First Blood

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

Since classic scores are becoming available through re release I'm trying to pick some up. And one of those classics that looked interesting was Jerry Goldsmith's 1982 score for the first Rambo movie entitled First Blood. The main part of this score is focused on action chase music and the usual sharp Goldsmith suspense style. The dramatic version of the main theme that is perfectly captured in the third score is primarily heard in the first and the last track, and the main robust performance is first discovered in full blown action mode in the begin of track 6 'Mountain Hunt'. The rest really exists of sharp action music with the usual brass and percussion alongside the powerful music. But what made the next two so successful is missing in the first. Better said, First Blood never develops the themes or hardly uses the much anticipated Rambo theme. The best part of Goldsmith's score are the soft versions of the theme, 'Home Coming' starts with a guitar tone and employs the theme in gentle order, also witnessed in the last score track 'It's A Long Road', where a terrific final placement is quoted by Goldsmith, a compilation piece worthy.

The main action material is riveting in tempo but remains somewhat unexciting to hear several times after each other, this resembles the scary environment of Poltergeist and Outland's edgy action stuff. Interesting on its own but what's missing is the insertion of the Rambo theme. Do not be fooled, it listens exactly as the action themes heard in the latter Rambo scores, but don't expect the Rambo theme where you expected it otherwise. The better action moments are 'Hanging On' and several moments of 'Mountain Hunt'. As said, the last track of Goldsmith is the best and ends the score with a final blast. This CD also features the main theme song, with Goldsmith's soft version and Dan Hill performing it. These songs are all the same, not bad but are they really necessary and important? Especially in this case I can not think if this was merely for attracting a wider audience. The sound is very good, but it lacks purity when the whole orchestra combines its power. First Blood will be a necessary purchase for Goldsmith fans and they get 40 minutes of typical Goldsmith's action material. But I would advice that the mainstream public should stick with the next two Rambo installments, because the material used by Goldsmith here is exactly the same as what he used in the next two scores but only better developed and combined more then often with the Rambo theme. A good score but missing that experience and masterful touch that blessed other Goldsmith action scores and mainly those Rambo sequels.

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Tracks

Single Disc

1. Home Coming (2.22)

2. Escape Route (2.40)

3. First Blood (4.36)

4. The Tunnel (4.03)

5. Hanging On (3.30)

6. Mountain Hunt (6.07)

7. My Town (1.55)

8. The Razor (3.09)

9. No Power (2.53)

10. Over The Cliff (2.05)

11. It's A Long Road (2.54) Excellent Track

12. It's A Long Road: Dan Hill * (3.21)

* Music by Jerry Goldsmith, Lyrics by Hal Shaper

Total Length: 40.23

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=== Link to Composer Site: Jerry Goldsmith ===