my favorite Goldsmith CDs is Disc 2 of the Goldsmith at Fox box set, primarily because of the generous samples of his scores to Westerns. I really like the main themes for Rio Conchos and Take a Hard Ride. Bad Girls is pretty exciting too.
What are the other essential Goldsmith Westerns? The only other one I have is One Little Indian. thanks
Check out his theme to Hollister. You can download it for free at That Goldsmith fan site (I forgot the name) It's my favorite Goldsmith western theme. I once listened to it on repeat for half an hour.
Also check out: Wild Rovers and Hour of the Gun.
There's nothing better than playing Red Dead Redemption with a custom in-game playlist of Goldsith westerns.
Jerry Goldsmith was the best at westerns for me because they all more or less failed. If he had had a major successful western they would have requested he repeat like Elmer Bernstein with THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN or Ennio Morricone with the "Dollar westerns". But since none of his westerns were hits they all sound different, almost totally unlike each other. He has the best set of western scores because nobody ever told him "give me another RIO CONCHOS."
They're all great--and you can also throw in Breakheart Pass and even High Velocity and Breakout, both of which have the feel of a lot of Goldsmith's western writing.
For my money Jerry and Elmer were the best at western scores.
Goldsmith's:
Lonely Are the Brave Rio Conchos Rio Lobo The Loner (TV) Stagecoach Breakheart Pass Hollister (theme only) Black Saddle (theme only) Wild Rovers Take A Hard Ride 100 Rifles The Ballad Cable Hogue Bandolero One Little Indian Bad Girls Hour of the Gun
The three others he wrote are The Red Pony (TV), Black Patch and Face of a Fugitive, but they have not been released.
For my money Jerry and Elmer were the best at western scores.
Goldsmith's:
Lonely Are the Brave Rio Conchos Rio Lobo The Loner (TV) Stagecoach Breakheart Pass Hollister (theme only) Black Saddle (theme only) Wild Rovers Take A Hard Ride 100 Rifles The Ballad Cable Hogue Bandolero One Little Indian Bad Girls Hour of the Gun
The three others he wrote are The Red Pony (TV), Black Patch and Face of a Fugitive, but they have not been released.
Don't forget Goldsmith's harmonica music for the "Dust" episode of THE TWILIGHT ZONE...
