Tom Sawyer (1973) - 2015 2-CD Quartet Records expansion

[filmmusic 2,462]

And, another John Williams!!!!

http://www.filmscoremonthly.com/board/posts.cfm?threadID=113050

TOM SAWYER
Expanded Original MGM Motion Picture Soundtrack (2CD set)
Music & Lyrics by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman
Music Supevised and Conducted by John Williams
Limited edition of 1500 units
Release date: 12/15/2015

http://www.quartetrecords.com/media/catalog/product/t/o/tom_sawyer.jpg

Quartet Records and MGM are proud to present an expanded 2-CD set featuring the delightful songs composed by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman (Mary Poppins, The Happiest Millionaire, Bedknobs and Broomsticks), supervised and conducted (with background score composed by) the legendary John Williams.

Based on the immortal novel by Mark Twain, this 1973 musical version, with the classic American literature characters Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn, was directed by Don Taylor (The Island of Doctor Moreau, Damien: Omen II), and starred Johnny Whitaker, Jeff East, Celeste Holm, Warren Oates and a very young Jodie Foster.

Ten original Sherman Brothers songs (plus the instrumental Overture and Finale) were released on LP by United Artists at the time of the film’s premiere, but some songs were truncated, and a lot of reverb was used in the mixes (the orchestra is almost nonexistent behind the songs). The same program was reissued on CD in 2004 by Varese Sarabande, but sadly the tapes were transferred at incorrect pitch and speed—and the underscore composed by John Williams was still almost entirely missing.

While preparing this new reissue with a proper transfer, we were lucky to find, mislabeled, the 16´´ multi-tracks (eight channels for orchestra, eight for voices) including previously unreleased material. The slightly expanded album has been restored by Chris Malone and remixed by José Vinader, and offered here in full stereo. In the multi-tracks we found not only the original (uncut) version of “Hannibal-Mo,” but also some portions of the underscore. We have also used this opportunity to offer the songs in their instrumental-only versions, where you can appreciate the wonderful orchestrations of Mr. Williams, reminiscent of the Americana sound of The Reivers or The Missouri Breaks.

On the second CD we have included all of the songs heard in the film (in their original, complete form) plus the entire underscore. Unfortunately, the only available source was the mono music stem preserved by MGM. Not the best source, and although it showed signs of deterioration and some distortions in the voices, it has been carefully restored and mastered by Doug Schwartz at Mullholland Music, and it is the only way to finally have an archival edition of this wonderful score.

The full-color 24-page booklet includes in-depth liner notes from film music writer John Takis, including an interview with Mr. Richard Sherman.

Track list:
DISC ONE (Stereo)
THE EXPANDED ORIGINAL ALBUM
01. Overture (3:08
02. Main Title / River Song (The Theme From Tom Sawyer) (4:25)
03. Tom Sawyer! (2:11)
04. Trading* / Gratifaction (3:26)
05. A Man’s Gotta Be (What He Was Born to Be) (3:25)
06. How Come? (2:09)
07. If’n I Was God (2:29)
08. Freebootin’ (2:16)
09. Aunt Polly’s Soliloquy (1:26)
10. Hannibal Mo-(Zouree)!** (5:13)
11. River Song (The Theme From Tom Sawyer) (Reprise) / End Cast* (2:29)
12. Finale (1:41)##12 Finale
*Previously unreleased
**Extended
THE INSTRUMENTAL VERSIONS
13. Main Title / River Song (The Theme From Tom Sawyer) (4:25)
14. Tom Sawyer! (2:11)
15. Trading / Gratifaction (3:26)
16. A Man’s Gotta Be (What He Was Born to Be) (3:25)
17. How Come? (2:09)
18. If’n I Was God (2:29)
19. Freebootin’ (2:16)##19 Freebootin (Instrumental)
20. Aunt Polly’s Soliloquy (1:26)
21. Hannibal Mo-(Zouree)! (4:13)
22. River Song (The Theme From Tom Sawyer) (Reprise) / End Cast (2:29) (Instrumental)

DISC TWO (Mono)
THE COMPLETE FILM SOUNDTRACK
01. Overture (3:07)
02. Main Title (Extended) / River Song (The Theme From Tom Sawyer) (5:09)
03. Joe’s Entrance (1:13)
04. Tom Sawyer! (2:09)
05. The Fence (1:07)
06. Trading / Gratifaction (3:14)
07. Kids Chase (0:44)
08. Over the Fence (0:27)
09. Muff’s Intro / A Man’s Gotta Be (What He Was Born to Be) (3:49)
10. The Killing of Doc Robinson (1:33)
11. Sworn in Blood (1:19)
12. How Come? (Film Version) / How Come? (Coda) (2:58)
13. If’n I Was God (2:28)
14. River Song (Reprise) / Freebootin’ (Film Version) (3:01)
15. Joe Eavesdrops / Aunt Polly’s Soliloquy (Film Version) / Lights Out (2:57)
16. Log Hunting / Rock of Ages (1:48)
17. Hannibal Mo-(Zouree)! (4:58)
18. Injun Joe (0:34)
19. McDougal’s Cave / Martyrdom (4:10)
20. Muff’s Exit (1:13)
21. Off to St. Louis / River Song (End Title) / End Cast (3:07)
22. Finale (Exit Music) (1:40)

Total Disc 1 Time: 72:28
Total Disc 2 Time: 53:36
Total Album Time: 126:04

For more info, order and listen audio samples, please visit www.quartetrecords.com

[Scarpia 132]

This is great! But the timing of all these new expanded releases plus The Force Awakens is killing my bank account.

[filmmusic 2,462]

This is great! But the timing of all these new expanded releases plus The Force Awakens is killing my bank account.

I know what you mean!

First time there are so many releases I want to buy, around 7-8!

And most of them are limited.

I guess this one should be my priority since it's limited to 1500!

[Koray Savas 2,255]

I don't think this one is going to sell out anytime soon.

[aescalle 123]

Amazing !!!!

[Jay 41,370]

I think it will sell out fast!

Wow, what a surprise release!

[Lady Dimitrescu 9,338]

[Incanus 5,848]

Oh drat it says Williams on the cover, it must be bought!

[mstrox 7,085]

Hmmmm...may or may not draw the line here. How much of that second disc is actually Williams-composed score?

[JohnnyD 1,453]

Holy cow... What a nice surprise! I am definitely getting this.

Is there an option to order it from a different, more local site (I want to avoid having something shipped from Europe to the U.S.)?

[Jay 41,370]

Here you go

http://www1.screenarchives.com/title_detail.cfm/ID/30586/

[JohnnyD 1,453]

Here you go

http://www1.screenarchives.com/title_detail.cfm/ID/30586/

Thank you very much. Ordered!

[Thor 9,114]

I'm quite excited about this! Here's one example where I felt an expansion was warranted, since the original album hardly had anything of Williams' original material (unless you count the "Overture", which has his definite stamp on it -- even if it's based on thematic material from the songs).

I think I may very well buy this!

[Mr. Lovejoy 7,715]

Hmmmm...may or may not draw the line here. How much of that second disc is actually Williams-composed score?

The line must be drawn here!

I couldn't even make it through the 1 CD version.

[mstrox 7,085]

Hmmmm...may or may not draw the line here. How much of that second disc is actually Williams-composed score?

The line must be drawn here!

I couldn't even make it through the 1 CD version.

But the 1-CD version didn't have any of Williams' score!

[Mr. Lovejoy 7,715]

Not interested!

On the second CD we have included all of the songs heard in the film (in their original, complete form) plus the entire underscore. Unfortunately, the only available source was the mono music stem preserved by MGM. Not the best source, and although it showed signs of deterioration and some distortions in the voices, it has been carefully restored and mastered by Doug Schwartz at Mullholland Music, and it is the only way to finally have an archival edition of this wonderful score.

I like that Quartet admits this stuff. Can you imagine if La-La Land had been like, "The Ultimate War, arguably the most desired music from this score, is sourced from the film stems and sounds noticeably poorer than the rest of the music on the set. There are volume shifts, loops and edits, but it was the best we could do!"

[Jay 41,370]

Liner notes by John Takis!

[Nemesis 268]

Just ordered this one together with Total Recall!

[John Takis 353]

Hmmmm...may or may not draw the line here. How much of that second disc is actually Williams-composed score?

Including the interstitial bits surrounding the songs, there are around 20 minutes of underscore in Tom Sawyer, most of it previously unreleased. From my new interview with Richard Sherman, Williams was given a very free hand with the material. They would discuss when to use music, the overall sound, and where certain themes might be appropriate, but by and large he had carte blanche. What may be a revelation to first-time listeners is the darker material on the second disc -- score cues like "Injun Joe," "The Killing of Doc Robinson," "Sworn in Blood" and "McDougal's Cave" -- which is vintage Williams adventure/suspense material. (As I mention in the liners, "Sworn in Blood" even prefigures Hook!) Even in mono form, it's a real treat to hear. And, of course, the album program sounds better than ever in its expanded and corrected form. Overall, this new set is a real treat for both Sherman Brothers fans and Williams devotees! I highly recommend it.

[Jay 41,370]

Sounds great!

[King Mark 3,800]

I would have preferred Thomas and the King with Instrumental Tracks only

[Romão 2,360]

For you, even this glass is 1/7th empty

[King Mark 3,800]

I should have said...I hope Thomas and the King Instrumental comes out one day

[Thor 9,114]

Oh you naysayers go back to your STAR WARSes and INDIANA JONESes and HARRY POTTERs and leave the REAL John Williams interest to the rest of us....

[fommes 159]

Yeah, leave the INJUN JOEs to Thor!

[mstrox 7,085]

Hmmmm...may or may not draw the line here. How much of that second disc is actually Williams-composed score?

Including the interstitial bits surrounding the songs, there are around 20 minutes of underscore in Tom Sawyer, most of it previously unreleased. From my new interview with Richard Sherman, Williams was given a very free hand with the material. They would discuss when to use music, the overall sound, and where certain themes might be appropriate, but by and large he had carte blanche. What may be a revelation to first-time listeners is the darker material on the second disc -- score cues like "Injun Joe," "The Killing of Doc Robinson," "Sworn in Blood" and "McDougal's Cave" -- which is vintage Williams adventure/suspense material. (As I mention in the liners, "Sworn in Blood" even prefigures Hook!) Even in mono form, it's a real treat to hear. And, of course, the album program sounds better than ever in its expanded and corrected form. Overall, this new set is a real treat for both Sherman Brothers fans and Williams devotees! I highly recommend it.

Thanks for the info - enough to sell me. Going on the wishlist for the new year

[Jay 41,370]

This is now up to order at all the soundtrack stores:

http://www1.screenarchives.com/title_detail.cfm/ID/30586/

http://www.moviemusic.com/soundtrack/M10228/tom-sawyer/

http://store.intrada.com/s.nl/it.A/id.10021/.f?

http://www.musicbox-records.com/en/cd-soundtracks/2666-tom-sawyer-expanded.html

[Bespin Copilot 9,281]

As a guy who just try to make a discography, I have only a thing to say : STOP!

I can't follow! STOP!

[Marian Schedenig 9,744]

Ordered.

[RedBard 71]

Perfect.

I was looking for a musical adaption of Tom Sawyer to go with "Big River" (a musical adaption of Huckleberry Finn).

[pixie_twinkle 60]

Ordered. I have this on vinyl but no longer have anything to play it on, so it'll be fun to hear it again.

[Omen II 1,258]

Father Christmas delivered this a few days early for me from sunny Spain today!

 

I have never seen the film, nor had I heard a note of the score for Tom Sawyer so it has been fascinating to give this its first listen.  Anyone dubious about buying this due to doubts about how much John Williams is in it can rest assured that his fingerprints are all over the music.  In fact if you did not know that the Sherman brothers had written the songs, you would have no reason to think any of it at all was not by JW.

 

As you might expect, a lot of the music reminds me of scores such as The Reivers and the contemporaneous The Man Who Loved Cat Dancing and even bits of The Paper Chase.  The 'instrumental' versions of the original album on disc 1 play like any other great John Williams score of the era, while the mono sound of disc 2 is perfectly listenable given its source material (and features a number of indispensable 'pure Williams' tracks).  And while it's no The Wizard of Oz, many of the songs are rather pleasant and catchy.  I am enjoying this album much more than I had thought I would.

[mahler3 504]

On 11 December 2015 at 4:15 PM, E.T. and Elliot said:

Not interested!

I like that Quartet admits this stuff. Can you imagine if La-La Land had been like, "The Ultimate War, arguably the most desired music from this score, is sourced from the film stems and sounds noticeably poorer than the rest of the music on the set. There are volume shifts, loops and edits, but it was the best we could do!"

 

That's unfair. It's the best that they could do with what was available. Remember that there were elements available to La La but they were unapproved. 

 

 

 

Fiddler on the Roof Complete would be very welcome at some point soon. The film version of Miracle of Miracles with the classic JW touches and the Intro after the Intermission in particular.

[Josh500 1,618]

Just got it. 

 

I'm gonna listen to it in the next few days, I'm still busy with TFA and the expanded A.I. 

[Bryant Burnette 716]

Got mine in the mail yesterday.  Good stuff, provided you enjoy the Shermans' songs and/or enjoy early-seventies Williams.  The sound quality was just fine; the descriptions had me a bit worried, but I don't think I'd ever have noticed anything amiss without them.  Granted, I'm no audiophile.

[filmmusic 2,462]

I just read at FSM some people missing disc 2.

Is everyboy OK here?

Did anyone order from Quartet directly and it didn't have disc 2?

[Koray Savas 2,255]

I ordered from SAE and mine had both discs. 

[Marian Schedenig 9,744]

I ordered from soundtrackcorner.de and am missing disc 2. They said they already know about it and will send the missing disc as soon as they get it.

[Incanus 5,848]

Got this last weekend and had time to give it a spin yesterday. Although the Shermans contributed the songs it all feels like a John Williams score through and through aside from the melodies. His orchestrational fingerprints are all over this music and it feels very much like the continuation of his Reivers styled sprightly Americana. Will look forward to delving into this in earnest soon.

[Bryant Burnette 716]

Got mine from SAE; both discs were there.

[Jay 41,370]

I ordered direct from Quartet - Haven't opened yet, but everything should be fine, right?  Or are people reporting a missing disc when ordering direct, too?

[mstrox 7,085]

I'm sure it's a packing plant issue, and not on a vendor-by-vendor basis.  I'd check.

[Jay 41,370]

True, good point

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,668]

Better open it and make sure!

[Incanus 5,848]

27 minutes ago, Jay said:

I ordered direct from Quartet - Haven't opened yet, but everything should be fine, right?  Or are people reporting a missing disc when ordering direct, too?

My copy bought directly from Quartet had both discs.

[Marian Schedenig 9,744]

Mine, with only one disc, was shrink wrapped. So I'm pretty sure it's a production issue.

[Jay 41,370]

Well of course it was shrink wrapped.  They're all shrink wrapped.

[mstrox 7,085]

I just bought yesterday from SAE.  Guess I'll see.  Not too concerned, since they know it's a problem and will replace discs.

[Nemesis 268]

Mine arrived with the correct two CD's.

[Marian Schedenig 9,744]

3 hours ago, Jay said:

Well of course it was shrink wrapped.  They're all shrink wrapped.

 

And I don't expect stores to unwrap and re-wrap them. Which leads to the conclusion that the second disc was already missing before it arrived, shrink wrapped, at the store...