Take a Hard Ride

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

By the year 1975, Jerry Goldsmith already had his experience in the dying genre of the westerns! Take a Hard Ride therefore was a step into the direction to see how he handled his previous efforts, as to see how he developed in the sound of the era. And my fair guess is to say, it did develop in the good direction. With perhaps Take a Hard Ride as an early highlight in his career? Well, maybe yes. Its especially fun to see how distinct his sound already was back then, recognizable to the bone but especially how well he creates these main themes. For any score, for each genre, most of his themes are a breath of fun each and every time, and after the perfect themes for Rio Conchos, Bandolero, Hour of the Gun and Breakheart Pass now comes his ultimate classic in the western genre, namely the one for Take a Hard Ride. Of course, this doesn't open the score, in fact 'The Hunter' has harmonica but above all a returning element in the score, namely a bouncy wire effect of electronics along with a distinct harmonica tone, which will return lots in the score. Then the theme steps in, and like many great themes before it, starts soft but grooves into a full orchestral heroic performance near the end, its just plain great and you'll love it the first time straight through. A softer nearly forgettable 'Memories' just has flute and strings and the harmonica subtheme but 'The Search' has the theme returning on that same flute. Some action moments, heroic moments or adventure moments are for the latter tracks, 'The Snake' has the brass and the strings setting up a sounbd, a main theme and a rattling tone to present the snakes while 'Friendly Enemies' has the returning buzzing electronic effect, before the theme takes on a guitar and trumpet rhythm, as ever classic Goldsmith in vein.

The action continues in 'Fancy Footwork', percussion and a rising pyramid motif (as described in the distinctive liner motifs) has its first appearance before the theme reappears for joyous effect. 'The Ambush' has the electronic buzzing tone, whispering flutes which really remind you of the eerie moments of Poltergeist, before a rhythm for strings and fanfares are heard, and the trumpets later after that take another turn on the Poltergeist resemblance. Its not perhaps fluent scoring, but effective and full of feel. The long and exciting 'The Wagon' is the best action track on the disc, with the buzzing sound leading to the action rhythm and the percussion, and the theme in fine order in the middle and end, only to be interspersed by the percussion and returning action motif. 'The Big Dive' uses the pyramid motif along with an uneasy ending, only to be followed by rapid pace of the flute and trumpet in 'The Aftermath'. A true mariachi feel revives in 'The Trek' but sadly the longest 'The Mines' doesn't amount to much good, just using some versions of the main theme (soft ones) with much darker play, the buzzing sound and a truly sinister atmosphere. 'Work Camp' luckily has a rising trumpet figure, most effectively enjoyed coming out of the darkness. After the uneasy 'The Last Adversary' we have the final version of the splendid main theme in 'A Long Walk'. Take a Hard Ride hasn't got a fluent listening experience as album, nor a truly remarkable sound clarity, yet it has a superb main theme, action moments surrounding that main theme and above all again a Goldsmith inventiveness that defies most other composers' work by many standards. True Goldsmith fans will swallow up each sound (even the gritty ones) but despite all his westerns and their gritty sounds, Take a Hard Ride is along with Hour of the Gun a much to be enjoyed score, and perhaps Take a Hard Ride most of all.

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Tracks

Single Disc

1. The Hunter (2.52)

2. Main Title (2.18) Excellent Track

3. Memories (1.42)

4. The Search (1.13)

5. The Snake (2.11)

6. Uneasy Alliance (2.08)

7. Friendly Enemies (2.13)

8. Fancy Footwork (2.39)

9. Hunter's Harmonica (1.09)

10. A Sad Story (1.31)

11. The Ambush (4.22)

12. The Wagon (5.55) Excellent Track

13. The Big Dive (1.10)

14. The Aftermath (1.42)

15. The Trek (1.19)

16. The Mines (5.27)

17. Work Camp (2.18)

18. The Last Adversary (2.26)

19. A Long Walk (1.54) Excellent Track

Total Length: 46.37

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

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