John Williams' "Home Alone" score... Holiday classic?

You know people keep saying that and I have never gotten around to buying it...

Its probably the most underated John Williams score! I agree with all of you. Its not christmas unless theres home alone!

I prefer the Home Alone 2 Deluxe Edition over the original Home Alone album if only because the sound quality is better and there's so much more material (despite a lot of it being rehashed from part 1).

Isn't it funny that if you take a slasher film and remove the blood, it becomes a holiday classic?

I mean, where else can a running lawn-mower falling on someone's head be considered family entertainment?!?

Haven't heard the soundtrack in a while, but what I do recall was fairly good.

I should put the second album on my Christmas List.

But it feels really disjointed, with the blend of new and old, and just (as two-CD sets often do) lacks the drive of the original album. The finale section is really sloppy compared to the original - three million statements of the main theme interspersed with the new tunes and various filler music. The sound quality is better? Yes, unless you're listening to "Star of Bethlehem," which despite being an interesting new/combined arrangement is ruined by excessive gain. I will say that "Somewhere in My Memory" sounds even better than the original, thanks to subtly livened orchestrations.

I think Miana that if you had the whole score, you might see more why we consider it a classic.

Only in America kid.

Well, Germans are that twisted too...

I just bought a John Williams piano book with Home Alone piece in it. I never knew he wrote the score for HA! (I'm behind the times)
After reading the reviews from this thread, I think I may pick up this soundtrack!

Im going to download it from iTunes tonight since I have had no luck finding the actual cd anywhere. I remember it being great, Ill post my comments when I finish listening to it.

If it's the Home Alone 2 Deluxe Edition you're talking about you can still buy it from Varese directly on their website. www.varesesarabande.com

Star of Bethelhem is simply beautiful, it has such a Christmas feel to it. I could not imagine listening to it any other time of the year.

Been listening to both Home Alone scores over the last few days... my Christmas spirit has significantly increased as a result.

I've been listening to the Collector's Edition of Home Alone 2. I love the Mickey-Mousing Williams does in this.

Home Alone is one of JW's underrated works.

of course! it's definitely the best!~

Disgraceful that it wasn't even nominated for an Oscar. A great score, and the film that introduced me to the greatest Christmas song ever - O Holy Night.

Aside from "Holiday Flight", my personal favourite moment is the horns playing "Star of Bethlehem" when Kevin is escaping across the ice. Sublime.