New Conan Soundtracks on the way

UPDATE!

Looks like the soundtrack has run into an awkward situation. From Intrada's Forums.

Here's an important item I'm literally just now working with... and you're welcome to chime in with your preferences. You may not get what you want, but maybe it'll help me make my choice. Please stick to the topic as I'm really curious about your responses to my question.

The first two cues in CONAN THE BARBARIAN are segued together in the movie, then the next three are combined into one giant piece in the picture as well. Poledouris dropped his opening prologue from the U.S. album and started right off with the "Anvil Of Crom". We'll include the opening prologue before the credits because it sounds so cool going from bass drum hits and light percussion suddenly to massive tympani and orchestra for the titles... but it's the next three cues that I'm curious about. Yes, we're including them, of course. But... as one large sequence as heard in the film - and intended by Poledouris - or as three separate cues like the album - and intended by Poledouris. (This is not a contradiction, by the way.)

Poledouris literally composed the segues (or crossfades) right into "Gift Of Fury", "Riders Of Doom" and "Wheel Of Pain" by ensuring the closing bars of each matched the opening bars of the following and whatnot. In the film it works beautifully and if assembled as such on the album for the first time it'll have a powerful effect. It was designed to work that way so it's not just good fortune.

However... Poledouris wanted to keep each of these parts separate on his album - and he did. And each cue works by itself as well. And, yes, the re-recording retains that sequence.

It's not practical or economically sensible to have all of these cues appear twice on our release, just to play it both ways (though I've thought about it) so...

Do you think you'd prefer the film assembly (which is quite dramatic when played as one lengthy cue) or the album assembly (which retains a degree of individual clarity not possible with the film assembly). Remember, Poledouris wanted it both ways... and got what he wanted with a movie and a record. We have to make a choice.
--Doug


What do you think? Should the tracks be split, or should it all be one whole complete track that goes on for about.... 10-15 minutes? I hope there's enough room for both if you ask me. But if the choice were on my hands, I'd go with the separation of the tracks simply because if you wanted to, you could merge the tracks yourself. If they were merged, you wouldn't be able to un-merge them without cutting out bits of the front.
 
Is it possible to have three separate tracks that run together when played straight through? A lot of albums do that, especially live concert albums.
 
Is it possible to have three separate tracks that run together when played straight through? A lot of albums do that, especially live concert albums.

It can be done, question is do we really want to play "Anvil of Crom" that doesn't start on it's own? That can be a little annoying.
 
An update over at the Intrada forum makes it sound like this is very close. 3 discs. 110 minutes (!!!) of music. Going to be great.
 
Well, here she is!

attachment.php
attachment.php


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

Basil Poledouris' 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
CONAN THE BARBARIAN (3CD)

CD1
COMPLETE SCORE
01. Prologue / Anvil Of Crom (03:39)
02. Riddle Of Steel / Riders Of Doom (05:40)
03. Gift Of Fury (03:51)
04. Column Of Sadness / Wheel Of Pain (04:10)
05. Pit Fights (02:40)
06. The Discipline Of Steel / Freedom Council (01:38)
07. Atlantean Sword (04:01)
08. Warm Welcome (02:06)
09. Wolf Witch (03:10)
10. Theology / Civilization (03:14)
11. Street Of Deviants (00:29)
12. Hopefuls At The Tower Of Set (02:22)
13. The Tower Of Set (05:38)
14. The Snake / Infidels (02:01)
15. The Tavern (01:14)
16. Wifeing (Love Theme From Conan The Barbarian) (02:11)
17. Indulgence / Mettle (01:15)
18. The Hall Of King Osric (01:23)
19. The Leaving / The Search (05:58)
Total Time : 56:51

CD2
01. The Mountain Of Power Procession (03:22)
02. Capture (00:52)
03. Tree Of Woe / Recovery (05:46)
04. Warpaint (01:01)
05. The Kitchen / The Orgy (06:30)
06. The Defilers (05:16)
07. Funeral Pyre (04:32)
08. Battle Of The Mounds - Part I (04:52)
09. Battle Of The Mounds - Part II (02:16)
10. Battle Of The Mounds - Part III (Revised) / Night Of Doom (05:36)
11. Head Chop (00:57)
12. Orphans Of Doom / The Awakening (05:33)
13. Conan The King / End Title (05:28)
Score Time : 52:04

THE EXTRAS
14. Prologue (First Version) (00:46)
15. Anvil Of Crom (First Version) (02:31)
16. The Tower Of Set - Part I (First Version) (03:46)
17. Battle Of The Mounds - Part II (First Version) (02:16)
18. Battle Of The Mounds - Part III (First Version) (03:03)
19. Orphans Of Doom (Orchestra & Solo Voice) (01:22)
20. Orphans Of Doom (Chorus & Harp) / The Awakening (First Version) (06:45)
21. Las Cantigas de Santa Maria (The Snake) (06:05)
Extras Time : 26:41
Total Time : 78:45

CD3
ORIGINAL 1982 SOUNDTRACK ALBUM
01. Anvil Of Crom (02:35)
02. Riddle Of Steel / Riders Of Doom (05:38)
03. Gift Of Fury (03:51)
04. Wheel Of Pain (04:10)
05. Atlantean Sword (03:51)
06. Theology / Civilization (03:14)
07. Wifeing (Love Theme From Conan The Barbarian) (02:11)
08. The Search (03:09)
09. The Orgy (04:16)
10. Funeral Pyre (04:30)
11. Battle Of The Mounds (04:54)
12. Orphans Of Doom / The Awakening (05:32)
Total Album Time : 48:17

ONE LAST EXTRA
13. Prologue (with narration) / Anvil Of Crom (03:39)

Total Time : 52:06
 
Back
Top