Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
John Williams
" Indy once had a final adventure, and it still sounds wonderful "Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the collector's edition
When the complete edition of the Indiana Jones box was announced, 2 scores were named the most when overlooking the unreleased material. In most occasions Temple of Doom was named at first and coming at second position we had The Last Crusade. Not that the original album was a slouch like the original album of Temple of Doom for omitting half of the music, but there were moments, glorious moments which made all the difference. Now that error is corrected, giving us nearly the perfect treatment Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade deserved.
One of the proudest moments is when we receive 4 minutes of extra material of "Indy's Very First Adventure". The wonderful first main theme statements that were omitted from the original album are a must to hear, alongside the soft but glorious version of the grail theme. The only downfall is once again, the mixing towards the next track.
In the movie the glorious rise of the main theme to the next scene (the hit on the head) is just perfect film magic (scene and music wise) and you hear nothing of this through the hideous fade out which shuts out that glory between the first track and "The Boat Scene" (which is a cool track on itself). Tiny details like this often make the grandest impact when done right or wrong.
Anyway, we follow with the magic of "X Marks the Spot", following the journey by plane, guided through the wonder of the grail theme and the find of X. In "Ah, Rats!!!" we sadly haven't got the version of the Ark theme that was so cleverly positioned in the movie. Anyway, the grail wonder of the theme in this one is pretty good too. The insanely catchy sitar in "Escape from Venice" is aided by the playful quality and the suspenseful fanfares.
The trio collection of newly released material ("Journey to Austria", "Father and Son Reunited" and "The Austrian Way") are sharp little underscore tunes, adding a healthy doses of underscore that isn't forgettable at all. This all leads to the already classic "Scherzo for Motorcycle and Orchestra" which is known enough. But of course any well known Indy fan realizes "Alarm" should be placed before the scherzo and not after it.
The clever and insanely catchy "No Ticket" shows how easily Williams can amaze you, while barely using any instruments. And the fun continues in "Keeping Up with the Joneses". The nazi driven "Brother of the Cruciform Sword", the new "On the Tank" which is an awesome brassy track and the already insanely brilliant "Belly of the Steal Beast" show but a fraction of the plethora of excellence John Williams offered in his music.
One of the finest moments in the film is the booby trap scene. In it Indy must cross before reaching the grail. And I always believed John Williams' music to be magical at this. And in "The Penitent Man Will Pass" it renews my faith once again. Why? Because I believe the heavenly brief choral magic to be amazing, I believe the divine string work before the jump to be inspiring and the fanfares of relieve to be mind blowing.
The glorious grail theme and the raider's march in "Finale & End Credits" round out a wonderful album which isn't that tempered at all through the horrible mixing. But when it happens it is really annoying.
I believe by finally hearing these scores in the complete sense, you get a clear sight as to which of the 4 albums is now the finest and the weakest. I'm sure any fan will have a different top 4 but I'm confident Temple of Doom will have surprised many with its plethora of newly released material. And I'm sure Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade will have as well. The missing minutes of the first adventure, the additional tank action track and the added funny underscore shows Williams treated his music as melodic and as exciting. This treatment shows now why I'm placing it before Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Because it is old school Williams at the helm.
Tracklisting
1. Indy's Very First Adventure ** (12.00) Excellent track
2. The Boat Scene * (2.21)
3. X Marks the Spot (3.11)
4. Ah, Rats!!! (3.40)
5. Escape from Venice (4.22) Excellent track
6. Journey to Austria * (0.38)
7. Father and Son Reunited * (1.48)
8. The Austrian Way * (2.39)
9. Scherzo for Motorcycle and Orchestra (3.52) Excellent track
10. Alarm! * (3.05)
11. No Ticket (2.44)
12. Keeping Up with the Joneses (3.36)
13. Brother of the Cruciform Sword (1.56)
14. On the Tank * (3.37) Excellent track
15. Belly of the Steal Beast (5.28) Excellent track
16. The Canyon of the Crescent Moon (4.17)
17. The Penitent Man Will Pass (3.23) Excellent track
18. The Keeper of the Grail (3.23)
19. Finale & End Credits (10.37) Excellent track
* Previously Unreleased
** Includes Previously Unreleased Material
Total Length: 76.54
One of the proudest moments is when we receive 4 minutes of extra material of "Indy's Very First Adventure". The wonderful first main theme statements that were omitted from the original album are a must to hear, alongside the soft but glorious version of the grail theme. The only downfall is once again, the mixing towards the next track.
In the movie the glorious rise of the main theme to the next scene (the hit on the head) is just perfect film magic (scene and music wise) and you hear nothing of this through the hideous fade out which shuts out that glory between the first track and "The Boat Scene" (which is a cool track on itself). Tiny details like this often make the grandest impact when done right or wrong.
Anyway, we follow with the magic of "X Marks the Spot", following the journey by plane, guided through the wonder of the grail theme and the find of X. In "Ah, Rats!!!" we sadly haven't got the version of the Ark theme that was so cleverly positioned in the movie. Anyway, the grail wonder of the theme in this one is pretty good too. The insanely catchy sitar in "Escape from Venice" is aided by the playful quality and the suspenseful fanfares.
The trio collection of newly released material ("Journey to Austria", "Father and Son Reunited" and "The Austrian Way") are sharp little underscore tunes, adding a healthy doses of underscore that isn't forgettable at all. This all leads to the already classic "Scherzo for Motorcycle and Orchestra" which is known enough. But of course any well known Indy fan realizes "Alarm" should be placed before the scherzo and not after it.
The clever and insanely catchy "No Ticket" shows how easily Williams can amaze you, while barely using any instruments. And the fun continues in "Keeping Up with the Joneses". The nazi driven "Brother of the Cruciform Sword", the new "On the Tank" which is an awesome brassy track and the already insanely brilliant "Belly of the Steal Beast" show but a fraction of the plethora of excellence John Williams offered in his music.
One of the finest moments in the film is the booby trap scene. In it Indy must cross before reaching the grail. And I always believed John Williams' music to be magical at this. And in "The Penitent Man Will Pass" it renews my faith once again. Why? Because I believe the heavenly brief choral magic to be amazing, I believe the divine string work before the jump to be inspiring and the fanfares of relieve to be mind blowing.
The glorious grail theme and the raider's march in "Finale & End Credits" round out a wonderful album which isn't that tempered at all through the horrible mixing. But when it happens it is really annoying.
I believe by finally hearing these scores in the complete sense, you get a clear sight as to which of the 4 albums is now the finest and the weakest. I'm sure any fan will have a different top 4 but I'm confident Temple of Doom will have surprised many with its plethora of newly released material. And I'm sure Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade will have as well. The missing minutes of the first adventure, the additional tank action track and the added funny underscore shows Williams treated his music as melodic and as exciting. This treatment shows now why I'm placing it before Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Because it is old school Williams at the helm.
Tracklisting
1. Indy's Very First Adventure ** (12.00) Excellent track
2. The Boat Scene * (2.21)
3. X Marks the Spot (3.11)
4. Ah, Rats!!! (3.40)
5. Escape from Venice (4.22) Excellent track
6. Journey to Austria * (0.38)
7. Father and Son Reunited * (1.48)
8. The Austrian Way * (2.39)
9. Scherzo for Motorcycle and Orchestra (3.52) Excellent track
10. Alarm! * (3.05)
11. No Ticket (2.44)
12. Keeping Up with the Joneses (3.36)
13. Brother of the Cruciform Sword (1.56)
14. On the Tank * (3.37) Excellent track
15. Belly of the Steal Beast (5.28) Excellent track
16. The Canyon of the Crescent Moon (4.17)
17. The Penitent Man Will Pass (3.23) Excellent track
18. The Keeper of the Grail (3.23)
19. Finale & End Credits (10.37) Excellent track
* Previously Unreleased
** Includes Previously Unreleased Material
Total Length: 76.54