Conan The Barbarian by Basil Poledouris (Intrada 3CD Complete)

[Jay 41,553]

INTRADA Announces:



CONAN THE BARBARIAN
Composed and Conducted by BASIL POLEDOURIS
INTRADA MAF 7123

Basil Poledouri's score to the 1982 Universal film Conan the Barbarian remains the most impressive amongst his body of work. Poledouris delivered an impressive schematic of driving rhythm, charged strings and muscular brass that propelled the movie forward like the hammer of the gods. For almost the first thirty minutes the music appears continuous, the various themes and motifs ebbing and flowing, dovetailing seamlessly. Playing for long stretches against dialogue-free visuals, the score completely creates the sound of Cimmeria—a credible world for Conan to inhabit, the music representing his inner turmoil, confusion, and rage.

For this new, definitive release of Conan The Barbarian, Intrada’s 3-CD set is a box of delights even for those who know this fabulous music inside and out. Recorded in Italy by two separate orchestras and remixed from the original 24-track multi-track masters, it is now presented in a way that would make even Basil proud; it shines with a new clarity, a resonance and breadth of scope that makes the whole experience feel fresh and vibrant. The original soundtrack album and its subsequent reissues from 1/4" masters always had a “pinched” quality to them. And this definitive Intrada set contains a host of alternates and unheard treasures. Just in time for the 30th anniversary of the film’s release, this new collection of everything Basil recorded for the film is an emotional high—pure joy for collectors and cultists everywhere.

In the film, Thulsa Doom (James Earl Jones) leads a charge on Conan’s (Arnold Schwarzenegger) village and the young Conan watches while his father is eaten alive by dogs, and his mother is beheaded. Conan is taken into slavery and harnessed to the Wheel of Pain where he pushes the mill’s grindstone, endlessly building his muscles and anger. Freed under mysterious circumstances, he pursues his thirst for revenge, and in cahoots with Subotai (Gerry Lopez) and Valeria (Sandahl Bergman), he plots the downfall of Thulsa Doom.

INTRADA MAF 7123
Retail Price: $29.99
Available Now
For track listing and sound samples, please visit
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CONAN THE BARBARIAN (3CD)
Label: Intrada MAF 7123
Date: 1982
Tracks: 53
Time = 187:17

At last! Complete soundtrack by Basil Poledouris to John Milius epic with Arnold Schwarzenegger as Conan, James Earl Jones as Thulsa Doom, Sandahl Bergman as Valeria. Legendary music needs little introduction but long journey to 3-CD set warrants spotlight. Thought missing for decades, even by composer, Universal vaults reveal recently discovered 2" 24-track & 1/2" 3-track stereo session masters in mint condition for entire project, right down to rehearsal takes! (Assorted extra tracks on earlier Varese Sarabande release were made from composer's own incomplete 1/4" two-track copy.) Having complete multi-track session elements allows Intrada to newly mix and master everything, finding cool extras in the process! All of them are here!

Poledouris originally scores main title with high trumpets joining horns on primary theme plus dynamic horn counter-melody playing in mid-section. Only one raw take is made before re-writes on podium create familiar final version. Other previously unreleased cues include rich version of "The Awakening" with lengthy never-before-heard woodwind bridge section dropped from final film version plus haunting early versions of "Orphans Of Doom", one scored for orchestra plus solo mezzo-soprano, one scored for chorus with harp alone. Three versions of opening prologue, alternate version of "Battle Of The Mounds Part II" add more fun! Original Poledouris music for snake sequence, savage "Pit Fights" are more highlights. Poledouris didn't write music for kitchen battle sequence as scene was scored editorially from other cues.

For Conan purists, we have recreated entire sequence (including awkward edits) for this segment as well as for closing "End Credits", also created editorially in picture itself. Many of composer's unique percussion sequences were created through experimentation right at sessions, including size and pitch of tunable drums, volume of tam tams, density of rhythmic figures, so forth. It's all here! Poledouris was fond of his own 48-minute distillation of highlights from massive score so we have licensed that original 1982 MCA album from UMG as well, newly mastered from original album tapes. Two final extras: opening prologue with Mako narration plus actual mono tape master for film version of snake sequence preferred by director Milius.

Fascinating, personalized notes by Nick Redman plus musical coverage by Douglass Fake give listener something to read, exciting graphic design by Joe Sikoryak featuring Schwarzenegger and other cast give listener something to look at. Primal intensity and crisp, vibrant details of original performances are without equal. Basil Poledouris conducts. MAF series 3-disc release!

CD 1 Complete Score
01. Prologue/Anvil Of Crom 3:39
02. Riddle Of Steel/Riders Of Doom 5:40
03. Gift Of Fury 3:51
04. Column Of Sadness/Wheel Of Pain 4:10
05. Pit Fights 2:40
06. The Discipline Of Steel/Freedom Council 1:38
07. Atlantean Sword 4:01
08. Warm Welcome 2:06
09. Wolf Witch 3:10
10. Theology/Civilization 3:14
11. Street Of Deviants 0:29
12. Hopefuls At The Tower Of Set 2:22
13. The Tower Of Set 5:38
14. The Snake/Infidels 2:01
15. The Tavern 1:14
16. Wifeing (Theme Of Love From "Conan The Barbarian") 2:11
17. Indulgence/Mettle 1:15
18. The Hall Of King Osric 1:18
19. The Leaving/The Search 5:58
CD 1 Total Time: 56:32

CD 2 Complete Score (Continued...)
01. The Mountain Of Power Procession 3:22
02. Capture 0:52
03. Tree Of Woe/Recovery 5:46
04. Warpaint 1:10
05. The Kitchen/The Orgy 6:30
06. The Defilers 5:16
07. Funeral Pyre 4:32
08. Battle Of The Mounds Part I 4:52
09. Battle Of The Mounds Part II 2:16
10. Battle Of The Mounds Part III (Revised)/Night Of Doom 5:36
11. Head Chop 0:57
12. Orphans Of Doom/The Awakening 5:33
13. Conan The King/End Title 5:28
CD 2 Score Time: 52:04

The Extras
14. Prologue (First Version) 0:46
15. Anvil Of Crom (First Version) 2:31
16. The Tower Of Set Part 1 (First Version) 3:46
17. Battle Of The Mounds Part II (First Version) 2:16
18. Battle Of The Mounds Part III (First Version) 3:03
19. Orphans Of Doom (Orchestra and Solo Voice) 1:22
20. Orphans Of Doom (Chorus and Harp)/The Awakening (First Version) 6:45
21. "Las Cantigas De Santa Maria" (The Snake) 6:01
Total Extras Time: 26:40

CD 2 Total Time: 78:41

Original 1982 Soundtrack Album
01. Anvil Of Crom 2:35
02. Riddle Of Steel/Riders Of Doom 5:38
03. Gift Of Fury 3:51
04. Wheel Of Pain 4:10
05. Atlantean Sword 3:51
06. Theology/Civilization 3:14
07. Wifeing (Theme Of Love From "Conan The Barbarian") 2:11
08. The Search 3:09
09. The Orgy 4:16
10. Funeral Pyre 4:30
11. Battle Of The Mounds 4:54
12. Orphans Of Doom/The Awakening 5:32
Total Album Time: 48:17

One Last Extra
13. Prologue (W/Narration)/Anvil Of Crom 3:39

CD 3 Total Time: 52:06


Basil Poledouris
Price: $29.99

Available to order RIGHT NOW

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[filmmusic 2,505]

This is not limited, right?

[Jay 41,553]

Correct, all titles in Intrada's MAF line are unlimited.

[Incanus 5,848]

Great! I can't get this at the moment but I might eventually be able to afford this along with some other titles.

[Marian Schedenig 9,802]

Sure buy, eventually. No hurry though, I'll wait for the next limited releases.

[crocodile 8,947]

Ditto.

It might happen before this year ends, though.

Karol

[ST-321 4]

Very tempting, but I'll wait for now.

[Matt C 489]

It does sound much clearer and crisp, but the clearer sound belies the smaller ensemble and inexperienced players. That said, it's a vast improvement over the original release(s) just in sound quality alone.

I still prefer the Prague re-recording, though.

[BloodBoal 7,542]

I'll wait for the LSO re-recording. Now, that will be badass!

[Laserschwert 555]

Is the description, by any chance, missing tons of "the", "this" and the likes? A very weird read...

[ST-321 4]

Is the description, by any chance, missing tons of "the", "this" and the likes? A very weird read...

Agreed.

[BloodBoal 7,542]

Is the description, by any chance, missing tons of "the", "this" and the likes? A very weird read...

That's because it was written by a barbarian.

[Ollie 1,233]

I should have mine tomorrow.

The clips sound excellent. I love the re-recording but it lacks the punch the original tracks have.

[Henry B 51]

Is the description, by any chance, missing tons of "the", "this" and the likes? A very weird read...

That's Intrada's press release style. It's always rather annoying to read.

[gkgyver 1,647]

Is wrong grammar a style?

[Wojo 2,457]

Is wrong grammar a style?

It is if you consider Cormac McCarthy to be a good author.

To an extent, I can see how the brutish language of Intrada's press release is meant to be spoken out loud with the same broken English that a barbarian like Conan would use, or even Tarzan.

[Ollie 1,233]

They read fine for me. Never had an issue with their wording.

[Koray Savas 2,255]

It's written in that "Extra! Extra!" type splurge of key words to get one interested.

[Ollie 1,233]

It's all about the music for me.

[Jay 41,553]

I have to say, for as much as this score was wanted by so many and this release was hyped for so long, i have seen hardly any discussion on it at all!

Now that people have it and have had time to listen to it - what do you think? Do you like it more than any previous version? Has this version changed your opinion of the score at all?

How is the sound quality and mixing on this release? Any disappointments at all with this release?

I'd love to read your thoughts!

[shockwave 8]

My bad Jason, I haven't listen to the complete score yet. Only 1/2 but from a novice point of view. It's great I am sooo happy of this release. I have acutally been listening more to Flight of the Intruder since this was an unrelease Poledouris gem.

[crocodile 8,947]

I'm thinking of buying it, but first I need to read some thoughts as well.

Karol

[filmmusic 2,505]

How is the sound quality and mixing on this release? Any disappointments at all with this release?

i haven't purchased the release, neither did I listen to it, but I'm dissapointed a bit since according to someone in FSM, the track "The Orgy" in CD2, is missing the big Gong hits in the climax at the end.

This was my favouirte spot and I always waited for this when I was listening to the track.

Of course the album version of it which is in CD3, has these hits intact.

Funny thing is that the Bluray also misses those hits!

there is an official answer from Intrada about this from what I remember in the thread at FSM about this error/problem.

[Meredith McKay 7,479]

I didn't really like the sound, I prefer the Tadlow/Prometheus.

[Jay 41,553]

How is the sound quality and mixing on this release? Any disappointments at all with this release?

i haven't purchased the release, neither did I listen to it, but I'm dissapointed a bit since according to someone in FSM, the track "The Orgy" in CD2, is missing the big Gong hits in the climax at the end.

This was my favouirte spot and I always waited for this when I was listening to the track.

Of course the album version of it which is in CD3, has these hits intact.

Funny thing is that the Bluray also misses those hits!

there is an official answer from Intrada about this from what I remember in the thread at FSM about this error/problem.

It was answered by Doug here:

http://www.intrada.net/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=62409#p62409

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,744]

I want this badly! But i just cant afford it now.

[Wojo 2,457]

It's on my list of albums to tag.

[Koray Savas 2,255]

Haven't bought it yet.

[Joe Brausam 222]

I've got it, but I could have lived without it.

I was actually pretty disappointed in the alternate Anvil of Crom, because I expected it to be more unique. However it's very much like the Tadlow recording's version, in terms of the brass parts. Even the "busy horn line" in the B section is actually on the Tadlow recording.

The sound is decent, it's really not bad and you can hear things that you haven't heard before - but you just can't mask the performance. Some say that the mistakes are excusable because the performance is more passionate, but for the most part I hear just as much passion in the Tadlow recording - and more accurate playing as well.

I'm not looking forward to their release of Destroyer...I'll buy it, but there's no way it can replace the Tadlow recording, nor can the original Barbarian tracks.

[Wojo 2,457]

I bought this basically because I owned neither the Milan nor Varese, so it's nice to replace an OOP download with an affordable purchase instead of an overpriced original.

[Brundlefly 2,400]

Is this the Prometheus Re-recording or the Intrada Original presentation of the score?

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,744]

Its the City Of Prague.

[BloodBoal 7,542]

Doesn't sound like it to me.

[Romão 2,375]

It's the City of Prague re-recording by Tadlow, absolutely no question about it

[Brundlefly 2,400]

Which is the best complete score recording?

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,744]

2 hours ago, BloodBoal said:

Doesn't sound like it to me.

 

Obviously you are incorrect since it sounds exactly like the CoP!

[A. A. Ron 2,192]

1 hour ago, Brundlefly said:

Which is the best complete score recording?

 

While brickwalled, the Prague recording is easily the best, both in terms of performance and sound quality. Personally, I think it has the best arrangement/assembly of the music as well.

[Brundlefly 2,400]

Which original recording was it that Poledouris was not satisfied with?

Barbarian or Destroyer?

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,744]

Both, probably.

[Corellian2019 446]

It was Destroyer

[OneBuckFilms 426]

Much more with Destroyer than Barbarian.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,744]

Both, probably.

[A. A. Ron 2,192]

Someone from Intrada -- don't remember if it was Doug, Roger or both -- has said Basil was disappointed with the recording of Destroyer. Meanwhile, James Fitzpatrick said there were things Basil didn't like about the original recording for Barbarian, hence the Prague recording, which had been discussed before Basil's passing.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,744]

Basil had to make some adjustments to his first Conan score.

[DangerMotif 1,238]

I know that there was some issues with the Destroyer set, how is this set?

it’s back in stock

[A. A. Ron 2,192]

It’s a good album, but just as flawed. It doesn’t have perfect sound, but it’s still better than any other release of the original recording. The Intrada is also the only one to feature the complete opening of “The Kitchen,” but the producers idiotically chose to crossfade that new opening with the source drum loop that goes before it chronologically in the film. They put all the other boring drum loops into the body of the score as well, which I’m sure is a decision that some see as a positive, but I personally think it hurts the listening experience.

 

Since they play separately on the OST on Disc 3, I believe Doug said on the Intrada forums that they considered throwing all of the cues from “Riddle of Steel” to “Wheel of Pain” (or thereabouts) into a single extended suite on Disc 1, but they ultimately didn’t do that for whatever reason. It‘s obviously an easy thing to edit together if you prefer them to play together or if you want to have both options.

 

It’s definitely a score I wish would get revisited by another label, but for now, this is the album to get. That is unless you’re into re-recordings, in which case I strongly recommend you check out the Prague recording as released by Prometheus. It’s mastered a little loud, but the performance and assembly are top notch and it’s one of my favorite score albums of all time.

[Andy 5,678]

It’s not a perfect presentation . But it’s absolutely essential for anyone remotely into film music.  Get it. 

[Holko 11,150]

1 hour ago, Andy said:

But it’s absolutely essential for anyone remotely into film music.  Get it. 

Only if you like it. And even then I'd put the rerecording as a higher prio.