Congo
Jerry Goldsmith
" Not as good as that other Ape music he's written, but enjoyable nonetheless "Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the regular release
The rather silly but enjoyable Saturday afternoon film Congo (directed by Frank Marshall) was not what you'd call high art, but it did feature a promising cast (Laura Linney, Ernie Hudson, Tim Curry) and a typical fun score by master of this genre Jerry Goldsmith. What would be forgettable fore for most of today's composers is still more than entertaining standard craftsmanship from Jerry Goldsmith. So entertaining, Intrada re released an expanded, improved and remastered version of it this January. Reason enough for us to go back in time and re experience it again.
The highlights of the original album are still of course on board. The Lebo M song that opens and closes the disc, the main theme of the score, Goldsmith's often thrilling action music, nothing is left behind. On the contrary, the addition of some 20 minutes (plus 10 of bonus material) makes the listen an entirely new one. The biggest realization is of course the fact you hear the themes of Goldsmith a lot more at work. Versions of Goldsmith's main theme in "Zinj", "Crossing the Border", "Deep Jungle - Picture" and "The Rapids" are now extensively used, so is the theme for Amy the gorilla that brings back a fond memory of the baby theme (of Baby: Secret of the Lost Legend) in "Meet Amy" and "We Are Watching" to name but a few.
And then there's Goldsmith's action music, something most composers of today don't know jack of. Hence the reason why even a 'small' action cue called "Meet Monroe Kelly" provides more rhythm than an entire action score of today. The already released "Bail Out" (holding that soaring main theme version at the end) or the unreleased "Help Me" (that holds the same intense giant spider music of King Solomon's Mines) show much more promise in the end. The percussive intensity of "Amy's Nightmare" and the thrilling delight of the main theme in action mode in "Kahega" are of course keepers, so is the extended main, Amy and song theme of Lebo M in "Amy's Farewell / Spirit of Africa / End Credits".
The biggest joke comes however from the board of the Golden Raspberry Awards, nominating Jerry Goldsmith's theme (or better said Lebo M's theme) for worst Original song. Make of it what you will, but calling Jerry Goldsmith's music worthy for a Golden Raspberry is like admitting you don't know jack of music. That is not to say this is one of the best that Jerry unleashed in his career. Because it's not. However, like every single score of him there's inventiveness, themes and a bunch of thoroughly enjoyable action cues in what is essentially a score that didn't need an expanded edition (except for save the die hard fans who want every minute released).
Congo (1995 release) ***
Congo Complete (2013 release) ***
Favorite Moment - Kahega (1.47 - 2.15)
Always a thrill in a Jerry Goldsmith score, the action version of the main theme
Track Listing
1. Spirit of Africa / The Expedition * (2.42)
2. Zinj (1.17)
3. The Eye (0.24)
4. Meet Amy (2.43)
5. Something I Lost (Alternate) (0.29)
6. Meet Monroe Kelly (1.39)
7. Road Block (0.39)
8. Crossing the Border (1.29)
9. Bail Out * (2.58)
10. No Customs * (1.49)
11. Deep Jungle - Picture (1.59)
12. The Ghost Tribe - Revised (2.04)
13. The Rapids (0.39)
14. The Symbol (0.47)
15. Hippo Attack * (2.26)
16. The Other Side - Revised (1.17)
17. Crash Site * (1.59)
18. Sad Amy (0.37)
19. Gates of Zinj * (4.03)
20. Help Me (2.18)
21. We Are Watching (1.49)
22. The Mine (0.53)
23. Amy's Nightmare * (2.11)
24. Kahega * (2.18) Excellent track
25. Amy's Farewell / Spirit of Africa / End Credits * (10.29) Excellent track
Extras
26. Something I Lost (0.20)
27. Deep Jungle - Album * (2.33)
28. The Ghost Tribe (1.21)
29. The Other Side (1.20)
30. The Collapsed City (2.21)
31. The Villagers Chant (James Newton Howard / Lebo M) (1.50)
* Original Album Track
Total Length: 61.43
The highlights of the original album are still of course on board. The Lebo M song that opens and closes the disc, the main theme of the score, Goldsmith's often thrilling action music, nothing is left behind. On the contrary, the addition of some 20 minutes (plus 10 of bonus material) makes the listen an entirely new one. The biggest realization is of course the fact you hear the themes of Goldsmith a lot more at work. Versions of Goldsmith's main theme in "Zinj", "Crossing the Border", "Deep Jungle - Picture" and "The Rapids" are now extensively used, so is the theme for Amy the gorilla that brings back a fond memory of the baby theme (of Baby: Secret of the Lost Legend) in "Meet Amy" and "We Are Watching" to name but a few.
And then there's Goldsmith's action music, something most composers of today don't know jack of. Hence the reason why even a 'small' action cue called "Meet Monroe Kelly" provides more rhythm than an entire action score of today. The already released "Bail Out" (holding that soaring main theme version at the end) or the unreleased "Help Me" (that holds the same intense giant spider music of King Solomon's Mines) show much more promise in the end. The percussive intensity of "Amy's Nightmare" and the thrilling delight of the main theme in action mode in "Kahega" are of course keepers, so is the extended main, Amy and song theme of Lebo M in "Amy's Farewell / Spirit of Africa / End Credits".
The biggest joke comes however from the board of the Golden Raspberry Awards, nominating Jerry Goldsmith's theme (or better said Lebo M's theme) for worst Original song. Make of it what you will, but calling Jerry Goldsmith's music worthy for a Golden Raspberry is like admitting you don't know jack of music. That is not to say this is one of the best that Jerry unleashed in his career. Because it's not. However, like every single score of him there's inventiveness, themes and a bunch of thoroughly enjoyable action cues in what is essentially a score that didn't need an expanded edition (except for save the die hard fans who want every minute released).
Congo (1995 release) ***
Congo Complete (2013 release) ***
Favorite Moment - Kahega (1.47 - 2.15)
Always a thrill in a Jerry Goldsmith score, the action version of the main theme
Track Listing
1. Spirit of Africa / The Expedition * (2.42)
2. Zinj (1.17)
3. The Eye (0.24)
4. Meet Amy (2.43)
5. Something I Lost (Alternate) (0.29)
6. Meet Monroe Kelly (1.39)
7. Road Block (0.39)
8. Crossing the Border (1.29)
9. Bail Out * (2.58)
10. No Customs * (1.49)
11. Deep Jungle - Picture (1.59)
12. The Ghost Tribe - Revised (2.04)
13. The Rapids (0.39)
14. The Symbol (0.47)
15. Hippo Attack * (2.26)
16. The Other Side - Revised (1.17)
17. Crash Site * (1.59)
18. Sad Amy (0.37)
19. Gates of Zinj * (4.03)
20. Help Me (2.18)
21. We Are Watching (1.49)
22. The Mine (0.53)
23. Amy's Nightmare * (2.11)
24. Kahega * (2.18) Excellent track
25. Amy's Farewell / Spirit of Africa / End Credits * (10.29) Excellent track
Extras
26. Something I Lost (0.20)
27. Deep Jungle - Album * (2.33)
28. The Ghost Tribe (1.21)
29. The Other Side (1.20)
30. The Collapsed City (2.21)
31. The Villagers Chant (James Newton Howard / Lebo M) (1.50)
* Original Album Track
Total Length: 61.43