The Sand Pebbles (The Deluxe Edition)

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

By the time of 1966, Jerry Goldsmith was already big business for Hollywood. And rightfully so, because it was in '66 that for The Sand Pebbles, he was already receiving his 3rd Oscar nomination, after Freud and A Patch of Blue. Now, The Sand Pebbles stands as one of Jerry Goldsmith's most known works for many fans, and Varčse Sarabande wanted to do the honors by releasing a CD club release to honor that classic music he penned so early in his career. However, its easy to say that the Jerry Goldsmith of the '80 and '90 is different from what he wrote in those years. His voice is ever present but the fans who fell in love with his music from those '80 will find something different in The Sand Pebbles. Basically its a fine score, but I don't really care for it that much, basically because the hype around it made it a little too much for its size, and secondly that I personally favor The Blue Max of the same year to be more thoroughly entertaining in the end. Yet as it stands today, its a good score all right because the themes he wrote for the score are still lovely no matter what. 'Overture' starts brassy and non melodic (but damn powerful when heard in concert form) and later shows the American love theme of this score, which is the one that will be used the most. Its lovely and grows on you after a while. 'Main Title' starts equally moody (and this backed up by a constant percussion noise at the background), the main theme of the San Pablo is heard in front after that. 'Getting Acquainted' has the love theme softly again backed by that percussion, showing also the Chinese influences the music tries to create. And more it tries to state the romance over the next few tracks before a Chinese love theme is heard in retrospect of that in 'Maily Appears'. 'Repel Boarders' being sadly in mono states the first sign of any action material, which holds some influences from Poltergeist, its fierce and even being just in mono, its a nice change of pace for a moment.

'Death of a Thousand Cuts' is a dark dramatic piece by strings that occasionally sets up strong emotional music for the scenes it underscores. 'Entr'acte' is better with a great strong version of the love theme. 'My Secret' starts with attacking piano before a tender and lovely version of the Chinese love theme is heard, signaling the road ahead, with nothing but love themes to be heard. 'Jake and Shirley' is the American love theme, 'A Conversation' that love theme on piano and 'The Wedding' again that love theme softly and elegant, while intermingled with the Chinese love theme. All extremely nice and lovely but I was actually expecting the same kind of score like The Blue Max, being more action related. Guess I don't know my classics well since reading the extended liner notes isn't what the movie was apparently. 'Coolies Jump Ship' changes tone then with percussion, brass and piano in a violent mix, before again in 'State of Siege' we hear both love themes. By the way, speaking of love themes, 'Frenchy's Death' has a nice warm version of the Chinese love theme before things briefly explode in 'Maily's Abduction', an atonal opening for brass and strings (Poltergeist Clown alert) lead to the main theme with drums to a good ending by the way. 'Final Mission' isn't that grand action track but at least it moves around unnerving at times like Poltergeist and that the drums set the tone for the brassy main theme. But it never explodes to the kind of Goldsmith of the '80 and '90. The rest is somewhat darker material with brief bursts of action music, percussion all related but not that enthralling in the end. Some alternate tracks give a nice ring to the themes at the end. All in all, you still have to admire The Sand Pebbles, not only is it a score that grows on you and that it captures some lovely themes, its also quite good to hear even if the sound isn't always that clear. The large liner notes and simply the sign of Goldsmith bringing great classic music makes it for Goldsmith enthusiasts a nice purchase. Again, I want more The Blue Max as score to hear, but considering the retrospect tone of that music, The Sand Pebbles at times works its charm very well.

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Tracks

Single Disc

1. Overture (2.16)

2. Main Title (2.57)

3. Getting Acquainted (3.52)

4. Hello, Engine (1.24)

5. Death Of A Coolie (0.57)

6. Maily Appears (1.07)

7. Training A New Coolie (0.40)

8. Repel Boarders (2.40)

9. The Mission At China Light (2.05)

10. Death Of A Thousand Cuts (4.46)

11. Act One Finale (0.59)

12. Entr'acte (1.01) Excellent Track

13. Back To Port (0.53)

14. My Secret (4.00) Excellent Track

15. Jake And Shirley (4.24)

16. A Conversation (2.02)

17. The Wedding (6.10)

18. Coolies Jump Ship (1.50)

19. State Of Siege (5.52)

20. Frenchy's Death (2.18)

21. Maily's Abduction (2.49)

22. Final Mission (5.45)

23. Battle Continues (2.12)

24. Death Of The Assassin (1.46)

25. Sniper (0.57)

26. Almost Home (Finale) (0.59)

27. End Title (0.38)

28. Exit Music (2.39)

Bonus Tracks

29. Overture (Alternate) (2.54) Excellent Track

30. Chinese Love Theme (2.26)

Total Length: 76.45

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

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