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About the Release: Concord Records has produced one of the finer collection sets one could hope to find with, "Indiana Jones: The Soundtracks Collection." Containing a grand total of 5 CDs in the set, this release offers up the soundtracks from each of the Indiana Jones films along with a bonus disc that is highlighted by interviews with John Williams, Steven Spielberg, and George Lucas. The real allure for me, however, is the "Temple of Doom" soundtrack, an album which has long been sought after and was previously available only through imports or via the back channels.
All of the scores in the collection feature previously unreleased material and have been re-mastered for optimized sound quality. The set comes with a pictorial booklet featuring an introduction by the Producer of the re-issue, Laurent Bouzereau, and also individual inserts for each title. While additional liner notes (the same introduction is used in each individual insert) would have been nice, the photos provide a nifty snapshot of the Indiana Jones series as one gets primed to engage in the iconic music of John Williams.
What You Need to Know: This one is a no-brainer; how can any soundtrack fan resist a package such as this? Merely having access to the complete collection of the Indiana Jones scores is automatic...that that the set is handsomely produced makes it all the more appealing. I categorize this as a functional collectable, a release that not only looks good on the mantle but also (most importantly) provides access to some of the finer audio works in cinematic history.
During my "pre-game" evaluation, I checked out the running order for all of the discs. Bonus disc aside, each of the score tracks seem to follow the sequential path from the films they are from. You won't hear a cue that is out of chronological order from what was seen/heard in the film. This aspect may be overlooked by some, but I feel that having this type of consistency lends itself well to the listening experience since it might have been distracting to feature music that is out of sequence.
Out of the four movie scores, "Temple of Doom" and "The Last Crusade" offer the most unreleased material (for some, the entire 'Doom' score itself is unreleased content to begin with!). While 'Raiders' rightfully gains most of the fanfare for the introduction of the iconic themes, marches, and romantic statements, I feel that 'Doom' and 'Crusade' are equally entertaining in their own right. Not at the top of this short list is "Kingdom of the Crystal Skull," which was a disappointment to me both theatrically and musically. Being so recent, 'Skull' does not have any extras to offer and is the same soundtrack as previously released during May, 2008. Nevertheless, it's a necessary component to round out the collection.
When setting out to listen to this collection, I found it to be a bit daunting...I didn't know where to begin! The beauty of it, however, is that you can grab a disc from either of the movies and embark on the adventure you feel like partaking in most. I found that revisiting these scores was like going home again, and indeed, made me realize just how lacking we are with film music of this caliber in our current era. Even Williams himself couldn't recapture the glory in his 'Skull' effort, as serviceable as it was, and "The Mummy" movies pale in comparison with tones that are rife with too much camp. Indeed, the classic Indiana Jones scores are the genuine article and this comprehensive set pays proper respect to the material.
Simply put, I loved everything about this collection. I appreciated the re-mastered audio quality, the scope of the collection, and most of all, the thematic journey that John Williams takes us on. His is a voice that is legendary and I feel if you polled the soundtrack fans of the world, he would be a near unanimous choice to be atop their lists of greatest maestros in history. That's why I feel this collection is a must-have for any serious collector or soundtrack enthusiast. Granted, it's naturally more expensive than any single soundtrack you may buy, but save up if you have to -- this one is worth your time and investment.
With so much to applaud, I feel the majority of the accolades will come from hearing the "Temple of Doom" score in full. Only now after having listened to it in its entirety do I realize just how accomplished a score it is. Featuring Short Round's catchy, playful motif, the old fashioned love theme, and the epic music representing the slave children, I think listeners will be blown away after hearing it all in its rightful context.
In looking at this set, there are some who have questioned the blending (or lack thereof) of the tracks and the source that some of the cues are captured from. In the end, I wouldn't sweat the small stuff if I were you. There is very little to critique with this collection and a whole lot to enjoy. With that, I say grab a fedora, a pair of headphones, and get ready for an epic adventure times 4!
Final Score: It's been a great year for special edition sets. First, we were treated to the complete "El Cid" score in a fantastic re-recording and now, we have John Williams' masterpieces to indulge in. It's a worthy proposition to make this purchase because you will get an organized, clean representation of the entire "Indiana Jones" collection in one swoop. I am thankful for the entire team at Concord Records for putting together such a respectful, fantastic package. Highly recommended!
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