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 Posted:   Jan 7, 2013 - 6:01 PM   
 By:   Lokutus   (Member)



CONGO
Composed and Conducted by JERRY GOLDSMITH
INTRADA Special Collection Vol. 220

Jerry Goldsmith took the unusual step of opening the 1995 Paramount film Congo—a high-tech and violent, special effects laden action film—with a song. “Spirit of Africa,” performed by Lebo M, starts the adventure, providing the seed for a long-line adventure melody that plays throughout the score. The approach may seem counter-intuitive—creating a bright and sunny opening for a movie about murderous gorillas, and yet Goldsmith also wrote some of his most ferocious action music of the ‘90s as well. He surrounded the film with a magnificent theme for French horns; a beautiful line for Amy, the gentle gorilla; and the stirring work for orchestra and chorus with Lebo M that frames the score. Peppered throughout are exciting and explosive sequences that give the score a striking edge.

When it came time to selecting highlights for the Epic Soundtrax CD that coincided with the picture’s release in 1995, Goldsmith left off much of this exciting action music. In fact, he selected approximately 25 minutes of the score, framing the 33-minute album with “Spirit Of Africa,” just as he did the film. Absent were the propulsive “Meet Monroe Kelly,” the brief but intense “The Eye,” the riveting “Amy Has Bad Dreams” and, perhaps the most aggressive cue, “Help Me." The use of music in Congo was altered during postproduction more extensively than usual, but compliments of Paramount, Intrada had access to the complete unedited sessions, allowing for the inclusion of every re-scored or deleted sequence.

The film follows a high-tech expedition searching for a missing group that was testing a diamond-powered communications laser in the rain forests of Congo in Africa -- the previous group having been decimated by mysterious, unknown creatures. Accompanied by the gorilla Amy (trained to speak in sign language), the explorers travel to the ancient city of Zinj and after they too come under attack, they discover that mutant, albino gorillas—bred specifically to guard Zinj’s diamond riches—now slay any humans that trespass on their city.

INTRADA Special Collection Vol. 220
Retail Price: $19.99
Available Now
For track listing and sound samples, please visit
http://store.intrada.com/s.nl/it.A/id.7956/.f

 
 Posted:   Jan 7, 2013 - 6:03 PM   
 By:   Solium   (Member)

Instant buy! Great way to start the new year.

 
 
 Posted:   Jan 7, 2013 - 6:05 PM   
 By:   jwb   (Member)

Glad it was this and not DEEP RISING.

 
 
 Posted:   Jan 7, 2013 - 6:07 PM   
 By:   MikeP   (Member)

Gotta say, that was just unexpected. Wow. Doug was right, the original album was skimpy on score ( not counting the 10 minute final track which I've never warmed to ) .

Not bad at all.

 
 Posted:   Jan 7, 2013 - 6:10 PM   
 By:   JohnnyG   (Member)

Jan 5, 2013 - 2:45 AM

... and what about Congo for the first release?

Thus spoke JohnnyG!...

CONGO!
YES!!

 
 Posted:   Jan 7, 2013 - 6:11 PM   
 By:   Maleficio   (Member)

One of my favorite Goldsmith scores!

 
 
 Posted:   Jan 7, 2013 - 6:11 PM   
 By:   jfallon   (Member)

Purchased. Quickly. Awesome.

 
 Posted:   Jan 7, 2013 - 6:13 PM   
 By:   bdm   (Member)

Gladly ordered - thanks Doug and crew!

 
 
 Posted:   Jan 7, 2013 - 6:15 PM   
 By:   ScottDS   (Member)

Hell yes! My guiltiest of guilty pleasure movies... what a nice way to start off 2013. big grin

Thanks and ordered.

 
 
 Posted:   Jan 7, 2013 - 6:15 PM   
 By:   Michael24   (Member)

Hell yeah! Perfect timing, because I've got left over birthday/Christmas money. "Meet Monroe Kelly" has been one of my most-wanted tracks, from any score, for a long time.

And since I'm not seeing anything between track 24 and 25, I'm guessing the music heard during the survivors' escape, as the city is destroyed, was just tracked? I always thought it sounded like its own cue, but maybe the sound mix masked that for me.

 
 Posted:   Jan 7, 2013 - 6:27 PM   
 By:   Buscemi   (Member)

The sesame cake's on Doug! ; )

 
 
 Posted:   Jan 7, 2013 - 6:28 PM   
 By:   Michael24   (Member)

The sesame cake's on Doug! ; )

LOL!

 
 Posted:   Jan 7, 2013 - 6:29 PM   
 By:   Solium   (Member)


And since I'm not seeing anything between track 24 and 25, I'm guessing the music heard during the survivors' escape, as the city is destroyed, was just tracked? I always thought it sounded like its own cue, but maybe the sound mix masked that for me.


Could it be the bonus cue "The Collapsed City"?

 
 
 Posted:   Jan 7, 2013 - 6:49 PM   
 By:   Michael24   (Member)


And since I'm not seeing anything between track 24 and 25, I'm guessing the music heard during the survivors' escape, as the city is destroyed, was just tracked? I always thought it sounded like its own cue, but maybe the sound mix masked that for me.


Could it be the bonus cue "The Collapsed City"?


I didn't even notice that until I took a second look at the track list. If that's the music in question, I wonder why it's included as a bonus cue.

 
 Posted:   Jan 7, 2013 - 6:57 PM   
 By:   soop.broth   (Member)

That cover art is STUNNING!!!

 
 Posted:   Jan 7, 2013 - 7:37 PM   
 By:   IWalkAmongYou   (Member)

This is so much better than the Goldsmith titles I'd been expecting.

Ordered instantly!

Let there be no further debate when Doug refers to THE master of action film music (ha!).

 
 Posted:   Jan 7, 2013 - 7:40 PM   
 By:   Jeff Bond   (Member)

The album is worth it for "Meet Monroe Kelly" alone--one of my long-sought-after tracks too. And yes, most of the climax in the movie was tracked.

 
 
 Posted:   Jan 7, 2013 - 7:42 PM   
 By:   scrapsly   (Member)

This has been my most wanted expanded and remastered Goldsmith title. This is an awesome looking cover. I enjoy the movie too. Now if only Congo could make the jump to Blu-Ray.

 
 Posted:   Jan 7, 2013 - 7:42 PM   
 By:   The Mutant   (Member)

OOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ordered

 
 
 Posted:   Jan 7, 2013 - 7:56 PM   
 By:   Michael24   (Member)

ORDERED!

Can't stop listening to the "Meet Monroe Kelly" sample.

 
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