Intrada Soundtrack Forum

While I understand that if the score is not your cup of tea that this release seems a bit excessive, but for those of us who have waited all of our lives for this, it's only fitting. I do feel that it would have been nice for them, given the current economy, to have done two editions, maybe 2000 of the box set, 3000 of the first three discs, but I'd have gone with the deluxe edition anyway. It's Spartacus.

Well, I believe in expanded score CDs, but to have 2 extra CDs of interpretation
of the Love Theme From Spartacus, is ridiculous! Why could they not have had
some of the performers pick different cues/pieces from the score.
Jerry Goldsmith is, always has been and always will be my favorite composer
(it helps that I met him at two of his concerts and he was an amazing man),
but I would never buy 2 CDS of the Theme from GREMLINS or any other
of his themes performed by various performers. I would be like putting
on a CD picking one song and pressing repeat and then listening to it for the
next 2 hours straight!
I went back and looked to see who all the performers where on Disc 5 and 6
of Spartacus to see how many I would even like to listen to (I have listened
to the samples they have let us listen to) and I think I would say maybe 3.
Only one of the ones I listened to on-line was interesting.

You say it was a no brainer, because it is SPARTACUS. Well, to me it is a
good score but there are a lot more scores that are better than this and I
grew up with SPARTACUS.

You will always have those customers that complain about not long enough,
too long, mono/stereo, digipack/jewel case, liner notes/no liner notes, not the
way it was in the movie, too expensive, etc...you know you can add even more
to this list, but you get the idea.

I am a film score fan/listener. I am in it for the music as close to the original
as possible and I understand when things happen when the original stereo master
are gone and we have to settle with the mono, so what, we have the music,
it has been released. Star Trek DE, missing the choir, yes, I was upset, but we
now have most of the music. Thankful for SPARTACUS, yes, but wish it was just
the score without the extra stuff and a 1/3 of the price!

But for now, let those who really want the Deluxe Spartacus Set be happy!

Agreed.
Why not devote one of those dics to a dvd-a 5.1 presentation of the stereo score cd.
Guess it makes too much sense

Well, everyone should go over to the Varese website and read what
Robert Townson says about all the uproar about the SPARTACUS
CD Set - size-wise and price-wise!

Townson said that if he had not included the 2 CDs (disc 5+6) the price
would have only dropped $10? Well, he does not say what would have
happened if they did not include Disc 5+6, the DVD and the 160+ book!
Lukas Kendall said once on the FSM message board that the books are
expensive!!

All I have to say is with his statement:
"People who wanted a $10 or $20 Spartacus have had one of those for
five decades! But when even a new pair of jeans or a nice shirt can
pretty easily set you back $100 or more, I was very comfortable with
where our pricing ended up on this."

First, I can still live with my $15 Spartacus CD that I bought many years ago.

Second, I do not have to have designer jeans or shirts. I live in the Midwest
and a good pair of jeans or a good shirt cost anywhere from $10-$20 and they
work for me! So, the $100 jeans in CA, doesn't mean that we have to pay it!

I about crapped my pants last week when we just put a new muffler on our
1999 Plymouth Voyager Minivan (with over 150,000 miles) and it cost $400!!!
I guess I would prefer to put the $110 for the Spartacus CD toward the safety
of our children to protect them from carbon monoxide poisoning.

Price does matter with a lot of things, so if it is too expensive then it will
be passed on, sorry.

Now I am one for expanded/complete scores that hit often might the 2 disc range, like Back to the Future, Star Trek III, and the upcoming Poltergeist release from FSM, but I find this Spartacus release to be a bit excessive.

2 discs just for variations of the same two themes?

I'd rather just have the first couple CDs at a much cheaper price range. Maybe even the DVD as well.

Wow. Maybe you should post this over on the FSM board? Seems like you'd fit right in. Me, I gleefully plonked down for the "Spartacus" set immediately so I obviously hate kids.

Okay, you seriously have no problem with paying $110 for one score?
I am not the only one here that thinks this release has way too many extras
that are not needed to enjoy the score as written by Alex North. Yes, Mr.
Townson explained why they did what they did, but it is hard to believe that
the 2 CDs of interpretations, if not included would only drop the price by $10!
If the book is anything like all the rest of Varese's inserts, 90% of it will be pictures,
so if I wanted to see the pictures I would watch the movie again!
As I stated before, the books can be expensive, so my guess and it is only a guess,
since Mr. Townson did not say anything about how much the set would be if the
book and the DVD were not included, probably doubled the price of the set!

Why pay that price for something you are only going to listen to half of it?
I am not a jazz fan so the jazz interpretation the the Spartacus Love Theme
will never be played.

I used our kids as an example and gives me a way to justify spending that much
money on one thing. The van we use everyday, so it was needing to be fixed.
This CD set will not be used everyday, so I can not justify paying the price!
Besides, my wife knows I love film scores and movies, but I know she would
go ape, if she saw this and knew how much it costs! That would cost me more!

Not for "Spartacus", no. The only other music I can imagine paying that much for would be a properly scrubbed and snazzed-up multi-disc release of Vyacheslav Ovchinnikov's music for Bondarchuk's masterful film version of "War and Peace", but I can't see that happening any time soon. To establish a frame of reference, the most I've ever spent on a single score was $50 for John Scott's score for "The Deceivers" and I've never regretted a penny of it. But, then, I'm something of a John Scott fan.


So... what are you saying? That he's lying about it? Why would he break his long-established habit of not engaging with the frothing, rabid masses to make up stuff? I really don't understand your point - you're saying either too much or too little.


I get it, you're quite clear on this point. You're not interested in the book because you know what it's gonna be in advance and you don't like it. Understood. Why do you feel the need to justify not buying this thing?


Do we know they're all jazz interpretations? I was not under that impression. Sorry if this offends you, but I'm dying to hear what Desplat's 12-flute incarnation of the theme sounds like. What on earth might Brian Tyler have done with it, I wonder? Christopher Young?? Nathan Barr or Patrick Doyle???? You really wouldn't EVER listen to these, not even once, because of some principle? Seems kinda silly to me, but if it helps you sleep at night, go nuts.


Sounds like there's too much about the set that pisses you off so why you're still considering shelling out for it is a mystery to me. Don't buy it, be secure in your conviction that you're smarter than all of us suckers, put on some nice music, and enjoy life.

Are you expecting ME to justify why I AM buying it? I'm not sure it's any of your damn' business, but I'll play. I'm not married, have no kids, my car's running fine *touch wood*, and I'm currently gainfully employed *touches wood again*. My mother's eye surgery went just fine, even though she's a bit miffed at the doctor for not being quite as clear about what she could expect as he might have been, and my aunt's second knee replacement seems to be settling in nicely - financially they're independent of me anyway, so it's not like I'm depriving family members of anything at all by indulging myself this way - sorry to disappoint you.

As I've said, I'm keen to hear what Townson's cooked up for us on the two discs of interpretations - he's a clever fellow and I've yet to regret trusting his taste in these matters. I am something of a jazz guy, so even if they were all jazz treatments, I'd still be keen to give them a try. On a side note, it seems like all the naysayers are willfully misunderstanding what these two discs are. It's not like we're getting two dozen identical groups of musicians playing the same arrangement of the tune over and over again. Has anyone actually listened to the samples? Sounds like Startracks has, but anyone else? If those curdle your eardrums (even McNeely's?? Really???) and you have no interest in hearing what such a diverse collection of talented musicians come up with when turned loose on Alex North's deceptively simple tune, then I hope someday something happens to restore your sense of adventure. You'll live longer and happier.

The disc of alternates and preliminaries I can take or leave. I tend not to get as much out of this sort of thing as I probably should. However, unlike most people decrying this release, I do not begrudge others who enjoy this sort of musical archaeology the chance to have this material. The mono tracks I have no problem with so I guess I need to start wearing my pants backwards or something? (Someone who followed the thread on the FSM board please chime in if they understand that particular point - I wouldn't want to infringe on their sensibilities any more than I already am by wearing my trousers inappropriately.)

Unlike the posse over at FSM who's decided that Townson has withheld the complete stereo tracks for nefarious reasons of his own or decided to slack off and not bother with them for this box set, I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt and assume that he's giving us what he can give us. True, he's nothing like as forthcoming as the Intrada guys or the FSM guys regarding these matters, but I've been more than satisfied with his past accomplishments - certainly enough to refrain from throwing rocks at the man until I've experienced the "Spartacus" set as more than a press release.


Then I don't see the problem. If you're happy with what you have, you're streets ahead of most people, don't you think?

**Later**

Ooops! Forgot about the DVD! Sounds just great to me. It's one thing to pretend I can detect influences in composers' work, but quite another to hear their thoughts on a universally admired figure as Alex North. I haven't seen the documentary yet, but unlike everyone who has decided that it's gonna suck, I'd rather give it a look before declaring that I will never EVER watch it again. Call me Pollyanna, but why on earth everyone is so keen to believe the worst of this spectacular-seeming "Spartacus" set is beyond me. My only "down" thought about it is that it's too bad Jerry Goldsmith dropped off the twig before he could take part in this.

Okay, I agree with most of what you said the rest I will agree that I disagree.

Lets do some math, 5,000 at $110.00 = $550,000. $50,000 (or $10 per set) of
that is what the cost on the 2 CDs of interpretations according to Townson. You have
25 (I counted them, except I lumped Eric Stern, London Symphony Orchestra as one,
along with The Ramsey Lewis Trio as one), that is $2000 a performer/performing
group for their song. Is that possible? I do not see Varese getting some of the rights
to some of those for that price. Some would be higher priced, which would make some
lower priced and I guess you could say some might have just performed free to be
included in the set. Something to think about I guess, because we will never know.

I would like to listen to Desplat's, Doyle's, Tyler's and Edelman's. I would love to hear
what Christopher Young could do with it, but too bad he is only of the DVD for an
interview. I have listened to all of the ones that on on the Vareses web link and I like
Debney's, but until I hear the rest non-jazz cues I will remain quiet.

I am sorry, I upset you so bad, but it seems like this was more of a pet project for Townson
than for a release for the common soundtrack listener or collector. Yes, it is a piece of art
and art is sometimes pricey, but I will not be buying this watermelon or should I say,
"I will not buy this new pair of $100 jeans!!"

If you've been at the FSM board, you're all quite aware that the negative response is not isolated. It's not a few sour apples. I don't do a lot of complaining about this stuff. To me, it's all about the music in the best form I can get it because I enjoy listening.

Spartacus is a release that MANY of us have wanted in as a complete a form as possible in a legal and legitimate fashion. Putting aside the typical complaints that emerge after almost every release -- missing tracks, program order, stereo vs. mono, liner notes, packaging, etc -- given the degree to which it's been coveted, it is not unreasonable to understand why many of us are responding this way. It is a release that deserves respect and class, but it is also one that deserves to be heard by even those with limited means. By having no economy version of the complete score without the bells and whistles, it has reasonably created a level of disappointment, disenchantment, disgust and even disenfranchisement for some of us. There was no "save your dough for Spartacus will have a high ticket price". Out of the blue we go from the typical release in the $20-40 range for a special multi-disc edition to a price that is typically reserved for a collection of releases (as opposed to a single score). It feels elitist and greedy.

I'm thrilled for those of you able to get it. I'm admittedly envious. But I can't help my disappointment and not having the ability to obtain this music without making a major investment that could go toward 5 or more other releases.

I don't think this is an indefensible position to take. It's not whining. It's not an attack on anybody. It's just a fact that I happen to feel pretty strongly about.

AMEN! I wish I could have said it that way, ignore my ramblings and re-read this one over and over and over!

Well, the complete score is mono & it's ridiculously expensive, so no interest from me at all, but it's been worth it for those epic & very bad tempered threads over at FSM.

People are now asking, "Why is everyone getting so worked up about
the price of the Spartacus 6 CD set, when these same people paid for
the FSM Superman 8 CD box set!"

Not to hard to figure out!!

Spartacus, let see CD 1-4 has has the Spartacus score stereo, mono
and alternative and unused cues, CD 5-6 are interpretations of the
love theme. But the set has a DVD included. There is also a 168 page
book, but with Varese's previous lack of liner notes, what could fill up
those pages except for pictures! (Look at what they did with Star Trek DE)

Superman Box set - CD 1-2 covers Superman, CD 3 covers Superman II,
CD 4 covers Superman III, CD 5-6 covers Superman IV, CD 7 covers
Superman the Animated Series and CD 8 covers additional alternatives,
source cues and songs from the movie. This set comes with a 160 page
book that covers each score!!

So, to those who are comparing the two, stop and look, but do not compare.
THERE IS NO COMPARISION!! 5 scores in one box beats 1 score for about
the same price.

When I read that people were comparing this, it made me think, but not too long,
I am still not sold on this release of Spartacus and keep my 1 STEREO CD of
Spartacus until someone releases the complete score in a 3 CD set. Watch
Varese will release the 3 CD set down the road sometime.

I just got through my first listen of this (ALL of it) and I'm SO glad I didn't listen to the naysayers! Every second of it is worth every penny for me. My preferred presentation of the score would be the two discs of mono tracks, 'cuz of all the stuff I've never been able to hear on its own before. Also, there's something odd going on with the stereo imaging on the first disc that I'm not technically savvy enough to articulate, but in the notes Robert Townson mentions having to deal with an unfortunate amount of reverb that the record company had applied to their masters so it could be a symptom of that.

The kvetching about the two tribute discs comes across as particularly mean spirited and pointless now that I've actually heard them. I wouldn't have minded a third disc. If I had to single out the interpretations that really sang to me it would be Desplat's 12-flute version, Mark Isham's eerie trumpet-led soundscape that flutters around North's theme, Terry Callier's vocal and guitar version, Diego Navarro's delightfully surprising tango version, and of course Bill Evans' classic triple piano improv. **LATER** Gábor Szabó's version is quite wonderful too, on second listen.** Ask me in a week and I'll probably have a different list. Most fascinating was listening to the VERY different solo piano interpretations of Dave Grusin, Patrick Doyle, and Randy Edelman.

The DVD's quite nice too. Very much a love-fest but there's nothing wrong with that. Hearing John Williams, Lalo Schifrin, Christopher Young, Brian Tyler (TOTAL fanboy!), Alexandre Desplat (French fanboy!), David Newman (Newman fanboy!) and the rest enthusing about Alex North and this score made FINALLY getting this music after all these years even sweeter. Maybe it could've been about ten minutes shorter, but you're certainly not going to hear me complain about getting too much of a good thing.

I missed the Mark Isham video that was up very briefly on YouTube last spring that shows him working with his guys on his version of the love theme, but it's on the DVD as well. Found it fascinating. Those that hate jazz or Mark Isham or are unwilling to contemplate the love theme without a massive string section aren't going to like this either, of course, but those willing to experiment a little might just find their horizons broadened. There's a performance video with Diego Navarro's guys doing the tango version he came up with and it only reinforced how much I dig this take on things. Nice interview with him as well. I don't know that every classic soundtrack needs this sort of treatment, but I'm glad this one got it.

Oh! I haven't read all of the book yet, but it looks to contain a potted history of the film, extensive track-by-track analysis, and other stuff. So they naysayers confidently predicting a hundred pages of photographs can go suck eggs.

Well, just got back from a much needed vacation, to find 2 packages
from Intrada and 1 from La-La Land. I will be visiting my friends home
tomorrow to listen to his Spartacus Box set. He is holding off listening
to the whole set until I am over there so we can discuss it. He has
listened to the 2 CDs of the Love Theme variations and has offered them to
me, I passed. He put it in his stack of CDs he will be listing here is a few
days on eBay. He has since put his original CD in the box set where the
variation CDs was. He listened to it and said there are a few interesting
interpretations of the theme, but nothing beats the original! Saying that
some of them were actually unlistenable, but would not give names of composers.
I might have to skim through it, but I still believe it was unnecessary.
So, I will have to wait until tomorrow to give my ratings of the set!