And a 3-CD set too. This really tops the previous Warner release that FSM carried quite a while ago. If you call yourself a film music fan, this really belongs in your collection!
"For its 250th (and final) release, Film Score Monthly wanted to do something special. Founder Lukas Kendall chose a personal favorite—a brilliant film by an inspired director with a stunning score by a gifted composer—as a fitting capstone for fifteen years of work in the soundtrack field.
Sam Peckinpah’s revisionist western, The Wild Bunch (1969) stands as one of the great films—a rare piece of Hollywood genre filmmaking in which a singular vision fuses all the technical and creative components into genuine art. The film’s powerful, Oscar-nominated score is arguably the greatest accomplishment of its composer, Jerry Fielding.
From the outset, Peckinpah wanted a score departing from Hollywood tradition. Fielding delivered in spades, with colorful, effective music that, to some extent, counterbalances the stark violence of the film and directly exposes the heart of Peckinpah’s characters. He evokes the Mexican setting by integrating popular folk tunes of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries into his score, while passages of action and suspense are shot through with lopsided, asymmetrical meters. Complex and edgy, Fielding’s score pays homage to his models while creating a brave new sound world for a new kind of western.
Film Score Monthly’s deluxe 3CD presentation of The Wild Bunch includes the complete score, sourced from studio masters; a re-mastering of the 1969 soundtrack album; plus extensive alternates, demo recordings and additional music. The 20-page booklet (designed by FSM’s art director Joe Sikoryak) includes informative liner notes by Lukas Kendall and John Takis. Additional notes (including a track-by-track commentary by Takis) are available online."
Wow, it comes to an end, what a fantastic run! An easy pass for me as I already have the extended version, I wouldn't mind the album version as I sold mine, but at $35 plus all that postage to the UK I won't bother.
Wow, it comes to an end, what a fantastic run! An easy pass for me as I already have the extended version, I wouldn't mind the album version as I sold mine, but at $35 plus all that postage to the UK I won't bother.
Alan, Perhaps we can work something out? I have to reclaim that tenner somehow!
Oh this is so ordered, one of my all time favourite western soundtracks.
I'll pass on this one. I already have a previous release and to be honest, I rarely listen to it. Just a personal taste thing for me. I could never get into Jerry Fielding's music. Everybody keeps telling me how great he was, but every time I listen to his music, it leaves me mostly unengaged emotionally. I do like The Outlaw Josey Wales though. Be that as it may for those Fielding fans out there, knock yourself out and enjoy.
I think all of us goofball film music fans out here owe Lukas Kendall a round of hazzahs. We take so much for granted. We whine and complain over the most inane nonsense. I wouldn't have blamed him if he told us to kicks rocks years ago. Yet he has been the consummate professional and made possible releases many of us thought would never be available. Thank you Mr. Kendall for 250 jobs well done.
Give yourself some time. Lay on the beach with a Mai Tai listening to some Goldsmith.
