The Last of the Mohicans
Randy Edelman and Trevor Jones
" Warning: Best selling album alert "Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the regular release
Being still one of the all time best selling soundtracks of its generation, The Last of the Mohicans is also a score that benefits from several strong points, yet fails ultimately as a duo release. As people may or may not know, Trevor Jones was asked to score the movie, yet got in sort of a dispute that made sure he wasn't allowed to finish the score. Randy Edelman came on board and composed the rest what ultimately needed to be scored. And in that very same year, the movie became an absolute hit, and the soundtrack with it, being nominated for Golden Globe consideration.
Yet with all this debate about whether it was this thing or that fault, it is still clear that Trevor Jones solely made this album big. Randy Edelman may have given The Last of the Mohicans an ultimate different sound, it was Trevor Jones that captivated millions of people with a theme to die for,. And in the end he is the one and only reason of this album's continuing success.
I did not have the pleasure or discomfort before of buying a score composed by two composers. Of course there are countless examples but not few that received sole tracks composed by the one, and the other by the second composer. This might make the score a difficult listening experience, yet in fact it works quite nicely. But where Trevor Jones brought us music that didn't stop to glow, there was Edelman's end cues that simply didn't do anything except bore the listener.
The soundtrack opens with the highly praised main theme. And that main theme is repeated a lot of time, perhaps even a bit too much. It gets spine tingling performances, whether or not in epic form ("Main Title") or in complete battle carnages ("Fort Battle"), but the theme still makes the album soar from start to Jones finish.
Also worth noting is the landscape music in "Promentory" that simply doesn't stop to amaze me, just like that second track "Elk Hunt", which is a brilliant variation on the main theme. But by track 10, you have heard the main theme too much by now. And then Randy Edelman steps on board, with his Gettysburg feel of guitars and synthesized sound making Jones' effort look superior.
The first track "The Courier" is still rather pleasant, because it has a good theme. But the rest really feels like music that does nothing except fill space. Also strange is the complete absence of the main theme, probably because Jones didn't want Edelman using it, or whatever reason. Good to know is that they have ranked the tracks by composer so you know who scored what. But that makes that the order of the film is completely thrown apart, making sure you hear so many main theme versions after one another.
Whether or not you would have done it differently, there is no denying The Last of the Mohicans remains a legendary album, for a legendary film. It was one of my very first score purchases, and I still think very highly of it. Why? Because The Last of the Mohicans is a classic with an unforgettable main theme, but we all know now that Trevor Jones is responsible for that. And Randy Edelman was there to fill in the blanks.
Tracklisting
Tracks of Trevor Jones
1. Main Title (1.44) Excellent track
2. Elk Hunt (1.48) Excellent track
3. The Kiss (2.48) Excellent track
4. The Glade Part II (2.34)
5. Fort Battle (4.21) Excellent track
6. Promentory (6.13) Excellent track
7. Munro's Office / Stockade (2.31)
8. Massacre / Canoes (6.52)
9. Top of the World (2.45)
Tracks of Randy Edelman
10. The Courier (2.29) Excellent track
11. Cora (2.33)
12. River Walk and Discovery (5.31)
13. Parlay (3.49)
14. The British Arrival (2.02)
15. Pieces of a Story (4.59)
16. I Will Find You: Clannad (1.52)
Total Length: 55.02
Yet with all this debate about whether it was this thing or that fault, it is still clear that Trevor Jones solely made this album big. Randy Edelman may have given The Last of the Mohicans an ultimate different sound, it was Trevor Jones that captivated millions of people with a theme to die for,. And in the end he is the one and only reason of this album's continuing success.
I did not have the pleasure or discomfort before of buying a score composed by two composers. Of course there are countless examples but not few that received sole tracks composed by the one, and the other by the second composer. This might make the score a difficult listening experience, yet in fact it works quite nicely. But where Trevor Jones brought us music that didn't stop to glow, there was Edelman's end cues that simply didn't do anything except bore the listener.
The soundtrack opens with the highly praised main theme. And that main theme is repeated a lot of time, perhaps even a bit too much. It gets spine tingling performances, whether or not in epic form ("Main Title") or in complete battle carnages ("Fort Battle"), but the theme still makes the album soar from start to Jones finish.
Also worth noting is the landscape music in "Promentory" that simply doesn't stop to amaze me, just like that second track "Elk Hunt", which is a brilliant variation on the main theme. But by track 10, you have heard the main theme too much by now. And then Randy Edelman steps on board, with his Gettysburg feel of guitars and synthesized sound making Jones' effort look superior.
The first track "The Courier" is still rather pleasant, because it has a good theme. But the rest really feels like music that does nothing except fill space. Also strange is the complete absence of the main theme, probably because Jones didn't want Edelman using it, or whatever reason. Good to know is that they have ranked the tracks by composer so you know who scored what. But that makes that the order of the film is completely thrown apart, making sure you hear so many main theme versions after one another.
Whether or not you would have done it differently, there is no denying The Last of the Mohicans remains a legendary album, for a legendary film. It was one of my very first score purchases, and I still think very highly of it. Why? Because The Last of the Mohicans is a classic with an unforgettable main theme, but we all know now that Trevor Jones is responsible for that. And Randy Edelman was there to fill in the blanks.
Tracklisting
Tracks of Trevor Jones
1. Main Title (1.44) Excellent track
2. Elk Hunt (1.48) Excellent track
3. The Kiss (2.48) Excellent track
4. The Glade Part II (2.34)
5. Fort Battle (4.21) Excellent track
6. Promentory (6.13) Excellent track
7. Munro's Office / Stockade (2.31)
8. Massacre / Canoes (6.52)
9. Top of the World (2.45)
Tracks of Randy Edelman
10. The Courier (2.29) Excellent track
11. Cora (2.33)
12. River Walk and Discovery (5.31)
13. Parlay (3.49)
14. The British Arrival (2.02)
15. Pieces of a Story (4.59)
16. I Will Find You: Clannad (1.52)
Total Length: 55.02