This is not a reissue. This is, with 40 minutes of the music omitted from the original 2 LP soundtrack album issued in 1978 (itself a generous 78-minutes) now restored - and much bonus material , this is practically, to all intents and purposes a new release. This is a major event in the history of film music and film music recordings Accordingly we present three five-star reviews from three of our reviewer - The Editor Jeffrey Wheeler leads with the main review :- "Now look. The Post: 'It Flies.' The News: 'Look, Ma, No Wires.' The Times: 'Blue Bomb Buzzes Metropolis.' The Planet... I want the name of this flying whatchamacallit to go with The Daily Planet like bacon and eggs, franks and beans, death and taxes, politics and corruption." Or better yet, like John Williams and "Superman: The Movie." Like many of his soundtracks from the late 1970s, "Superman" features a balance of familiar musical constructs and nearly continuous melody juggling with a sense of individuality that builds resolutely as the symphony progresses. Williams' technique in the period is less refined than today, but for many Williams buffs those energetic, often glitzy orchestrations mark the apex of his career. His predominately Richard Strauss-like underscore -- at times, overscore -- is a classic; the music is inseparable from the Superman mythos, now as the mythos is slowly becoming inseparable from the music. The Superman fanfares, the Krypton motifs, the love theme, the villains' march, the newly released benign ditty for Clark Kent... these personify the concept of filmusic as what Erich Wolfgang Korngold called "opera without words." This release offers the original soundtrack recordings in as complete a form as possible. Super new cues include 'Star Ship Escapes' 'Death of Jonathan Kent,' 'The Big Rescue,' 'Crime of the Century,' and 'Misguided Missiles and Kryptonite.' Super expanded tracks such as 'Prelude and Main Title March,' 'The Planet Krypton,' 'Growing Up,' 'The Fortress of Solitude,' 'Super Rescues,' 'Chasing Rockets,' and 'Super Dam and Finding Lois.' Super bonus tracks are the alternate 'The Planet Krypton' and the amusing 'Luthor's Luau,' 'The Flying Sequence' appears with and without Margot Kidder's cutesy recitation, though definitely not super is the pop instrumental 'Can You Read My Mind' (what went through my mind upon hearing it is best left unread). The lists go on. The production on the release is almost as astronomical. Michael Matessino's good-natured and enthusiastic liner notes diverge immoderately between being remarkably informative to dwelling on inconsequential academics. I also found one error just flipping through the booklet (he writes of 'The Fortress of Solitude,' "...and synthesizer augmenting variations on the two Krypton motifs." Correction: the cue uses a glass harmonica and no synthesizers). A wonderful surplus of graphics, production photographs, and film stills makes up for any insufficiencies in the text. The packaging is difficult to manage, but attractive! Why the super-tight dust sleeves, Rhino? Removing the CD and booklet is like participating in childbirth; it ends with joy, but the exertion leading up to that point... The sound is very good considering the age of the sources, although many will miss the slightly warmer sound of Eric Tomlinson's original mix. The London Symphony Orchestra is in rebounding shape, faltering occasionally during some tough spots, maybe serving as a comparison for how greatly Williams has grown as a conductor over the years, but is always a pleasure to hear. If I say I recommend this set it would probably seem redundant. Nonetheless: I recommend this release. The wait is over. Few other powerhouses in the modern canon of music are as genuinely spectacular and efficacious as this one. Reviewer Jeffrey Wheeler And Gary S. Dalkin and Ian Lace add:- At last, one of the very finest film scores ever penned, complete, and apart from a little distortion and hiss, sounding great. This must stand not just as the album of the month, but one of the greatest film music albums ever issued. Reviewer Gary S. Dalkin Over 40 minutes of material omitted from the original soundtrack album restored. Bliss! At last we have all that magnificent music associated with the Planet Krypton restored, including the never-before-released cue, 'Star Ship Escapes' (with baby Superman). Another first is that moving music for the 'Death of Jonathan Kent' (Glenn Ford) that heightens even further Williams' deeply affecting and noble scoring for the cue, 'Leaving Home.' Additional material rounds out the characters of the villains in such cues as 'Lex Luthor's Lair' and 'Crime of the Century' another new cue that is particularly welcome for its tongue-in-cheek, Tom and Jerry cavortings to accompany the gang's attack on the rocket-carrying convoy. And, incredibly, this is the first time we have had 'The Big Rescue' music for the early stricken helicopter on the skyscraper scene, when Lois murmurs, "You've got me, but whose got you?!". 'Just a minor, cooler note. I also miss the slightly warmer sound of Eric Tomlinson's original mix. It is amazing how one gets used to one recording. My favourite Superman track has always been 'The Fortress of Solitude'. This new album adds much more dynamic material particularly in the early part of that cue before that wonderfully serene and other-worldly, celestial passage towards the end. Interesting as these additions are, in the final analysis it will be the original soundtrack recording that I will turn to for the better more musically satisfying listening experience. It is good to have so many alternatives of 'The Flying Sequence' At last we have the chance to hear it all without Margot Kidder's voice over. But would you believe it, I had kind of got used to her too (except for one or two excruciating phrases in her delivery) so I was grateful to have the original LP cue as a bonus. But, bliss, bliss. Don't hesitate, open your wallet today before all the copies are snapped up. Reviewer Ian Lace	Reviewer Jeffrey Wheeler Gary S. Dalkin Reviewer Ian Lace Reviews from previous months Reviews carry sales links but you can also purchase from:
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