October 25, 2021
Expanded LEGEND Soundtrack by Jerry Goldsmith Available
– Randall D. Larson
Music Box Records of France announces a newly remastered and extended soundtrack release of LEGEND, composed by Jerry Goldsmith as initially heard in the European release of the movie. Performed by the National Philharmonic Orchestra and chorus, this release features the slightly expanded film score on disc 1 and the original soundtrack album on disc 2. This new 2-CD edition adds for the first time two previously unreleased cues and two alternate tracks. The sound has been entirely restored and carefully remastered for this brand new edition.
The score, a lush symphonic work utilizing strings, winds, and a striking use of choir – a score that director Ridley Scott felt was among Goldsmith’s best – was summarily dumped by studio heads and replaced by a more aggressive score by Tangerine Dream, reportedly in order to make the film more “accessible” to teenage moviegoers. Only in its European release could audiences hear the original Goldsmith score and view the film’s original cut; although DVD and Blu-Ray/4K home video releases have been providing both versions of the film, and both scores.
LEGEND is about young Jack (Tom Cruise) who must stop the Lord of Darkness (Tim Curry) who seeks to create eternal night by destroying the last of the unicorns. Jack and his friends do everything possible to save the world and Princess Lili (Mia Sara), the woman he loves, from the hands of Darkness. Enter a world of unicorns, magic swamps, dwarfs and rainbows.
While Tangerine Dream’s music is one of the electronic group’s best film scores, Goldsmith’s delightfully whimsical score fit the fairytale fantasy in both its light and dark elements and this new release is a most welcome addition to the composer’s cinematic legend.
Music Box’s 2-CD set features a 16-page CD booklet with liner notes by Jeff Bond. A limited Edition of 2000 units, it is available from www.musicbox-records.com.
