HISTORICAL DOCUMENT - THE COMPLETE SUPERMAN SOUNDTRACK

[ This article was written in December 97 ]

An expanded soundtrack contains cues which were never available on any previously released soundtrack. To give some examples :-
Star Wars Special Edition soundtracks now contain every piece of music in the films and most of them in order although parts of some cues were added to other tracks. An example of this is track 4 on Empire Strikes Back, parts of the second track after the 'Main Theme' were added to track 4. The track has a whole is not actually heard in the film, but parts of it were used.

Expanded soundtracks are obviously released to make more money but also sometimes there isn't enough time to produce a whole soundtrack so they take some cues and release it. An example of this is the latest Bond soundtrack "Tomorrow Never Dies", only half the music was released because of time constraints. David Arnold does want to release the full soundtrack at a later date. This is NOT the case with Superman.
There is nothing wrong with releasing the whole soundtrack at a later date instead of a premature release. Some of us will now have to pay another £15.00 to get all the music. This has also happened with Star Wars, the anthology was released in 1993 but four years later the Special Editions came out forcing die-hard fans to buy it.
Raiders of The Lost Ark and E.T. have been the latest John Williams expanded releases.

Now onto Superman, this soundtrack on CD contains 14 tracks, on Japanese Imports there're 16 tracks. We will discuss the normal CD because most of us probably own this version. The CD contains around 70 mins worth of music and a music CD can hold upto 79 minutes worth which leaves me to think why "Growing Up" and "Lex Luthor's Lair" were omitted from the CD.
This soundtrack contains a different version of the main theme, missing cues on the destruction of Krypton track but includes music from the extended scenes of Krypton. Moving along there is an extended version of the love theme which can be heard in edited form on the End credits. The Super rescues track has the cues in the wrong order and is also missing some music. Chasing Rockets is two tracks edited together, Superfeats comes in the middle.
It shouldn't be long before an expanded version of the soundtrack is released which would contain all the music in the correct order. Music from the extended scenes of Superman would also be included.

If an expanded soundtrack is released hopefully sometime in 99 then this could be close to the final track listing :-

CD 1
1. PROLOGUE 1938*/MAIN TITLE (film version)*
2. THE PLANET KRYPTON/THE PHANTOM ZONE**
3. DESTRUCTION OF KRYPTON (The Council/The Spaceship**/Departure/The Reckoning*)
4. THE TRIP TO EARTH
5. DISCOVERY*/GROWING UP
6. PA KENT'S DEATH**
7. THE GREEN CRYSTAL/LEAVING HOME
8. THE FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE
9. FASTER THAN A SPEEDING BULLET*
10. LEX LUTHOR'S LAIR**
11. HELICOPTER RESCUE*
12. SUPERMAN'S FIRST NIGHT**

CD 2
13. MARCH OF THE VILLAINS
14. SUPERMAN LOVE THEME
15. THE INTERVIEW*
16. NIGHT FLIGHT OVER METROPOLIS/Can You Read My Mind
17. THE MISSILE CAPER*
18. LEX'S FREQUENCY*
19. MISSILE LAUNCH*/KRYPTONITE*
20. MISSILE CHASE/THE EARTHQUAKE
21. BURIED ALIVE**/MIGHTY RIVERS**
22. TURNING BACK THE WORLD
23. END TITLE (THE MARCH/LOVE THEME)
24. THEME FROM SUPERMAN (album version)

* previously unavailable
** contains previously unavailable music

The following goes into detail about the music which is missing and how it fits into a possible expanded soundtrack.

1. PROLOGUE 1938 (1:42) Music from the very opening of the film where a boy reads the first issue of Action Comics right up to the beginning of the march (this will lead to the film version of the "Main Title".

2. THE PLANET KRYPTON/PHANTOM ZONE would contain 'ZOD'S ACCUSATION' ( :29) This bit would've been placed at the 3:01 mark of track 2 of the CD ("The Planet Krypton").
2a. 'YOU WILL BOW DOWN BEFORE ME' ( :38) Would have been places at the 3:11 mark of track 2 of the CD ("The Planet Krypton"). or after 'ZOD'S ACCUSATION'.

3. DESTRUCTION OF KRYPTON would contain THE SPACESHIP (running time 1:54) Meant to underscore Jor-El preparing Kal-El for his journey to Earth. Only the last 15 seconds of this cue were used in the theatrical cut. Can be heard in its entirety in the expanded versions.
3a. THE RECKONING (1:46) Meant to underscore the remainder of the "Destruction Of Krypton" scene. Only the first 20 seconds and the last 28 seconds of this cue was used in the theatrical cut. Fully restored, expanded and remixed for the longer versions.

4. THE DISCOVERY ( :31) Where the Kents discover the baby Clark Kent which leads into the GROWING UP track

5. PA KENT'S DEATH (3:16) Underscores Pa Kent's death and funeral.

6. FASTER THAN A SPEEDING BULLET (1:33) Underscores Clark and Lois at gunpoint. Much of this cue appears to have not been used in all versions of the film, so we hear only the first 19 seconds and the last 43 seconds of the cue.

7. HELICOPTER RESCUE (4:57) Underscoring Lois' fateful helicopter accident and the emergence of Superman. Re-mixed and expanded for the longer versions.

8. SUPERMAN'S FIRST NIGHT (5:57)Would contain more cues including Superman flying just after the Helicopter situation with the Super Rescues track used in order.

8. THE INTERVIEW (1:27) Accompanying Superman's entrance into Lois' apartment for his interview.

9. NIGHT FLIGHT OVER METROPOLIS would contain the music which accompanies the scene where Clark is about reveal his other indentity - 'THERE'S SOMETHING I HAVE TO TELL YOU...' ( :40) Virtually a reprise of the interview music.

10. THE MISSILE CAPER (3:00+) Underscores Lex & company changing the missile codes. It is not known exactly how long this cue (largely based on "The March Of The Villians") is as it was altered for all versions of the film.

11. LEX'S FREQUENCY would contain 'SUPERMAN SEEKS LEX LUTHOR' (2:11) This is where Superman tracks Lex' frequency down to his lair. 20 seconds of this cue was unused in the theatrical cut, but restored for the longer versions.

12. MISSILE LAUNCH/KRYPTONITE (1:02) Heard in the film while missile control tries to stop the two nuclear missiles. The final chord (lasting about 9 seconds) was unused in the film but can be heard in the longer versions. In the KCOP version, this cue can be heard earlier in the film when we see Jimmy Olsen taking pictures of the dam.
12a. KRYPTONITE (2:01) Heard when Superman is struck with Kryptonite.

13. BURIED ALIVE would contain ( :32 seconds) This is when we first see Lois becoming a victim of the earthquake
13a. MIGHTY RIVERS (1:35) Heard where Superman is protecting a town from the collapse of the dam. This would have picked up from the 4:45 mark on track 10 of the CD. This cue leads to the 4:41 mark of CD track 12.

14. END TITLE (Film Version) Reprises the Superman theme and an edited version of the love theme.

The following tracks are merely concert arrangements and not heard in any version of the film:

THEME FROM SUPERMAN (Main Title) CD track 1 up to the 4:14 mark.

MARCH OF THE VILLAINS (CD track 11).

END TITLE (section from 1:45 to 2:52 of CD track 14).

The following is an analysis of all the available and unavailable cues from John Williams' score for "Superman". Notations have been made as to where they can be found in all incarnations of the 1978 film. For this article, we will use the soundtrack CD and laserdisc editions as guides.

First, the available tracks from the CD, re-arranged in the order they would have appeared in the complete uncut version of the film. Some of these tracks, DC and Hiphats have retitled to reflect the action on the screen.

1. MAIN TITLE (Film Version) (the march section of the CD's "End Title"[track 14] from 2:52 to conclusion). This is the actual film version of the now famous main title march, seen over the dazzling opening credits.

2. THE PLANET KRYPTON (CD track 2) Underscores the opening scene where Jor-El pronounces sentence on the three "rebel elements" (Non, Ursa, and General Zod). The section from 1:26 to 2:09, underscoring most of Jor-El's opening speech, was not used in any of the three versions of the film. At the 3:01 mark, a 29-second segment where Zod claims to hold Jor-El responsible is deleted (it can be heard at the 8:52 to 9:21 mark on side one of the laserdisc). At the 3:11 mark, a 38-second segment underscoring the rest of Zod's speech is deleted (heard at the 9:31 to 10:09 section on side one of the laserdisc). From 3:11 to the end of the track on the CD, the remainder of the Phantom Zone sequence can be heard in its entirety as it is in the film.

3. DESTRUCTION OF KRYPTON (CD track 3) This consists of two cues underscoring the latter Krypton scenes leading to the planet's destruction. Most of this track did not appear in the theatrical version but later restored to the expanded edtions. The first cue underscoring the Council's desicion about Krypton's fate runs from 0:00 to 1:25 on the CD and can be heard in its entirety in the theatrical version. It was re-mixed and expanded for the longer versions. The second, underscoring the section from the point where Jor-El makes his final speech to the baby Kal-El to where the ship takes off runs from 1:25 to conclusion, but the rest of this track (from 3:45 on the CD to conclusion) was deleted from the theatrical cut. Also the CD section from 1:25 to 3:45 was edited for the theatrical cut.
3a. KRYPTON EXPLODES (the final section of the CD's "Superfeats" [track 10] from 4:45 to conclusion). The drum roll and cymbal crash found at the end of the CD's "Superfeats" was actually meant to underscore Krypton's explosion. This was not heard in the theatrical cut, but later restored for the longer versions.

4. THE TRIP TO EARTH (CD track 4). A cue accompanying the baby Kal-El's three-year journey to Earth was edited for the theatrical release. It can be heard in its entirety in the longer versions.

5. GROWING UP (original double LP track 5). Two cues taken from the Smallville sequences. The first underscores baby Clark Kent lifing up a truck, the second underscoring Superboy's race with a train. Edited for the theatrical cut, re-mixed and expanded for the longer versions with certain sections restored. This is unavailable on CD.

6. LEAVING HOME (CD track 5) Underscores Clark finding the green crystal and his final farewell. Can be heard in its entirety in all versions of the film.

7. THE FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE (CD track 7) The title speaks for itself. Can be heard in its entirety in the theatrical version, remixed and expanded for the longer versions.

8. LEX LUTHOR'S LAIR (original double album side 3, track 3) Underscores the introduction of Otis and Lex Luthor. Shortened for the original double album. Most of this cue (especially the end section) was not used in the theatrical version but restored for the later longer versions. Unavailable on CD.

9. SUPER RESCUES (CD track 9) Consists of a series of cues underscoring "Superman's First Night". The sections on this track have been placed out of order. Section 1 ( :39 to 2:04 on the CD) where Supeman stops a robber comes first in the film, and it can be heard in its entirety in all versions. Section 2 (0:00 to :39 on the CD) where Superman saves a cat comes next, but the final 10 seconds of this cue was deleted from the CD and remains unavailable. The last chord of the unavailable 10 seconds was left out of the theatrical version but was restored for the longer editions. The final section (2:04 to conclusion on the CD) underscores Superman saving Air Force One, but the first 21 seconds of it was left out of all existing versions of the film. The first 21 seconds of the cue can only be found on the original double album and the CD.

10. THE FLYING SEQUENCE & CAN YOU READ MY MIND (CD track 8). This underscores most of Superman and Lois' night flight over Metropolis was edited slightly for all versions of the film. Also, Margot Kidder's "vocal" track sounds like it's misplaced (compare the CD version of "Can You Read My Mind" to the one in the actual film).

11. CHASING ROCKETS (first section from 0:00 to 4:41of CD track 12) Underscores Superman's chase with the two nuclear missiles. Edited for the theatrical cut, much of this cue (especially the last section where the earthquake hits) was left out of the theatrical version but restored for the longer editions. Also re-mixed and expanded for the longer versions.

12. SUPERFEATS (section from 0:00 to 4:45 of CD track 10) Underscores the earthquake, its effects on California, and Superman's rescues. The first minute and 23 seconds of the track and the section from 2:13 to 3:16 was not used in the theatrical version. The longer versions used the sections from 0:00 to 2:13 and from 2:47 to 4:45. Also expanded and re-mixed to fit the additional footage in the longer versions.

13. DEATH CURSE (final section of the CD's "Chasing Rockets" [track 12] from 4:41 to conclusion) Underscores Lois' death scenes. Slightly edited for all versions of the film.

14. TURNING BACK THE WORLD (CD track 13) Underscores Superman's anguish and his turning back time to save his friends. Can be heard in its entirety in all versions of the film.

15. END TITLE (section of the CD's "End Title" [track 14] from 0:00 to 1:45) Underscores the sequences from the point where Superman and Lois start to kiss to the end of the prison sequence. Slightly edited for all versions of the film.
15a. FINAL CHORD OF THE END TITLE MARCH SECTION (film version) (section of the CD's "Theme From Superman (Main Title)" [track 1] from 4:14 to conclusion. This 9-second segment heard on the CD is actually the final chord of the end title's "March" section as acually heard in the movie.
15b. END TITLE (Part Two) (the "Love Theme From Superman" [track 5]) This arrangement of the film's love theme is actually the second part of the lengthy end credits as actually heard in the movie, but it was slightly edited for all versions of the film.

DIFFERENT VERSIONS OF THE MAIN TITLE THEME

There are, at this point, seven variations on the Superman march:

1. The main title march (album version)
2. The end credits version (album version)
3. The main title march with the nostalgia preface (from the final cut of the movie)
4. The end credits version (shortened in two places in the beginning and toward the end - from the final cut of the movie) followed by the "Love Theme"
5. The main title march - edited (45 rpm)
6. Alternate version of the main title march (film version) (heard as background music on the "Making of Superman" documentary)
7. Alternate version of the main title march (album version) that is obviously accented stronger in different places, not in others