2020 has proven to be a remarkably good year for soundtracks, or more specifically, for Eastwood/Morricone soundtracks. It was only back in the summer that La-La Land launched the incredible 2 x CD 50th Anniversary release of Two Mules for Sister Sara (LLLCD1526), the first time that Morricone’s lush score was released in a complete form.
And now, Quartet Records of Spain, in collaboration with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Capitol Records and Universal Music Enterprises, has released a mammoth 3-CD expanded edition of Ennio Morricone’s iconic score for the no-less iconic 1966 epic western by Sergio Leone: THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY (QR436).
THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY features what is probably the most instantly recognisable and famous of Morricone’s themes. But there is much more to admire in this score, such as the inventive motifs, formation of thematic material and adroit orchestrations (which the Maestro considered possibly even more important than the act of composition). The composer created his own genre and utilized the recording studio as an instrument in achieving his vision by layering trumpets and varying echo to create a sense of depth.
This score is a kaleidoscope of nature call-and-response symbols, agonised shouts, grunting male chorus, epic wordless female voice, haunting harmonica, spiritual bugling trumpets, tolling chimes, vivid surf-rock Fender guitar, and sounds imitating gunfire. It is stylised yet cinematic. It is avant-garde yet embraces traditional film scoring—with some cues scored reverently for trumpet, harmonica, strings and chorus.
The original 34-minute album has seen countless releases on LP and CD since 1966. An expanded 55-minute CD edition was released in 2001, but it was still far from including all the material that Morricone had conceived for the film. For this new Quartet release we have included all this material thanks to newly discovered original recording sessions vaulted in mono at MGM, which also include a large number of alternates, revised cues and music that was ultimately not included in the film. The original album has been included on Disc 3 for its historical value, although it has been remastered for the first time from the first-generation stereo master tapes.
The entire collection has been painstakingly restored and mastered by Chris Malone. The package includes a richly illustrated 24-page booklet with liner notes by Tim Greiving, who offers a detailed analysis of the film and score, including quotes from an exclusive interview with Clint Eastwood given especially for this release. This album is a loving tribute to the memory and impressive legacy of arguably one of the greatest composers in film music history: Maestro Ennio Morricone.
The collection is already proving to be incredibly popular with Quartet’s website already stating that this is already ‘temporarily out of stock’ – so I would urge anyone who has not yet bought this set to check the site regularly for any further announcements. I can’t emphasise enough how important this release is as it is destined to become a very expensive and highly prized collectable.
DISC 1. The Film Score
1. Prologo / Il buono, il brutto, il cattivo (titoli) (2:47)
2. Il brutto / Il tramonto (1:21)
3. Morte di Stevens (0:55)
4. Morte di Baker / Il cattivo (0:27)
5. Una taglia sulla testa / Un angelo biondo (0:52)
6. Fuga a cavallo (0:45)
7. Il buono / Il biondo abbandona Tuco nel deserto (0:37)
8. La confessione di Maria (1:14)
9. Il ponte di corde (0:50)
10. Tuco fa la colletta (1:05)
11. Suspense (1:14)
12. I tre desperados / Una cannonata provvindenziale (1:10)
13. Il forte (2:21)
14. All’inseguimento del biondo (2:25)
15. Il deserto (5:16)
16. Il deserto secondo (2:39)
17. Lo stivale (0:59)
18. La carrozza dei fantasmi (2:07)
19. Biondo… non morire! (0:56)
20. La missione di San Antonio / Il mio miglior nemico veglia su di me (2:23)
21. Incontro con Padre Ramirez / Perdonami fratello / Ti aiuterà a difenderti (2:38)
22. Il Canyon dei Morti / Dio è con noi (0:26)
23. Marcetta prima / Marcetta seconda (2:45)
24. Il campo di prigionia di Betterville (1:25)
25. La storia di un soldato (5:34)
26. Un treno per la forca / Partenza del treno militare (1:56)
27. Tuco e Wallace (La storia di un soldato) (3:52)
28. Tuco scappa / Arrivo nella cittadina / Fine di una spia (1:16)
29. Il bandito monco (2:52)
30. Inseguilo! (0:56)
31. Il bagnoschiuma di Tuco (0:46)
32. Due contro cinque / Verso duecentomilla dollari (4:06)
DISC 2. The Film Score (Cont.)
1. Il capitano nordista (3:12)
2. Due assalti al giorno (2:08)
3. Il capitano e’ ferito (1:20)
4. Marcetta senza speranza (1:51)
5. L’ esplosione del ponte (0:48)
6. Morte di un soldato (3:17)
7. L’estasi dell’oro (3:23)
8. In due scaverete più presto! / Il triello (2:50)
9. Il triello seconda parte (2:20)
10. Non e’ uno scherzo, e’una corda / Nella linea del mirino / Il buono, il brutto, il cattivo (0:56)
11. Finale (2:01)
Bonus Tracks
12. Titoli (Versione film con cannonata) (2:46)
13. La storia di un soldato (Orchestral Version) (2:54)
14. Il tramonto (Alternate) (0:58)
15. Morte di Stevens (Alternate) (0:54)
16. Fuga a cavallo (Film Version) (0:45)
17. Intermezzo musicale (0:23)
18. Il forte (Alternate) (0:56)
19. Marcetta (Alternate) (2:44)
20. Organo (0:16)
21. Organo secondo (1:33)
22. L’estasi dell’oro (Mono Album Mix) (3:23)
23. Il triello (Alternate) (3:15)
24. Il triello / Il triello seconda parte (Extended Version) (7:13)
25. La storia di un soldato (Alternate) (3:56)
26. Lo stivale (Extended Sustain) (2:17)
27. Uahuah & effetti (2:04)
28. La storia di un soldato (Extended Stereo Version) (7:29)
29. Il triello (Alternate – Stereo Mix) (3:15)
30. La storia di un soldato (Extended Version) (3:55)
31. Titoli (Versione film con cannonata – Stereo Mix) (2:47)
DISC 3. Original Soundtrack Album
1. Il buono, il brutto, il cattivo (2:42)
2. Il tramonto (1:16)
3. Il forte (2:23)
4. Il deserto (5:18)
5. La carrozza dei fantasmi (2:08)
6. Marcetta (2:50)
7. La storia di un soldato (3:54)
8. Marcetta senza speranza (1:52)
9. Morte di un soldato (3:10)
10. L’estasi dell’oro (3:24)
11. Il triello (4:57)
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