The Ghost and the Darkness
Jerry Goldsmith
" The expanded album and the good music "Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the regular release
No matter what genres he tackled, you could always rely on Goldsmith to get the job done. The Ghost and the Darkness is no different. A powerful theme, a wonderful atmosphere and a lot of ethnic vocals. And now in double CD format it might be even too much for some. For me, this is indeed a bit too much. I had no real problems with the original album, though several tracks work better now in expanded form. Ah, anyone could make his own mix of it today and discover that Goldsmith threw everything together. Whether uplifting with the main theme, or threatening courtesy of the vocals and percussion. Fans will find a lot to like here. For me the first part is the best. The use of the vocals (either threatening or uplifting) is stunning, all the while Goldsmith's true talent comes forward when unleashing the action and the suspense ("Lions Attack"). And with an incredible soaring end "Welcome to Tsavo #2 – Revised" you definitely have a send off of send off's. The Ghost and the Darkness in this format screams for different albums. So make your own version of it and you'll discover why Goldsmith remains so beloved.
The theme remains one of his best. Such a stunning uplifting piece.
The use of vocals truly makes this one of his most unique projects.
In action suspense mode, The Ghost and the Darkness truly becomes a Goldsmith playground.
The expanded treatment is a bit much. I prefer a different (read shorter) listening experience.
Track Listing
CD 1: 78.25
1. Opening Title (Tall Grass) * (1.05)
2. Train to Catch (2.03)
3. First Time ** (4.02) Excellent track
4. Over There * (0.57)
5. One Shot * (1.35)
6. The Claws – Revised [Alternate] * (3.57) Excellent track
7. Mahina’s Death [Alternate] * 0.51)
8. The Funeral * (0.47)
9. The Wall ** (1.32)
10. Starling’s Death [Alternate] * (5.59)
11. The Lions Reign (2.42)
12. Near Miss * (1.25)
13. Prepare For Battle ** (4.39)
14. You’ve Been Hit ** (3.25)
15. Preparations – Revised [Alternate] * (1.40)
16. The Trap [Alternate] * (2.03)
17. Lions Attack * (5.36) Excellent track
18. The Cave *+ (4.16)
19. After You * (0.46)
20. The Baboon [Alternate] * (0.43)
21. First Kill [Alternate] * (2.46)
22. John’s Nightmare * (1.26)
23. Remington’s Death (2.33)
24. Final Attack – Revised * (2.51)
25. Welcome to Tsavo #2 – Revised ** (9.54) Excellent track
The Extras (Unused Mixes and Alternates Part 1
26. Tall Grass [Original] *+ (1.03)
27. The Claws – Revised *+ (2.56)
28. Mahina’s Death [Original] *+ (0.48)
29. The Box Car [Unused Insert] *+ (0.29)
30. The Box Car [Original] *+ (0.57)
31. Near Miss [Alternate] *+ (0.27)
32. Stand Off [Original] *+ (2.12)
CD 2: 75.10
The Extras - Unused Mixes and Alternates Part 2
1. Starling’s Death [Original] *+ (5.57)
2. The Thicket [Original] *+ (3.29)
3. Preparations [Original] *+ (1.34)
4. The Trap [Original] *+ (2.00)
5. The Baboon [Original] *+ (0.41)
6. First Kill [Original] *+ (2.40)
7. First Kill [With Extension] *+ (2.38)
8. Welcome to Tsavo #2 [Original ]+ (2.53)
Original 1996 Soundtrack Album
9. Theme from The Ghost and the Darkness (2.11)
10. The Bridge (4.09)
11. Catch a Train (2.02)
12. Lions Attack (5.18)
13. First Time (2.00)
14. Starling’s Death (5.57)
15. Lions Reign (2.40)
16. Preparations (2.46)
17. Remington’s Death (2.31)
18. Prepare for Battle (2.00)
19. Final Attack (2.53)
20. Welcome to Tsavo (4.59)
21. Hamara Haath (“Our Hands Unite”) (3.05)
22. Dueling Chants, Part 1: “Jungal Bahar” (3.20)
23. Safari Ya Bamba (“Journey to Bamba”) (2.32)
24. Terere Obande (2.42)
25. Iye Oyeha (2.13)
* Previously Unreleased
** Contains Music Previously Unreleased
+ Not in Film
The theme remains one of his best. Such a stunning uplifting piece.
The use of vocals truly makes this one of his most unique projects.
In action suspense mode, The Ghost and the Darkness truly becomes a Goldsmith playground.
The expanded treatment is a bit much. I prefer a different (read shorter) listening experience.
Track Listing
CD 1: 78.25
1. Opening Title (Tall Grass) * (1.05)
2. Train to Catch (2.03)
3. First Time ** (4.02) Excellent track
4. Over There * (0.57)
5. One Shot * (1.35)
6. The Claws – Revised [Alternate] * (3.57) Excellent track
7. Mahina’s Death [Alternate] * 0.51)
8. The Funeral * (0.47)
9. The Wall ** (1.32)
10. Starling’s Death [Alternate] * (5.59)
11. The Lions Reign (2.42)
12. Near Miss * (1.25)
13. Prepare For Battle ** (4.39)
14. You’ve Been Hit ** (3.25)
15. Preparations – Revised [Alternate] * (1.40)
16. The Trap [Alternate] * (2.03)
17. Lions Attack * (5.36) Excellent track
18. The Cave *+ (4.16)
19. After You * (0.46)
20. The Baboon [Alternate] * (0.43)
21. First Kill [Alternate] * (2.46)
22. John’s Nightmare * (1.26)
23. Remington’s Death (2.33)
24. Final Attack – Revised * (2.51)
25. Welcome to Tsavo #2 – Revised ** (9.54) Excellent track
The Extras (Unused Mixes and Alternates Part 1
26. Tall Grass [Original] *+ (1.03)
27. The Claws – Revised *+ (2.56)
28. Mahina’s Death [Original] *+ (0.48)
29. The Box Car [Unused Insert] *+ (0.29)
30. The Box Car [Original] *+ (0.57)
31. Near Miss [Alternate] *+ (0.27)
32. Stand Off [Original] *+ (2.12)
CD 2: 75.10
The Extras - Unused Mixes and Alternates Part 2
1. Starling’s Death [Original] *+ (5.57)
2. The Thicket [Original] *+ (3.29)
3. Preparations [Original] *+ (1.34)
4. The Trap [Original] *+ (2.00)
5. The Baboon [Original] *+ (0.41)
6. First Kill [Original] *+ (2.40)
7. First Kill [With Extension] *+ (2.38)
8. Welcome to Tsavo #2 [Original ]+ (2.53)
Original 1996 Soundtrack Album
9. Theme from The Ghost and the Darkness (2.11)
10. The Bridge (4.09)
11. Catch a Train (2.02)
12. Lions Attack (5.18)
13. First Time (2.00)
14. Starling’s Death (5.57)
15. Lions Reign (2.40)
16. Preparations (2.46)
17. Remington’s Death (2.31)
18. Prepare for Battle (2.00)
19. Final Attack (2.53)
20. Welcome to Tsavo (4.59)
21. Hamara Haath (“Our Hands Unite”) (3.05)
22. Dueling Chants, Part 1: “Jungal Bahar” (3.20)
23. Safari Ya Bamba (“Journey to Bamba”) (2.32)
24. Terere Obande (2.42)
25. Iye Oyeha (2.13)
* Previously Unreleased
** Contains Music Previously Unreleased
+ Not in Film