A League of Their Own

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

This has to be one of my all time favorites of Hans Zimmer. Though it has only 2 tracks, the score consists of 15 minutes of pure brilliance. Once more it is proven that Hans Zimmer is an underrated composer. I can name scores who have enough class and potential to interest anyone but don't got the opportunity because there are more songs than score, like Cool Runnings, Thelma and Louise, Rain Man, The Lion King, The Prince of Egypt and definitely this one. A League of their Own is a movie from Penny Marshall. I like her movies because she always makes the characters so lovely and strong, it doesn't matter if it's about baseball for women because it's basically a story dealing about the friendship and struggles between two sisters. Hans Zimmer wrote one of his most incredible scores for this movie. It doesn't consist of a lot of synthesizers but of a jazz band, well sort of it. It makes you believe it is a jazz band. The first track is so beautiful, so melodramatic. 'Life Goes On' is the reunion between all the friends and people of that team. Hans Zimmer underscores this scene with a heavy dose of musical emotion, strong thick themes which pour more life then your average little melody.

'The Final Game' is actually a compilation version, sort of a concert version. It combines a lot of moments together into a most satisfying whole. Where you supposed to hear the end or something different, there it follows to keep the pace going, making it one of the biggest riveting tracks I have ever heard, and I heard a lot of scores by now. One moment especially worthy to remember is the pinnacle moment at the end, Geena Davis and Lori Petty get face to face and all the rage, jealousy and fear is presented by trumpets and drums, making it a piece of sheer brilliance. Hans Zimmer in the end wrote two different styles of music, emotional vs. complete utter energy but this doesn't care. This makes the album work and mainly offers you the investment of money worthy. Really, if you are interested in this album then first see the movie (which is also great). I think you really will be impressed by such a work of art. It symbolizes everything you expect in such a score and even not. It's wild, bombastic, fun and sometimes even utterly melodramatic and gorgeous. It's a Hans Zimmer score which should receive the utmost attention and best possible place on your shelf. The quotation is perhaps much for a 15 minute score but I was so blown away by it in the movie, I have graded it for the entire score. And trust me, I know the movie like the back of my hand. Its then also truly sad that there is not a commercial full release because brilliant scores as these are necessities for the film music listeners. Forget the boring songs and go straight for a piece of mind-blowing jazz music. This soundtrack comes highly recommended for all fans of film music.

A League of Their Own "Promo"

What is the defining project Hans Zimmer scored? If you take away his landmark effort for The Prince of Egypt and his blockbuster for Backdraft? Many people wouldn't choose the title what I'm about to pick, which is A League of Their Own. Its simple because people haven't heard this great score enough. Its a thriller of emotion and power, of energy and rhythm and its above all one Zimmer score you haven't heard yet. Full bloodied jazz in the best possible sense. If John Williams was heralded for his jazzy period years ago, he would fall flat on his face when hearing this masterpiece. And now out of nowhere came this trilling promo covering all the music Hans Zimmer composed in good to very good sound quality. And this is the day I'm blessed to be a filmmusic fan because this is the best you can find, now and especially then. Why, because you simply don't hear music like this anymore. And why is simple, because like some of his efforts, Hans Zimmer outdid himself here. Writing pure emotion from the heart and a blazing performance of thrills and chills surrounding that heart, we wish he would do it more. We start with small emotion however and 'Main Titles' is a soft variation on the drama theme for piano and strings. Its here where you spot some of the emotions he used for The Holiday. What's new for me even is that Zimmer didn't only compose music for the film, but also the underscore for several commercials used in the film. Like 'War Commercial' which uses jazz and drums in a heroic beefed up war turkey while further we spot 'Diamond Galls' which uses a sexy sleazy trumpet now for the girls. And even in the dancing sequence 'The Sud's Bucket' Zimmer goes wild for an evening of pure jazzy energetics (clear when trumpet blasts Zimmer used further in the film appear here). Its amazing that Zimmer highlighted these scenes with his own flair, and excellent that they appear also on this CD. However back to the begin with the funny 'Race to the House' which has a flourishing moment, unique however is the piece that follows it which I haven't heard yet appear in the film but I can only describe it as unused Driving Miss Daisy influenced music, and that's nice. 'The Station and The Field' covers two small highlights which is the emotional drama theme fanfare and a real one for the wonder of the stadium (which is all The Lion King).

Its however in playing games that Zimmer outshines himself in pure blazing jazz, I don't like jazz but if Zimmer throws simply full energy to it and great rocking statements of sports wonder you get different jazz, film music jazz that thrills. 'Training Playoffs' has this excellent catchy theme and 'Win the Crowd' is simply one of the best cues Zimmer ever composed, full of blazing mind blowing fanfares (including the playoff theme), its goes to true galore in the final minutes. Simply divvying. The funny 'Heaven's Just a Ballpark Win Away' uses the famous baseball tune and is a fun intermingle. Yet the real emotion comes from 'The Telegram' and here Hans Zimmer simply shows again how brilliant he can create emotion, a tantalizing piano and sorrowful trumpet, and dripping emotion away with the drama theme (watch out for the unseen mix of the piano and trumpets which is simply too good). However the real thrill even if its more emotionally laden is 'The Final Game', covering new ideas of jazz, especially the emotional tension Zimmer builds up with a solo trumpet, strings and drums is just unseen. Its suspense on sports terms and it just doesn't stop until the main theme performs it in the most glorious and biggest performance of all. As said, this music is just not heard today anymore. With 'Sisters Say Goodbye' we receive the main theme on piano and with 'Life Goes On' Zimmer does it again. With track 11 we received calmer emotional music, with this track he goes overkill but then in the best possible sense. The baseball song sung by the diamond galls is heard in a whisper but the middle and end shoes how beautiful Zimmer can paint his final piece with the drama theme. This piece is also 2 minutes longer than the one featured on the song release. And there you have it, its one of Zimmer's most unique creations and one of his most thrilling listens. Again people who hate jazz mustn't be afraid, this is different jazz and it doesn't listen at all like something Mark Isham or John Williams would compose. Its film music jazz and not band jazz and thereby you receive one of the best listens of all time. Having a perfect balance of thrill and emotion, A League of Their Own never shuts you up and its basically so un Zimmer like I guarantee even the most non devoted Zimmer fan will be surprised to hear something like this from the man who is supposed to compose nothing but action anthems. Now we have the proof, a mind-blowing piece of some of the best film music ever written.

A League of Their Own: **** Score: ***** Songs: ***
A League of Their Own "Promo": ***** Score: *****

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Tracks

Single Disc

1. Now And Forever: Carole King (3.14)

2. Choo Choo Ch'Boogie: The Manhattan Transfer (2.55)

3. It's Only A Paper Moon: James Taylor (2.48)

4. In A Sentimental Mood: Billy Joel (4.00)

5. Two Sleepy People: Art Garfunkel (3.36)

6. I Dint Know What Time It Was: James Taylor (3.35)

7. On The Sunny Side Of The Street: The Manhattan Transfer (3.15)

8. Flying Home: Doc's Rhythm Cats (2.54)

9. Life Goes On (6.08) Excellent Track

10. The Final Game (9.28) Excellent Track

11. The All American Girls Professional Baseball League Song * (1.23)

* Performed by The Rockford Peaches

Total Length: 43.49

A League of Their Own "Promo"

1. Main Titles (2.13)

2. War Commercial (1.08)

3. Race To The House (3.00)

4. The Station And The Field (3.08) Excellent Track

5. Training Playoffs (2.30) Excellent Track

6. Welcome To Jimmy's Ball Game (1.42)

7. Diamond Galls (1.41)

8. The Sud's Bucket (2.28) Excellent Track

9. Heaven's Just A Ballpark Win Away (2.44) Excellent Track

10. Win The Crowd (5.35) Excellent Track

11. The Telegram (7.40) Excellent Track

12. The Playoffs / The Prayer (2.34) Excellent Track

13. The Final Game (13.00) Excellent Track

14. Sisters Say Goodbye (2.48)

15. Life Goes On (8.47) Excellent Track

Total Length: 61.03

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=== Link to Composer Site: Hans Zimmer ===