King Solomon's Mines

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

Often forgotten because of the success of Indiana Jones, both movie and score contain some good moments. The movie itself stars wannabe "I'm also heroic when I have a whip in my hands" Richard Chamberlain as the hero and Sharon Stone as the love interest and beauty queen. Jerry Goldsmith, known for scoring the bad B-movie adaptation of the winning blockbuster is used to score these kinds of projects. After all, he brought the sister of Superman back to life and he does it the same way with a striking main theme for the man handy as his rescuing plan. The difference is, with Goldsmith you receive the equally electrifying soundtrack known today as King Solomon's Mines. Like Supergirl there is a great theme to be found here and it also appears many times through the score, it's definitely a theme like that one of John Williams: it has the same construction at some parts but it's very heroic and a real treat to hear it every time again. It is definitely one of Goldsmith's better in the genre. Next, it shows up in any action track and it makes it sound more fantastic then it already was. There is of course the love theme, supporting the growing romance between the main characters (yes those are still Indy 2 and Marion 2), its best performance is during 'Upside Down People'.

The many action or adventure tracks contain Jerry Goldsmith's known style. They are very pompous, filled with percussion and some trademarks that reminded me back to Poltergeist and Supergirl. The insertion of the famous Wagner theme is also extremely catchy, representing the German threat and most of all Herbert Lom himself. The last track 'No Diamonds' is the compilation piece of the score and ends this release with a bang. It's not the ultimate classic because you frequently encounter the same old themes but this is still the testament of Jerry's skills, to make them as good as possible every time you hear them. Those who adore true Goldsmith releases should really pick this one up, it stands today as one of the master's great adventure scores and it will bring the same feeling like Supergirl did. The performance of the Hungarian State Opera Orchestra is actually very good, sometimes we hear misplaced tones but I think that was intended from the beginning on. Anyway, King Solomon's Mines remains a winner because it was all composed during the famous '80 and it will please many fans simply for that fact alone. The only thing you have to do is this: put on your cowboy hat and use that whip and mention: "Jerry the fantastical Goldsmith is back in town".

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Tracks

Single Disc

1. Main Title (3.27) Excellent Track

2. Welcoming Committee (0.49)

3. No Sale (3.23) Excellent Track

4. The Mummy (1.11)

5. Have A Cigar (3.25)

6. Good Morning (2.24)

7. Under The Train (2.58)

8. Dancing Shots (3.26) Excellent Track

9. Pain (2.55)

10. Forced Flight (5.06) Excellent Track

11. The Chieftain (0.59)

12. Pot Luck (3.12)

13. Upside Down People (4.45)

14. The Crocodiles (2.57)

15. The Mines (1.21)

16. The Ritual: Low Bridge (9.04)

17. Falling Rocks (4.06)

18. No Diamonds (4.08) Excellent Track

Total Length: 60.09

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