Superman

Superman

Music Composed & Conducted by John Williams

Orchestrations by Herbert Spencer & Arthur Morton

Produced by Nick Redman & Michael Matessino

Performed by the London Symphony Orchestra

Release Date: 2000

Purchase this 2-CD set at:

     Rhino really knows how to start off the new year on the right foot. It's been a long time since I've seen the film score community so excited by an expanded release. It's all in good reason, though. Williams' Superman score is one of those classics that any serious lover of film music just can't admit that he/she hasn't listened to or owns. Now, Rhino takes that excellent score and puts out the most comprehensive CD set to date, with just about every single piece of music that you could think of being represented here.

     It's not like the fans have been totally starved, however. John Debney and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra did a fine job (though some fans may disagree) on the Varese re-release. Still, this package just towers over the rest due to its unbelievable amount of material. The linear notes are at least twice as thick as the Varese release, and contain a lot of good information as well as a track-by-track analysis of the music. While the Varese set was 2-CDs, both had only a combined running time of approximately eighty minutes. This release pretty much stretches the capacity of both CDs. In addition to just about every single cue that there was in the movie, there is also an abundance of alternate takes and bonus tracks, including an unused pop rendition of Can You Read My Mind with and without lyrics. Sure, the pop version is a scary thing, but you won't find me complaining. Did I also mention you can have the standard orchestra version of that same theme with and without lyrics as well?

     The sound quality, while unable to match that of Debney's version, is probably about the best it will ever be, and that is pretty good for a film from the seventies. It is on par with the special edition releases of the Star Wars Trilogy scores. The restoration was performed very well, and the music doesn't suffer much from the common problems associated with analog transfers.

     Of course, a big debate over this release is how well does the original compare to Varese's version. I have been able to detect several differences between the two, but that is to be expected. If you already have the Debney one, you might want to hold off for a while unless you're an absolutely rabid fan of the score. The sound quality is much better. Though while I thought that it was a solid release, it's still not like the real thing.

     If you don't own any of the Superman releases, now is the time to rectify that void in your collection. This is an excellent release and Rhino is to be commended for such a great job on this one. Now we can all look ahead to the Jaws release! *****

Track Listing - CD 1

1 - Prelude and Title March (5:29)

2 - The Planet Krypton (6:40)

3 - Destruction of Krypton (7:52)

4 - Star Ship Escapes (2:21)

5 - The Trip to Earth (2:28)

6 - Growing Up (2:34)

7 - Death of Jonathan Kent (3:24)

8 - Leaving Home (4:51)

9 - The Fortress of Solitude (9:17)

10 - Welcome to Metropolis (2:11)

11 - Lex Luthor's Lair (4:47)

12 - The Big Rescue (5:55)

13 - Super Crime Fighter (3:20)

14 - Super Rescues (2:13)

15 - Luthor's Luau (2:47)

16 - The Planet Krypton (alternate) (4:24)

17 - Main Title March (alternate) (4:36)

Total Running Time: 75:09

Track Listing - CD 2

1 - Superman March (alternate) (3:48)

2 - The March of the Villains (3:36)

3 - The Terrace (1:34)

4 - The Flying Sequence (8:13)

5 - Lois and Clark (0:50)

6 - Crime of the Century (3:23)

7 - Sonic Greeting (2:21)

8 - Misguided Missiles and Kryptonite (3:26)

9 - Chasing Rockets (4:55)

10 - Superfeats (4:52)

11 - Super Dam and Finding Lois (5:11)

12 - Turning Back the World (2:06)

13 - Finale and End Title March (5:42)

14 - Love Theme from Superman (5:05)

15 - Can You Read My Mind (alternate) (2:58)

16 - The Flying Sequence / Can You Read My Mind (8:10)

17 - Can You Read My Mind (alternate instrumental) (2:56)

18 - Theme from Superman (concert version) (4:24)

Total Running Time: 73:30