Forever Young
Jerry Goldsmith
" Forever Goldsmith "Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the limited release
Forever Young is one of the many Mel Gibson movies that did beyond good at the box office, and it cemented his name as one of the certainties for a box office success at that time. Jerry Goldsmith was then another certainty for filmscore fans, because rarely did Goldsmith fail on a project that he was given. Meaning Forever Young was a certainty, despite receiving lukewarm praise in the year 1992. Now it seems that time has frozen this one until 2011, until La-La Land exposed it in an expanded format.
Of course with Goldsmith you get what you came for. Themes that stand central, and underscore that works around these themes. And it isn't any different in Forever Young. The main theme is the love theme, another beautiful string dominated tune from the Goldsmith jukebox of classics. It's partially hinted in the begin of the album ("Will you Marry Me? / Never Leave Me") before receiving a first full blown version in "The Experiment". And this theme surely shines a couple of times more, light in "Best Friends", in suspense mode in "She's Alive" or with real romantic gusto in "Reunited".
Of course Goldsmith is not a composer that's let's a good opportunity go to waste. In the few moments of action, Goldsmith surely responds with style and with exhilaration. "Test Flight" remains a fan favourite with its thundering use of suspenseful brass, while Goldsmith supports the other moments of flight with a never failing heroic nobility, like in "The Air Show" or with delicious string frivolity in "The Tree House". The excellent send off in "She's Alive" and the continuation in "Reunited" shows that Goldsmith remains close to the standard of that opening track.
Forever Young continues to show Goldsmith's true strength. Even in the more forgotten efforts of his career, Goldsmith always relied on themes to get the job done. And his themes are once again above the ordinary. The album's presentation however isn't that successful. I know today everything needs to be expanded or complete, but I feel this expanded release is pushing it a little bit. The expanded album has various 20 seconds never before released cues, partially or totally unused cues and bonus cues that offer us the alternate version or the album version. Meaning whatever's expanded here doesn't make a big impression whatsoever, because all the highlights are on the original album, and in a better album experience.
Forever Young (1992 release) ***1/2
Forever Young Expanded (2011 release) ***1/2
Tracklisting
1. Test Flight * (3.42) Excellent track
2. Will You Marry Me? / Never Leave Me * (1.10)
3. Hit and Run / Breaking Down the Door * (Partially Unused Version) (2.52)
4. The Experiment (3.17)
5. The Warehouse * (0.48)
6. The Deep Freeze * (2.05)
7. Thawed Out * (2.34)
8. The Lighthouse * (Unused Version) (0.40)
9. Time To Leave * (0.24)
10. The Wrong Man * (0.18)
11. The Air Show * (1.18)
12. Kitchen Aid * (Partially Unused Version) (2.10)
13. The Diner (2.00)
14. I Was Wrong * (Unused Version) (1.45)
15. The Jacket * (Partially Unused Version) (1.31)
16. The Tree House (3.07) Excellent track
17. Good News * (0.52)
18. Getting Away * (1.20)
19. Best Friends * (1.54)
20. She's Alive (Extended Version) (3.44)
21. Nat's Missing * (0.26)
22. Reunited * (7.45) Excellent track
Bonus Tracks
23. Love Theme From "Forever Young" (4.06)
24. Will You Marry Me? * (Alternate Version) (0.35)
25. Time to Leave * (Alternate Version) (0.25)
26. The Jacket * (Alternate Version) (1.27)
27. Test Flight (Album Version) (3.41)
28. Kitchen Aid (Album Version) (2.42)
29. The Air Show (Album Version) (2.30)
30. Let's Go (Album Version) (3.02)
31. Reunited (Album Version) (7.43)
32. The Very Thought of You: Billie Holiday (2.44)
* Previously unreleased
Total Length: 74.37
Of course with Goldsmith you get what you came for. Themes that stand central, and underscore that works around these themes. And it isn't any different in Forever Young. The main theme is the love theme, another beautiful string dominated tune from the Goldsmith jukebox of classics. It's partially hinted in the begin of the album ("Will you Marry Me? / Never Leave Me") before receiving a first full blown version in "The Experiment". And this theme surely shines a couple of times more, light in "Best Friends", in suspense mode in "She's Alive" or with real romantic gusto in "Reunited".
Of course Goldsmith is not a composer that's let's a good opportunity go to waste. In the few moments of action, Goldsmith surely responds with style and with exhilaration. "Test Flight" remains a fan favourite with its thundering use of suspenseful brass, while Goldsmith supports the other moments of flight with a never failing heroic nobility, like in "The Air Show" or with delicious string frivolity in "The Tree House". The excellent send off in "She's Alive" and the continuation in "Reunited" shows that Goldsmith remains close to the standard of that opening track.
Forever Young continues to show Goldsmith's true strength. Even in the more forgotten efforts of his career, Goldsmith always relied on themes to get the job done. And his themes are once again above the ordinary. The album's presentation however isn't that successful. I know today everything needs to be expanded or complete, but I feel this expanded release is pushing it a little bit. The expanded album has various 20 seconds never before released cues, partially or totally unused cues and bonus cues that offer us the alternate version or the album version. Meaning whatever's expanded here doesn't make a big impression whatsoever, because all the highlights are on the original album, and in a better album experience.
Forever Young (1992 release) ***1/2
Forever Young Expanded (2011 release) ***1/2
Tracklisting
1. Test Flight * (3.42) Excellent track
2. Will You Marry Me? / Never Leave Me * (1.10)
3. Hit and Run / Breaking Down the Door * (Partially Unused Version) (2.52)
4. The Experiment (3.17)
5. The Warehouse * (0.48)
6. The Deep Freeze * (2.05)
7. Thawed Out * (2.34)
8. The Lighthouse * (Unused Version) (0.40)
9. Time To Leave * (0.24)
10. The Wrong Man * (0.18)
11. The Air Show * (1.18)
12. Kitchen Aid * (Partially Unused Version) (2.10)
13. The Diner (2.00)
14. I Was Wrong * (Unused Version) (1.45)
15. The Jacket * (Partially Unused Version) (1.31)
16. The Tree House (3.07) Excellent track
17. Good News * (0.52)
18. Getting Away * (1.20)
19. Best Friends * (1.54)
20. She's Alive (Extended Version) (3.44)
21. Nat's Missing * (0.26)
22. Reunited * (7.45) Excellent track
Bonus Tracks
23. Love Theme From "Forever Young" (4.06)
24. Will You Marry Me? * (Alternate Version) (0.35)
25. Time to Leave * (Alternate Version) (0.25)
26. The Jacket * (Alternate Version) (1.27)
27. Test Flight (Album Version) (3.41)
28. Kitchen Aid (Album Version) (2.42)
29. The Air Show (Album Version) (2.30)
30. Let's Go (Album Version) (3.02)
31. Reunited (Album Version) (7.43)
32. The Very Thought of You: Billie Holiday (2.44)
* Previously unreleased
Total Length: 74.37