VARESE SARABANDE RECORDING DOUBLE CD SPRING 1999 - OUT OF PRINT

When this soundtrack was announced over the summer break, I was excited but also pessimistic. For the first time we were able to hear Williams masterpiece in 20 bit digital sound and also hear some unreleased music. John Debney was to conduct the Royal National Scottish Orchestra, they have already recorded the 7th Voyage of Sinbad and it was well received. Now the Superman score has been treated with little respect, we were hoping for the original soundtrack to be re-mastered but this will not happen this year. Anyway, this soundtrack will do very nicely and has wetted my appetite for the original re-mastered edition [released in Feb 2000].

The first track begins with the beginning of the concert version of the main title, then 25.00 seconds pass and we are into the prologue, it doesn't open softly but it is great to have it on disc. Do we hear the film version of the main title ? Not exactly, Debney gave us the best of both worlds, the march begins with a 2 beat rumble rather 4 beats. The build-up to the march begins and once the horns come in, it is the concert version all the way through. It's played with energy, but some of the horns don't come through with clarity and strength.

The Planet Krypton is pretty much the same but we hear a variety of instruments and at times the music is over orchestrated. Destruction of Krypton is pretty much the same and sounds very good. Trip to Earth has a slower tempo, but this isn't a problem for me. Growing Up finally available to the masses and it is played very well, again slightly slower but after numerous listens, you get use to it.
Jonathan's Death is just played beautifully, worth the price of the soundtrack alone. Leaving Home and Fortress Of Solitude are also played very well and the latter track is played a little differently, but faithful.

Disc 2 begins with the most requested track, Helicopter Rescue and I really enjoyed this one, it is different in places, especially when Superman grabs Lois, there is a wonderful brief pause and the love theme kicks in. The track ends with Superman flying over Metropolis which is wonderful, played very accurately. Helicopter Rescue can be described as a concert piece because it is played a little different here and there. The orchestra play it very well, it does rival the original piece, there's more energy and oomph!!! The Penthouse is next and again wonderful to have on disc, The flying sequence follows and ends just as Superman and Lois fly above the clouds. Then The Missile Convoy, this tracks opens very well and the Villains theme really works here. The next piece is To The Lair, one of my personal favourites, the tempo maybe slow but sounds wonderful. March Of The Villains is next and pretty much standard. Chasing Rockets has its problems, the trumpet playing is just not good enough, it seems the players ran out of steam. The notes are mis-timed, just listen to it. Pushing Boulders is another welcomed track, containing all the music when Superman creates the dam and Lois is being buried alive, this track segues into Finding Lois. Turning Back the World is another track which is slightly slower in tempo. The End Titles cuts of most of the Prison Yard music, but the Superman march is pretty much identical to the Original Soundtrack. Finally the Love Theme,  played beautifully and very accurate. Well Done Varese for another fine re-recording, this is a must for Superman movie fans.
The tempo maybe a little slow sometimes, some tracks are over orchestrated, but boy it sure sounds fantastic.