Home Alone - 25th Anniversary 2CD Edition by La-La Land Records (2015)

[Jay 39,703]

Our BIG MAC ATTACK continues with our next release...

HOME ALONE 25TH ANIVERSARY: LIMITED EDITION (2-CD SET) LLLCD 1374

Music by John Williams

Limited Edition of 5000 Units

RETAIL PRICE: $24.98

La-La Land Records, 20th Century Fox, Fox Music and Sony Music present HOME ALONE 25th ANNIVERSARY: LIMITED EDITION, a very special restored, remastered and expanded 2-CD re-issue of renowned composer John Williams (JAWS, STAR WARS, EMPIRE OF THE SUN, A.I. ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE) original motion picture score to the timeless 1990 holiday classic feature film HOME ALONE, starring Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern, and directed by Chris Columbus. For this deluxe release, produced by Mike Matessino and Nick Redman, and executive produced for Sony Music by Jeff James and Didier C. Deutsch, producer Matessino worked with newly discovered elements (2 scoring masters containing 3-track mixes), which he transferred, mixed and mastered at high resolution (96k/24bit). The result is a strikingly sonically improved presentation of the score above and beyond any other HOME ALONE soundtrack release. Disc One contains the film score, with additional music, and Disc Two presents the re-mastered original 1990 album presentation with bonus tracks, including the addition of two tracks recorded for the film by Southside Johnny Lyon and the songs Run Rudolph Run and Rockin Around the Christmas Tree. With revised in-depth liner notes by Matessino and joyous all-new art direction by Jim Titus, this is the definitive release of a holiday classic from one of filmdoms greatest and most beloved composers.

TRACK LISTING:

DISC 1 (Total Disc Time 79:17)

THE FILM SCORE (58:13)

1 Home Alone (Main Theme) 1:30

2 Go Pack Your Suitcase / Introducing Marley / In Good Hands 1:54

3 Banished To The Attic 1:09

4 We Slept In / Hard Count 1:21

5 Making The Plane :56

6 The Basement 2:14

7 Target Practice / Sledding On The Stairs 1:32

8 Lights On / Guess Whos Home / Paris Arrival 3:21

9 The Man Of The House / Police Check 1:25

10 The Bookshelf 1:10

11 Phone Machine / Drug Store / Escape Across The Ice 3:08

12 Follow That Kid! [Film Version] 2:15

13 Listening To Carson :42

14 Cleaning Clothes / Kitchen 1:39

15 Scammed By A Kindergartner [Film Version] 2:12

16 Somewhere In My Memory (Walking Home) [Film Version] 1:09

Lyrics by Leslie Bricusse (Chorus & Orchestra)

17 O Holy Night [Film Version] 2:51

Composer: Adolphe Adam;

Translation of Lyrics: John S. Dwight (Chorus)

18 Star Of Bethlehem [Film Version]* 3:03

Lyrics by Leslie Bricusse (Chorus & Orchestra)

19 Carol Of The Bells 1:28

Music & Lyrics by Peter Wilhousky (Chorus)

20 Setting The Trap 2:31

21 The Attack Begins 1:30

22 Marv Enters The Basement / A Hot Hand / Sore Head 2:52

23 Paint Cans 2:06

24 Clothesline Trapeze / Marley To The Rescue 4:15

25 Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas [Film Version]* 1:05

26 The Next Morning / Mom Returns / Finale 4:35

27 We Wish You A Merry Christmas / End Title [Film Version] 4:19

Lyrics by Leslie Bricusse (Chorus & Orchestra)

ADDITIONAL MUSIC (21:01)

28 Star Of Bethlehem [Orchestral Version] 3:00

29 Somewhere In My Memory (Walking Home)[instrumental] 1:07

30 Jingle Bells 1:02

31 Christmas Carol Medley 7:45

32 Silent Night* 1:54 (Chorus)

33 God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen* 1:13 (Chorus)

34 O Holy Night (Alternate Finale) 1:35

35 Somewhere In My Memory 3:26

Lyrics by Leslie Bricusse (Chorus & Orchestra)

DISC 2 (Total Disc Time: 66:29)

THE 1990 SOUNDTRACK ALBUM (57:04)

1 Home Alone Main Title (Somewhere In My Memory) 4:56

Lyrics by Leslie Bricusse (Chorus & Orchestra)

2 Holiday Flight :59

3 The House 2:27

4 Star Of Bethlehem [Orchestral Version] 2:51

5 Man Of The House 4:33

6 White Christmas 2:39

Written by Irving Berlin

7 Scammed By A Kindergartner 3:55

8 Please Come Home For Christmas 2:41

Written by Charles Brown & Gene Redd

9 Follow That Kid! 2:02

10 Making The Plane :53

11 O Holy Night 2:48

Composer: Adolphe Adam;

Translation of Lyrics: John S. Dwight (Chorus)

12 Carol Of The Bells 1:25

Music & Lyrics by Peter Wilhousky (Chorus)

13 Star Of Bethlehem 2:59

Lyrics by Leslie Bricusse (Chorus)

14 Setting The Trap 2:16

15 Somewhere In My Memory (Walking Home) 1:04

Lyrics by Leslie Bricusse (Chorus & Orchestra)

16 The Attack On The House 6:53

17 Mom Returns And Finale 4:19

18 Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas 3:05

Hugh Martin & Ralph Blane (Music & Lyrics)

19 We Wish You A Merry Christmas / End Title 4:19

Lyrics: Traditional / Leslie Bricusse (Chorus & Orchestra)

Total Soundtrack Album Time: 57:04

BONUS TRACKS (9:19)

20 Run, Rudolph, Run 2:51

Written by Johnny Marks and Marvin Brodie

21 Rock And Roll Riff 1:10

22 Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas 3:12

Hugh Martin & Ralph Blane (Music & Lyrics)

23 Rockin Around The Christmas Tree 2:10

Written by Johnny Marks

Total Bonus Track Time: 9:19

Total Disc Time: 66:29

* Previously unreleased

https://www.facebook.com/lalalandrecords/photos/np.1448611350741012.502903435/10153864672443755/?type=3&theater

[Incanus 5,818]

Well since it is the complete score released by LLL before and OST plus some pop songs put together, I'll pass.

[crumbs 14,899]

Don't know if I've ever felt the need to hear this score complete, but the work LLL are doing with Williams' catalog cannot be understated. What a brilliant year it's been!

[Incanus 5,818]

Don't know if I've ever felt the need to hear this score complete, but the work LLL are doing with Williams' catalog cannot be understated. What a brilliant year it's been!

Verily I say! Verily yea!

Although I wish they would stop making even more definitive versions of their previously released definitive versions. I can't afford to buy the same score from them many times.

[Sandor 846]

Is there anything on this release composed by Williams not released on previous editions......?

[Giftheck 1,028]

I missed the first release so I will be getting this to sit alongside my Home Alone 2 release.

[filmmusic 2,248]

Is there anything on this release composed by Williams not released on previous editions......?

I'm trying to find out too.

I've got both the Ost and LLL first edition.

It seems the extra tracks are:

CD1 tracks 25, 32, 33

CD2 tracks 20-23?

Although I don't understand what's the difference between 18 and 22 in CD2.

Maybe one of them is without the vocals?

Also it's strange that this one is 5000 (which has a previous expanded release and I don't think many will get it for some extra songs) and not Braveheart!

Something else:

Why cd1 track 18 is previously unreleased?

It has the same duration as before.

I don't remember any film version.

Also, what happened to the Clothesline trapeze insert?

Is it in he track?

If it is shouldn't it be longer by 20 or so seconds?

[TownerFan 5,247]

The only Williams-related unreleased track seems to be the film version of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" (sort of, as it was arranged by Neufeld)

[fommes 155]

Seems like the Clothesline Trapeze insert has disappeared yes. (And Lights On / Paris Arrival / Guess Who's Home is still in the order of the re-edited film.)

[scallenger 577]

Pass for me. While I do like this score, I honestly prefer Home Alone 2 overall, which I picked up from LLL when they released their version of it.

[filmmusic 2,248]

Seems like the Clothesline Trapeze insert has disappeared yes. (And Lights On / Paris Arrival / Guess Who's Home is still in the order of the re-edited film.)

As I mentioned at FSM, is the insert substituted material, maybe it's IN the track in CD1.

Does anyone know if it added material or substituted material?

edit: Ok, I think I get it now that I heard the previous versions in the first expanded LLL and ost.

The insert substitutes material.

So, we have here the track in CD1 WITH the insert.

And the cue without the insert which has an alternate passage is in the OST track.

In the previous LLL version we had the cue as it was in the OST and the insert seperately.

edit:

About cd1track 18.

It says "Chorus and orchestra". There isn't any orchestra in the film version. It's chorus and organ. Maybe that's what it means? But again the chorus and organ version is in the first LLL expansion and in the OST, so i don't understand why it says previously unreleased.

So, there are 3 versions?

Chorus and organ, chorus and orchestra, orchestra?

Although the chorus and orchestra is NOT a film version.

[Richard P 4,257]

I guess this enables those who missed the first release to get it.

Otherwise, there seems nothing to excited about.

[crocodile 8,575]

Pass.

Karol

[Demondm810 413]

I don't know, I love that they re-release these when they can make them even better. I'm definitely buying it, no question.

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[Damien F 1,774]

I'm obviously glad to see any JW release by the speciality labels, but I'd rather The Lost World or Azkaban than another extended Home Alone.

[The Train Station 8,835]

Isn't this the eighth time Home Alone has been re-released this year?

[Incanus 5,818]

Isn't this the eighth time Home Alone has been re-released this year?

And it deserves every one of those releases!

[Wojo 2,456]

I think it's our obsession with anniversaries like 25 and 50 that made this a considered title for expansion and reissue. I'm content with the amount of Home Alone music I presently own.

[BloodBoal 7,541]

And nobody cares about the 33rd anniversary.

[The Train Station 8,835]

I still need to get the original 1990 album (not the recent Sony reissue!) to complete my John Williams OST collection.

[filmmusic 2,248]

Isn't this the eighth time Home Alone has been re-released this year?

And it deserves every one of those releases!

I think that that main title theme is one of the best themes Williams ever written. (i would probably include it in a list of Williams' 10 best themes ever. Do we have a thread about this? Not best scores. Best themes)

I love that delicate chromaticism in the celesta, which is so absent in film music today.

(this and the Stored memories choir theme from A.I. are the ones I had tried to transcribe by ear in the past because I love them)

So many little details and textures..

[Datameister 2,288]

It's a very fun score, and I'm very satisfied with the expanded release I already have. I'll pass.

[Balahkay 629]

I'm going to get this strictly for the film version of "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas." I am also curious to hear how the sound quality is improved. The previous release sounds excellent already. This is probably as definitive as this release is going to get of this score unless if they're saving the rest for the 30th anniversary.

[Demondm810 413]

Anyone else feel like they should get Mike Matessino a thank you present? Lol this year has been so good.

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[Jay 39,703]

I've done a Q&A with Mike Matessino, which will hopefully answer all the questions about the release. Until then let me just say this:

When the score was first recorded, some stereo mixes were made. Those 1990 stereo mixes were used in the film, for the 1990 OST CD, for the 2010 LLL CD, and for the recent Sony re-issue. That old LLL CD was actually primarily the same album master from 1990, with the unreleased music grabbed from a later generation dub of SOME score cues. And of course the recent Sony CD was just the 1990 album master re-mastered (IE, made louder)

Recently, the FIRST generation scoring masters were found - every take of every cue! So they were freshly transferred at 96khz, 24 bit digital, and Matessino re-created the entire program from scratch entirely from this transfer. Every single score track on the new set is a completely brand new master, from that first generation element. The sound is significantly improved over the 1990 stereo mixes!!

In listening to the tapes, they found all kinds of odds and ends that they didn't have before, so there's a bunch of new stuff on the set throughout - including the proper film takes of some cues we only ever had alternate takes of before! They were also able to include the Chuck Berry song that replaced "Making The Plane" in the film, and the other three Southside Johnny songs recorded for the film. The release is complete and definitive and sounds better than ever. You can sell off all three prior releases and just keep this one.

 

Even if you prefer the OST program, the version here re-built by Matessino by those first generation masters sounds much better than ever before!

[Demondm810 413]

Awesome news.

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[filmmusic 2,248]

Jay do you know what's the story of cd 1 track 18?

Why it says previously unreleased?

Is it chorus and orchestra or chorus and organ?

If it's chorus and organ what is the difference with the previously released version?

Also what's the difference between the 2 Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas in cd2?

[Jay 39,703]

CD 1 track 18 Star Of Bethlehem [Film Version]* 3:03 is possibly my favorite track on the CD! It turns out that in addition to the organ (heard on the album), there are other instruments playing in the take used in the film, too! Finally after 25 years, we have this correct take on CD! It sounds awesome with the extra instruments.

 

Oddly, even the live to projection concerts only use choir, so I was quite shocked when I first heard this!

 

All the tracks with "(film version)" indicators on CD1 contain the proper film take for the first time ever!

 

For "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas", track 18 is the Mel Torme album version and track 22 is a version by Southside Johnny that that ultimately replaced by the Torme version in the film

[filmmusic 2,248]

CD 1 track 18 Star Of Bethlehem [Film Version]* 3:03 is possibly my favorite track on the CD! It turns out that in addition to the organ (heard on the album), there are other instruments playing in the take used in the film, too!

Now that you mention it that rings a bell.

I think I may have heard something more in the film.

I'll check it.

[Jay 39,703]

You can barely hear them in the film. Easy to hear on the new CD version!

[filmmusic 2,248]

You can barely hear them in the film. Easy to hear on the new CD version!

I hear something tinkling like a glockenspiel.

[John Dutton 7,479]

So another reissue of a score that adds more music and somehow "improves" the sound, even though we thought we already had the definitive version. Thank God I stopped being a completist.

[The Train Station 8,835]

So another reissue of a score that adds more music and somehow "improves" the sound, even though we thought we already had the definitive version. Thank God I stopped being a completist.

Based on this latest information that they have recovered the original master tapes and they have been encoded at extreme ultra high definition, what you heard before sounded terrible. You just didn't know it yet!

[John Dutton 7,479]

So my version from a few years ago is now inferior and I should buy it again, just like Batman?

[Jay 39,703]

Yes.

[John Dutton 7,479]

Pass.

[The Train Station 8,835]

He's shilling for the labels! They want you to buy it again and again. It's a racket! The film score remaster louder and brighter cartel!

[BloodBoal 7,541]

[crocodile 8,575]

I'm sure Mike Matessino did the best work possible on this new release. But I just don't like this score as much. The other albums I listen to maybe once a year and it's not something I keep thinking about most of the time. My ideal Home Alone album for me would be to combine material from both scores into one 60 minute playlist, to be honest. So no, won't be spending money on this.

Karol

[JohnnyD 1,330]

Awesome! I cannot wait to get this. I have LLL's release of the Maestro's score to Home Alone 2: Lost In New York, and I have always wanted to get his score to Home Alone. This will be great, especially since this is the 25th anniversary. Fantastic!

[John Dutton 7,479]

For me, the score is presented best by the OST. This was a score I wanted complete for years. I had "Listening to Carson" recorded from the TV speaker on my Talkboy. However, when the complete score eventually was released, I found that the listening experience was ruined by having all the music and arranging the cues in chronological order. The score doesn't flow at all in complete/chronological presentation. Even the OST is a bit too long. This is yet another reissue of a score that has the OST album presented and they claim it has superior sound and/or that the old version was created from copies of a third generation master that was stolen by Sudanese pirates and played back at the wrong speed (or whatever), but it's always just brighter and louder.

[jacksparrow900 36]

God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman wasn't even in the film. I know that John Williams used the song in Hook.

[The Train Station 8,835]

For me, the score is presented best by the OST. This was a score I wanted complete for years. I had "Listening to Carson" recorded from the TV speaker on my Talkboy. However, when the complete score eventually was released, I found that the listening experience was ruined by having all the music and arranging the cues in chronological order. The score doesn't flow at all in complete/chronological presentation. Even the OST is a bit too long. This is yet another reissue of a score that has the OST album presented and they claim it has superior sound and/or that the old version was created from copies of a third generation master that was stolen by Sudanese pirates and played back at the wrong speed (or whatever), but it's always just brighter and louder.

Yeah I feel it's just now I'm beginning to wake up to this "your old version had inferior sources, this latest one is the best it'll ever sound [until we remaster and reissue it again]" spiel is just marketing jargon that preys on this community's vulnerability in its ideology of obsolescence when it comes to older albums.

[Jay 39,703]

God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman wasn't even in the film. I know that John Williams used the song in Hook.

Silent Night and God Rest You Merry Gentlemen were originally recorded for the church sequence before being ultimately replaced by Star Of Bethlehem! They've sat in a vault unheard for 25 years!

[Demondm810 413]

It feels like I'm the only one excited for this.

I would much rather have them revisit these scores when they have superior elements then take the position "did it already".

The Batman difference was significant.

[Balahkay 629]

It feels like I'm the only one excited for this. I would much rather have them revisit these scores when they have superior elements then take the position "did it already". The Batman difference was significant.

I'm very excited about this release!

[Jay 39,703]

I've listened to this new edition more than Jaws!

It's awesome!

[JohnnyD 1,330]

Like I said, I cannot wait to get this. I never got LLL's first release of the Maestro's score, so to be able to get this, in commemoration of the film's 25th anniversary, with all of the Maestro's music completely remastered and restored, is fantastic. This has been a great year for the Maestro. With the release of his scores to A.I. Artificial Intelligence, Jaws, Jaws 2, and now Home Alone, not to mention his latest work (Star Wars, Episode VII: The Force Awakens), and his latest concert works, it has been phenomenal. Thank you, Maestro.

[Balahkay 629]

We've definitely been spoiled this year will all these Williams releases. And there's still a Star Wars score to top it all off.

[JasonTHX 21]

I'm going to get this strictly for the film version of "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas." I am also curious to hear how the sound quality is improved. The previous release sounds excellent already. This is probably as definitive as this release is going to get of this score unless if they're saving the rest for the 30th anniversary.

An instrumental only version of this would be awesome.