FILM MUSIC REVIEW

  FILM MUSIC REVIEW

           Presents...

THE BEST FILM MUSIC OF 1998

Selected by Roger Hall

Note: Due to a computer malfunction, none of the 1998 reviews are still available on FMR. Only this list for The Best of 1998 remains.

The Top Film Composer of 1998

For many years, this composer has distinguished himself with superlative scores. 1998 was no exception, with two outstanding scores to his credit: SAVING PRIVATE RYAN and STEPMOM. Since I chose SPR for The Sammy Award as the best score of 1998, I have selected the film composer of that score: John Williams.

He has over forty years of distinguished work, including several early television series (he was the pianist in PETER GUNN and wrote themes for M SQUAD). Over the past twenty years especially, John Williams has written many quality scores - and songs too - that fit the mood of the film, whether it's a sci-fi film, like CE3K, or a romantic comedy, like SABRINA. In honor of his many outstanding years of film work, here's my selection of his ten most outstanding scores between 1977 and 1997, arranged in alphabetical order (+ = SAMMY Award ):

* CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND (1977)

* E.T. - THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL (1982)

* JAWS (1975)

* JURASSIC PARK (1993)

* RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK (1981)

* SABRINA (1995) - +"Moonlight" (lyrics by Alan & Marilyn Bergman)

* +SCHINDLER'S LIST (1993)

* +SEVEN YEARS IN TIBET (1997)

* STAR WARS (1977)

* SUPERMAN (1978)

Five Favorite Soundtracks of 1998 (Web Survey)

The votes are in and now for the winners! Here are the 5 favorite soundtracks of the year, as chosen by web readers on FILM SCORE MONTHLY messageboard, FILMUS-L (Film Music Discussion List) and rec.music.movies newsgroup during December, 1998:

1. SAVING PRIVATE RYAN (John Williams)

2. THE MASK OF ZORRO (James Horner)

3. MULAN (Jerry Goldsmith)

4. EVER AFTER (George Fenton)

5. PLEASANTVILLE (Randy Newman)

How many of these 5 would be on your list?

Top Ten Most Highly Rated Soundtracks of 1998 (alphabetical order)

(1) CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND (1977) - The Collector's Edition Soundtrack (77:21). Music Composed and Conducted by John Williams. Arista 07822-19004-2. Rating: ***** [Superb - July]

(2) THE CLASSIC FILM MUSIC OF ALFRED NEWMAN: ALL ABOUT EVE (1950); BEAU GESTE (1939); THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME. Moscow Symphony Orchestra, William T. Stromberg, conductor. Marco Polo 6.223750. Rating: **** [Excellent - July]

(3) THE CLASSIC FILM MUSIC OF BERNARD HERRMANN: PRINCE OF PLAYERS (1954); GARDEN OF EVIL (1954). Moscow Symphjony Orchestra, William T. Stromberg, conductor. Marco Polo 8.223841. Rating: **** [Excellent - August]

(4) THE GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD (1965)(CD 1- 39:23; CD 2 - 60:21; CD 3 - 34:49). Original Motion Picture Score composed and conducted by Alfred Newman. Rykodisc RCD 10734. Rating: ***** [Superb - September]

(5) KING KONG (1933) (72:19). Original Complete Film Score by Max Steiner. Marco Polo 8.223763. Moscow Symphony Orchestra, William T. Stromberg, conductor. Rating: ***** [Superb - July]

(6) THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN (1960) (67:41). Music composed and conducted by Elmer Bernstein. Produced by Emilie Bernstein. Rykodisc RCD 10741. Rating: ***** [Superb - December] [Reviewed in SOUNDTRACK magazine, No. 69, Spring 1999, page 15]

(7) MERLIN (1998)(73:41). Original soundtrack by Trevor Jones. London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Geoff Alexander. Varese Sarabande VSD-5929. Rating: **** [Excellent - October].

(8) THE MISFITS (1961)(48:13). Original MGM Soundtrack - Deluxe Edition. Music by Alex North. Rerelease produced by Ian Gilchrist. Rykodisc RCD 10735. Rating: **** [Excellent - September]

(9) SAVING PRIVATE RYAN (1998) (64:15). Music composed and conducted by John Williams. Dreamworks DRMD-50046. The Boston Symphony Orchestra, John Williams, conductor. Rating: ***** [Superb - August] [Sammy Award for Best Score of 1998]

(10) THE 7TH VOYAGE OF SINBAD (1958)(58:46). Music composed by Bernard Herrmann. Royal Scottish National Orchestra, John Debney, conductor. Varese Sarabande VSD-5961. Rating: **** [Excellent - September]

The Best Soundtrack Releases and Compilations from 1998

These are my choices for the 5 best new soundtrack releases, 5 best vintage releases, 5 best compilations, and 5 best record labels of 1998:

Best New Motion Picture Soundtracks (alphabetical order):

THE HORSE WHISPERER - Thomas Newman (Hollywood Records)

MERLIN - Trevor Jones (Varese Sarabdande)

MULAN - Jerry Goldsmith (Walt Disney Records)

PLEASANTVILLE - Randy Newman (Varese Sarabande)

SAVING PRIVATE RYAN - John Williams (Dreamworks)

Best Vintage Soundtrack Releases (Newly Recorded or Expanded Re-Issue)

CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND (1977) - John Williams (Arista) - Expanded version of original release.

THE GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD (1965) - Alfred Newman (Rydodisc) - Expanded (3CD set).

KING KONG (1933) - Max Steiner (Marco Polo) - Re-Recording of Original Score.

THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN (1960) - Elmer Bernstein (Rykodisc) - Expanded.

PRINCE OF PLAYERS (1954)/GARDEN OF EVIL (1954) - Bernard Herrmann (Marco Polo) - Re-Recording of Original Score.

Best Compilations (listed in alphabetical order)

COMING SOON! The John Beal Trailer Project (Produced by Ford A. Thaxton)(Sonic Images)

THE FLAME AND THE ARROW - Classic Film Music by Max Steiner (Produced by Joe Doherty)(Scannon)

GEORGE AND IRA GERSHWIN IN HOLLYWOOD (Produced by Michael Feinstein, George Feltenstein and Bradley Flanagan)(Rhino Records CD)

THE OMEN - The Essential Jerry Goldsmith Film Music Collection (Produced by James Fitzpatrick)(Silva CD)

20th CENTURY FOX - MUSIC FROM THE GOLDEN AGE (Produced by Nick Redman)(Varese Sarabande CD)

Best Record Labels of 1998 (in alphabetical order)

Rhino

Silva Screen

Sonic Images

Varese Sarabande

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