Intrada Soundtrack Forum

After seeing the DVD recently of this movie, it's apparent that the LP program released by MCA Records in the mid-70's was a re-recording (as was the case with other MCA albums at the time derived from Williams scores, such as JAWS and EARTHQUAKE). As far as I know this program was digitally transferred by Varese over 30 years ago. Sadly the sonics on this album (as with a number of MCA orchestral film score recordings at the time) is disappointing, to say the least. As there is some music missing from the LP program, might we be encouraged to hope for a CD containing both the original tracks (which may have better sound quality) and the LP program (which was somewhat reworked for the album)?

What's your source on that? I watch things pretty closely and I've never seen anyone share that Williams is actually opposed to an Eiger Sanction expansion with a premiere of the film recording. At most I've seen speculation.

In contrast Mike Mattesino shared that he opposes a release of Sugarland Express, and Roger here told us that he shut down their releases of Story of a Woman and The Rare Breed (I think...I may have mixed it up with The Plainsman, his other 60s western score at Universal). When The Eiger Sanction was brought up as a suggestion in a podcast with Mike Mattesino last year, he didn't say anything about Williams being opposed to a release, just that it wasn't currently on the docket.

Yavar

"As far as the old MCA releases back then, yes the sound is disappointing but they didn't have the technology we have today and it wasn't until the late 70's, that sound did sound much greater thanks to the advent of digital recording and mixing."

I don't know if the comment above was specifically about MCA's 1970's orchestral soundtrack releases, or vinyl orchestral soundtracks in general at the time. If the latter, this is a massive generalization. The trouble with MCA, is they didn't know how to render orchestral soundtracks on disc, when they should have been treated as classical recordings. It's hard to say whether the problem was with the recording or the mixing. However there are numerous classical recordings of the time which are sonically stunning. As typical of the time (i.e. before the advent of specialist soundtrack labels) people who listened to orchestral movie scores were regarded as somewhat suspect by mainstream record labels. In fact, one reviewer spoke to a British record executive in the early '70's, and was told that the people who bought these recordings, didn't care what was on them! We should be eternally grateful to labels like Intrada for treating us, and the music itself, with the respect merited. (Just a last word on MCA soundtracks of the '70's: there were a few which did have decent sound quality, such as MacARTHUR and SWASHBUCKLER. But I do recall one reviewer's comment on MCA's release of RICH MAN, POOR MAN: that he'd heard better sound on LPs recorded 20 years earlier!)

To all those on this site who scoffed at the prospect of an expanded edition when I raised it, never underestimate the potential for realizing the most unlikely project. (Personally I thought if it was realized, it would be by La-La Land and their Universal Pictures Film Music Heritage Collection series, so well done Intrada.)