Music from the Films of Stanley Kubrick

Silva Screen Records

Music Composed by Various Artists

Produced by James Fitzpatrick, Nic Raine, and Gerald Fried

Release Date: 1999

     Anyone who has every read anything about the late director Stanley Kubrick as to agree with one thing: he was surely an eccentric bird. From his love affair with mono sound, shunning stereo and surround formats, to his sometimes quirky music selections, Kubrick has managed to garner quite a reputation. And the famous director’s musical choices is what this CD celebrates with selections from every single movie that he directed (with the exception of the just released Eyes Wide Shut). 

     While I am fully supportive of Kubrick’s move to incorporate just classical music into his sci-fi epic 2001: A Space Odyssey (though he should’ve at least given some respect to Alex North), most of the music from his most recent movies are highly questionable. The most disturbing aspect is the heavy use of electronics for Full Metal Jacket and The Shining. While Also Sprach Zarathustra and On the Beautiful Blue Danube are performed excellently by the City of Prague Philharmonic, most of the remaining tracks are at best average, and at their worst are absolutely horrid. Take Ode to Joy from A Clockwork Orange for example. It’s about the closest thing you’ll ever hear to C-3P0 from Star Wars singing. It is performed totally on electronics and is really bad. I understand that it was used in the context of a future society, but listening to it in the middle of 1999 left me cringing. And joy above all joy, it goes on for a tad over five-and-a-half minutes.

     Gerald Fried’s music for some of Kubrick’s earlier films is more listenable, as is the music from Barry Lyndon, but it’s nothing really noteworthy. Other than 2001: A Space Odyssey, I liked the two tracks from Dr. Strangelove. The music really compliments the underlying message of that film.

     The only reason I can think of having this compilation is if you are a rabid Kubrick fan or if you want certain tracks that can’t be found anywhere else. Avoid this one especially if you hate electronic music, as there is a lot on this CD to offend your sensibilities. **

Track Listing

1 - 2001: A Space Odyssey - Also Sprach Zarathustra (1:48)

2 - Spartacus - Main Title (3:41)

3 - A Clockwork Orange - Ode to Joy (5:35)

4 - Barry Lyndon - Woman of Ireland (4:31)

5 - Barry Lyndon - Sarabande (4:07)

6 - Full Metal Jacket - Themes (5:15)

7 - Full Metal Jacket - "Surfin' Bird" (2:22)

8 - The Killing - Main Title/The Robbery (4:51)

9 - Killer's Kiss - Murder 'mongst the Mannikins (3:30)

10 - Fear and Desire - A Meditation on War (5:52)

11 - Fear and Desire - Madness (3:47)

12 - Paths of Glory - The Patrol (2:51)

13 - Day of the Fight - March of the Gloved Gladiators (3:04)

14 - The Shining - Theme (2:54)

15 - The Shining - "Midnight, The Stars and You" (3:29)

16 - Lolita - Love Theme (4:34)

17 - 2001: A Space Odyssey - On the Beautiful Blue Danube (10:05)

18 - Dr. Strangelove - The Bomb Run (2:12)

19 - Dr. Strangelove - "We'll Meet Again" (3:05)

Total Running Time: 78:01