Apart from
John Williams, one of Hollywood's most respected movie composers has to be
Jerry Goldsmith, who brought listeners such classics as Total Recall, The Omen (for which he won the Oscar), and the original Planet of the Apes. This sweeping tribute CD consists of a concert program conducted by
Goldsmith himself, covering some of the composer's most familiar work -- and a few neglected favorites. From the ubiquitous Star Trek: The Motion Picture and Star Trek: Voyager themes to Chinatown, Patton, and Air Force One, this disc has a bold symphonic sound (no doubt due to the stellar playing by
the London Symphony Orchestra) and informative liner notes. While none of the performances supersede the versions from the original soundtracks, this disc makes an excellent sampler as well as an adequate career overview. As an added attraction, the themes from TV favorites The Waltons and Barnaby Jones never sounded so good. ~ Neil Shurley