Romancing the Stone (Club Release)

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

For Alan Silvestri, things turned in the right direction when he met Robert Zemeckis and their famous pair of matching sweaters. The story's known now for a while and due to their success of Romaning the Stone, they are now forming one of the longest collaborations between composer and director, along the line of some other famous duo's which names I don't have to mention anymore. With Romancing the Stone it all began for them and the road has lead them to a lot of famous blockbusters which I don't have to mention either. However, this score was somehow forgotten for a long time on CD because it wasn't exactly one of Silvestri's finest in the genre. This is now clear after hearing the soundtrack of Varèse when it was issued just several years ago as part of their Club releases. However it might not be one of his finest, its however still fun in a way to see how Silvestri became one of Hollywood's finest composers in the business, and he might not have known how to do a score for a picture then, things still turned out admirably because he made one ingredient happen that makes a score, meaning come up with a theme that suits the picture and can be turned into romance or adventure like that. And that is what's found in Romancing the Stone in general. Strangely however, it starts with Alfred Newman's orchestral rousing version of How the West was Won which perhaps doesn't fit with what follows it, but still its there I guess for a reason. Don't know either if it was ever heard in the final mix of the film. Silvestri's real material follows this Newman piece, with as said his catchy jazzy theme, heard in 'Main Title' and especially in the lovely version of 'End Titles', which was also featured on Silvestri's compilations in the future. Another returning element is the bounciness of his more electronic rhythm, that settles it rather well into the brief orchestral moments.

Its heard as part of the more action based tension moments, or the chase music in general. At times this doesn't turn out that well, like 'The Stone Revealed', which makes it sound rather cheap. But mostly it does capture an effective mood that suites the film, like in 'Elaine', 'I'm in Trouble' or in the better and fun adventure moments 'The Gorge', 'Escape in the Little Mule' and 'Mounties', these pieces have an extra dash of real jazz and brass behind it that signal Silvestri's upcoming voice, but more a dash of real adventure spirit. And in these tracks he also mixes the theme which goes to show he composed a piece that could signal both parties well (romance and adventure). And while his more subtle romantic breezes don't come out that much, they are sweet and lovely. 'Joan and Jack' and the blossoming touch with some exotic percussion in 'The Dance & They Kiss'. Sadly you hear that Romancing the Stone didn't have quite a budget for the score, because 'The Town' and 'The Square' really are fake and cheap sounding exotic pieces, which listen more as music you would hear on a fare. Its that cheesy. Luckily at other times you hear more live exotic instruments that do the music justice and just a pair of eerie synthesized moody pieces (4 & 15) are frankly the only pieces that don't work at all. The better action tense moments are heard in 'Struggling for the Stone' which also cover the real orchestral instruments making it happen. The score ends with the softer material of the main theme and some alternate takes, including a true piano solo. As said, it might not make for his most interesting material, but Romancing the Stone doesn't fail at all, its got mostly a fairly good tune to back up the movie and CD and while it sounds a bit low budget, Silvestri still makes the most of it in the most occasions. One of those Club releases that will satisfy the fans of Silvestri and those that can accept a little less flair and some cheesy fun in their scores.

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Tracks

Single Disc

1. Logo And Prologue * (2.07)

2. Main Title (2.34)

3. Elaine (2.01)

4. Ransacked Apartment (1.34)

5. I'm In Trouble (1.44)

6. Joan & Jack (1.07)

7. The Gorge (4.55)

8. Escape In The Little Mule (2.18)

9. The Town (2.42)

10. The Dance & They Kiss (4.39)

11. Hotel Escape (2.02)

12. The Stone Revealed (1.19)

13. Mounties! (2.21)

14. The Square (1.31)

15. "Tregula" (1.33)

16. Struggling For The Stone (5.55)

17. So Long Jack (1.10)

18. The Sailboat (1.18)

19. End Titles (5.57)

Bonus Tracks

20. Piano Bar (4.56)

21. End Titles (Alternate) (6.02)

* composed by Alfred Newman, from How the West was Won

Total Length: 59.55

The use of artwork or photos is posted for non profitable reasons

=== Link to Composer Site: Alan Silvestri ===