The Blue Max
Jerry Goldsmith
" In a time War scores were composed by men "Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the regular release
The Blue Max soundtrack has seen its share of releases, LP / CD, mono / stereo, 30 minute editions / complete releases. And in 1995 we believed this was enough when Legacy issued what was probably the best version of it. But Intrada naturally thought otherwise, re releasing it with the original stereo mixes and a different album presentation to deliver a much more rewarding experience in the end. And it shows! Even though the recording can never and will never match today's clarity, expect these original mixes to be delivered in the best conditions possible. And considering shorter tracks are now linked to each other, we also receive what is probably the best album presentation too.
So, nothing stands in your way to experience one of Jerry Goldsmith's earliest beloved scores of all. Because what is not to like? Even at such an early age, The Blue Max breaths his sound, his ideas and his technique like he continued to do it for 40 years. And then naturally, that means a main theme will hold the score together. And what a theme it is! Stirring and heroic, it builds like many war like themes of Goldsmith to its most powerful crescendo in the first track "Main Title". It receives new meaning when suspense pushes it further in "First Blood / First Victory" (a track that improves through the combination of 2 shorter tracks), while the same suspense goes totally berserk (with the main theme) in the all out percussive action track "The Attack", a marvel of suspense, theme statements and orchestral detail like we don't hear them anymore today. Listen to this Brian Tyler. The other action track "The Bridge" is equally brilliant through the trumpet / flute calls that heighten it to its atonal climax.
Of course the familiar rousing main theme statements are all over the place, but The Blue Max has more to offer as well. Like a solo violin performance of the main theme bringing some kind of comic relief in "A Small Favor" and "Nothing Needed", a love theme for solo piano that is quite soothing in "Love Theme from The Blue Max" and "A Lonely Hero", some dramatic material through the violins (playing a variation on the main theme) in "Stachel's Confession" and "Kaeti has a Plan" and loads of militaristic percussion in the dark and threatening "Retreat". All in all, most of Goldsmith's material stays enjoyable to listen to, even in the non action packed or theme laden tracks of the album. And it goes without saying that The Blue Max is a bonafied classic in the long list of titles of Jerry Goldsmith. So true Jerry Goldsmith fans, you know what needs to be done.
Track Listing
1. Main Title (2.22) Excellent track
2. The New Arrival (1.23)
3. A Toast to Bruno (1.40)
4. The Balloon (0.53)
5. First Blood / First Victory (3.02) Excellent track
6. The Captive / The Victim (4.17)
7. The Cobra (1.38)
8. The Attack (6.31) Excellent track
9. Love Theme from "The Blue Max" (1.50)
10. A Small Favor (0.57)
11. A Lonely Hero (1.15)
12. The Rivals (0.25)
13. Finale to Part 1 (1.03) Excellent track
14. Prelude to Part 2 (1.39) Excellent track
15. The Bridge (3.13) Excellent track
16. Stachel's Confession (1.33)
17. Retreat (7.34)
18. Stachel to Berlin / Food Riot (2.25)
19. Nothing Needed (0.40)
20. Kaeti Has a Plan (3.29)
21. Stachel's Last Flight (1.57)
22. End Title (2.36) Excellent track
23. Finale to Part 2 / Exit Music (1.11) Excellent track
Bonus Tracks
24. Pour Le Merite March (Traditional) (2.13)
25. Student Song Medley (Traditional) (2.07)
26. Presentiar March (Traditional) (1.25)
27. Artist's Life (J. Strauss) (0.54)
28. Gloria March (G. Piefke) (0.26)
29. Watch on the Rhine (K. Wilhelm) (1.40)
30. Deutschland Uber Alles (J. Haydn) (0.48)
Total Length: 63.06
So, nothing stands in your way to experience one of Jerry Goldsmith's earliest beloved scores of all. Because what is not to like? Even at such an early age, The Blue Max breaths his sound, his ideas and his technique like he continued to do it for 40 years. And then naturally, that means a main theme will hold the score together. And what a theme it is! Stirring and heroic, it builds like many war like themes of Goldsmith to its most powerful crescendo in the first track "Main Title". It receives new meaning when suspense pushes it further in "First Blood / First Victory" (a track that improves through the combination of 2 shorter tracks), while the same suspense goes totally berserk (with the main theme) in the all out percussive action track "The Attack", a marvel of suspense, theme statements and orchestral detail like we don't hear them anymore today. Listen to this Brian Tyler. The other action track "The Bridge" is equally brilliant through the trumpet / flute calls that heighten it to its atonal climax.
Of course the familiar rousing main theme statements are all over the place, but The Blue Max has more to offer as well. Like a solo violin performance of the main theme bringing some kind of comic relief in "A Small Favor" and "Nothing Needed", a love theme for solo piano that is quite soothing in "Love Theme from The Blue Max" and "A Lonely Hero", some dramatic material through the violins (playing a variation on the main theme) in "Stachel's Confession" and "Kaeti has a Plan" and loads of militaristic percussion in the dark and threatening "Retreat". All in all, most of Goldsmith's material stays enjoyable to listen to, even in the non action packed or theme laden tracks of the album. And it goes without saying that The Blue Max is a bonafied classic in the long list of titles of Jerry Goldsmith. So true Jerry Goldsmith fans, you know what needs to be done.
Track Listing
1. Main Title (2.22) Excellent track
2. The New Arrival (1.23)
3. A Toast to Bruno (1.40)
4. The Balloon (0.53)
5. First Blood / First Victory (3.02) Excellent track
6. The Captive / The Victim (4.17)
7. The Cobra (1.38)
8. The Attack (6.31) Excellent track
9. Love Theme from "The Blue Max" (1.50)
10. A Small Favor (0.57)
11. A Lonely Hero (1.15)
12. The Rivals (0.25)
13. Finale to Part 1 (1.03) Excellent track
14. Prelude to Part 2 (1.39) Excellent track
15. The Bridge (3.13) Excellent track
16. Stachel's Confession (1.33)
17. Retreat (7.34)
18. Stachel to Berlin / Food Riot (2.25)
19. Nothing Needed (0.40)
20. Kaeti Has a Plan (3.29)
21. Stachel's Last Flight (1.57)
22. End Title (2.36) Excellent track
23. Finale to Part 2 / Exit Music (1.11) Excellent track
Bonus Tracks
24. Pour Le Merite March (Traditional) (2.13)
25. Student Song Medley (Traditional) (2.07)
26. Presentiar March (Traditional) (1.25)
27. Artist's Life (J. Strauss) (0.54)
28. Gloria March (G. Piefke) (0.26)
29. Watch on the Rhine (K. Wilhelm) (1.40)
30. Deutschland Uber Alles (J. Haydn) (0.48)
Total Length: 63.06