The Towering Inferno and Other Disaster Classics (Compilation)

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

Lord knows what to do sometimes with compilations! I mean, sometimes they appear from out of the blue and sometimes you receive within months compilations that cover the same era, category or composer. No better example than The Towering Inferno and other Disaster Classics and The Disaster Movie Music Album. Two compilations that cover the same category and offer both without question tracks that are identical in name but different in performance. This is where the difference lies and also the actual quality of the scores. This compilation does a different thing, an orchestra is following the guidance of two masterful conductors (John Debney and Joel McNeely) and they create at their own tempo and feel the duplication of the track. Now this is where some things go wrong, if you pay close attention to the original version. Most versions are acceptable, good and enjoyable but I'm afraid they aren't really good. Only 3 versions are the exact same match and this is because these are the original versions of the score. And especially Titanic becomes sinkable when you hear the misfortune it carries onboard. The Towering Inferno becomes at this point no award winning compilation.

What it does bring (or at least at the time) were several moments of score that were hard to get, like The Towering Inferno of Williams. This especially received 3 tracks, enough time and a very good performance, at times though covering small errors. But the material itself covers some great moment of fanfares and overall McNeely covers it well. The other tracks like the suite of Twister, the pieces of The Swarm, Earthquake and The Poseidon Adventure are all acceptable, even if Twister is missing that glorious choir when the main theme is performed. The three original versions are on the other hand real, but Dante's Peak is only enjoyable for the first two minutes, when the main theme is performed quite menacingly and Outbreak covers some good action / suspense moments. Volcano overall couldn't fail because they chose really a good track. Independence Day finally is presented by a different track then the same all encompassing finale and the performance is good, but the thing is, it is lacking the fire and the energy of the original. At this point this was and stays an enjoyable, different at times score but perhaps just enjoyable because it brings difference in tone.

Still, just like any good moment, they blow the shit out of their fan with Titanic. This is perfect, a 14 minute suite covering good selections and it is the final track, meaning the impression is all up to this score. Couldn't fail but they still did, the choir covering the part 'Southampton' is absolutely embarrassing, you could even hear it during the first minutes but there it stayed somewhat true to the original, however in this piece it is humiliating and painfully wrong in tone. And even the masterful 'Rose' is being screwed up by the performance, it is way too loud and not that emotionally laden and beautiful. It all comes down to this and the overall orchestral performance of James Horner's masterpiece is still at times good, but just the choral touch is way off line, it hasn't got the magic and certainly not the feel you are witnessing the greatest ship in history. Well, besides this The Towering Inferno and other Disaster Classics is an acceptable compilation, covering perhaps too less highlights then first imagined. Overall, I enjoyed much more the likes of The Disaster Movie Music Album and I would advice people to get that one. Now, The Towering Inferno is released and isn't that important anymore. It remains overall a compilation with flair but it surely lost much of its pride and power.

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Tracks

Single Disc

The Towering Inferno (John Williams) Conducted by Joel McNeely

1. Main Title (5.01)

2. Planting The Charges And Finale (11.01)

3. An Architect's Dream (3.31)

Twister (Mark Mancina) Conducted by Joel McNeely

4. Suite (4.40)

Earthquake (John Williams) Conducted by John Debney

5. Main Title (2.57)

The Swarm (Jerry Goldsmith) Conducted by Joel McNeely

6. End Title (3.05)

The Poseidon Adventure (John Williams) Conducted by John Debney

7. Main Title (2.06)

Dante's Peak (John Frizzell, theme by James Newton Howard)

8. Main Title * (5.30)

Volcano (Alan Silvestri)

9. March Of The Lava * (3.42) Excellent Track

Outbreak (James Newton Howard)

10. They're Coming * (7.14)

Independence Day (David Arnold) Conducted by Joel McNeely

11. The Day We Fight Back (5.45)

Titanic (James Horner) Conducted by John Debney

12. Suite (14.24) Include (Distant Memories, Southampton, Rose, Take Her To Sea, Mr. Murdoch)

* Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

Total Length: 69.37

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