Rudy

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

Obviously the best score coming from Goldsmith's side of the year 1993 is Rudy, a melodic piece of art. It has also grown to become one of the treasures of his career and a favorite with the fans. Why, it is not hard to see. Rudy has an exceptional main theme and another outstanding heroic march, all wrapped in thematic beauty for the running time. Even if it is just 36 minutes long, it is more then enough of score material. That seems strange if the score is that praised and has that much potential. But would the score have lasted longer, it would have repeated too much the sound and then it could've got boring or uninteresting. Even as we speak, the score might become a bit repetitive but just in time it ends with a final that makes it worth it. Rudy will obviously interest you if Goldsmith at theme writing intrigues you. The score's main theme gets the best treatment during the begin and end. 'Main Title' is one of those shiny moments of Goldsmith's career. It has all the ingredients to make it work and a performance that is needed to make it satisfying. It builds and grows and finally it delivers the most inspiring performance, one with the fullest string delivery of the orchestra.

The other theme (the more heroic march) is first briefly stated in 'A Start' and more upbeat in the next 'Waiting'. It isn't until 'Tryouts' and 'Take us Out' that the theme receives its most upbeat form, when it delivers its biggest and best performance of all. It is filled with drums at the 8th track. Of all the rest of the material, it is the relaxing and soothing sound that makes it worthy as background material, but the finale of the score, the track 'The Final Game' is more then worth it. Just when you think it is over with the praise, a choir softly enters and makes you all weepy inside, its one of those endings that makes a soundtrack great. It is strange indeed, for 36 minutes it delivers great melodic music but when I think of it, I shouldn't have wished 10 more minutes of it. So for once, no complaining about the short length coming of Varese Sarabande records. Rudy is just perfect if even a bit too much. Simply because the music is perhaps heralded too much for my liking. But the inspiring music coming straight from Goldsmith's heart is indeed worth the shot because it is still better then the least promising B-flick score. Rudy will surely inspire those dreaming about a career in American Football because dreams are believable if you simply go for it. And if you play the score from Rudy just before it, then you will feel the magic and pride to make them reality one day or another. Believe and listen and thee will surely feel lucky.

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Tracks

Single Disc

1. Main Title (3.33) Excellent Track

2. A Start (2.24)

3. Waiting (2.31)

4. Back On The Field (2.03)

5. To Notre Dame (6.51)

6. Tryouts (4.24) Excellent Track

7. The Key (3.51)

8. Take Us Out (1.48) Excellent Track

9. The Plaque (2.32)

10. The Final Game (6.13) Excellent Track

Total Length: 36.50

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

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