Psycho

Varese Sarabande

Music Composed by Bernard Herrmann

Conducted by Joel McNeely

Performed by the Royal Scottish National Orchestra

Produced by Robert Townson

Release Date: 1997

 

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     This has got to be the creepiest score I have ever listened to. Especially considering that the first time I listened to it all the way through was at night while I was all by myself. Very, very eerie. But that's is what makes this score work so well in the context of the film. Herrmann made an excellent choice in using strings like he did. The effect is very unnerving and uncomfortable. This re-recording, conducted by Joel McNeely, consists of excellent quality and lots of tracks. I can't compare how this release compares to Herrmann original scoring, but I could detect no differences between the movie version and this album. That doesn't mean they don't exist though, just that I couldn't hear any MAJOR differences.

     My biggest complaint with this lends itself to the very nature of the movie it is representing. This is not a feel-good score by any means and it's not one that I would listen to very often (or at night by myself!).  Still, this is a classic horror score and one that no collector should be without. *****

Track Listing

1 - Prelude (1:55)

2 - The City (2:12)

3 - Marion (1:36)

4 - Marion and Sam (1:52)

5 - Temptation (2:51)

6 - Flight (1:07)

7 - Patrol Car (1:04)

8 - The Car Lot (1:45)

9 - The Package (1:31)

10 - The Rainstorm (3:09)

11 - Hotel Room (2:04)

12 - The Window (1:13)

13 - The Parlor (1:37)

14 - The Madhouse (1:54)

15 - The Peephole (3:00)

16 - The Bathroom (1:02)

17 - The Murder (1:03)

18 - The Body (0:15)

19 - The Office (1:20)

20 - The Curtain (1:15)

 

21 - The Water (1:46)

22 - The Car (0:52)

23 - Cleanup (2:14)

24 - The Swamp (2:03)

25 - The Search (0:41)

26 - The Shadow (0:50)

27 - Phone Booth (0:53)

28 - The Porch (1:04)

29 - The Stairs (2:58)

30 - The Knife (0:27)

31 - The Search (B) (1:39)

32 - The First Floor (2:44)

33 - Cabin 10 (1:07)

34 - Cabin 1 (1:05)

35 - The Hill (1:03)

36 - The Bedroom (0:59)

37 - The Toys (1:01)

38 - The Cellar (1:06)

39 - Discovery (0:41)

40 - Finale (1:32)

Total Running Time: 60:53