SUPERMAN: THE MUSIC (1978-1988)

How can it be that no one's discussed this massive news yet?

FSM's 8-CD box set, SUPERMAN: THE MUSIC (1978-1988), encompasses a new fully remastered and complete edition of John Williams's SUPERMAN: THE MOVIE along with previously unreleased presentations of the complete scores for its three sequels: SUPERMAN II & SUPERMAN III (adapted and conducted by Ken Thorne) and SUPERMAN IV: THE QUEST FOR PEACE (adapted and conducted by Alexander Courage and featuring new themes by John Williams). The latter is spread across two full CDs of never-before-released music and songs. Also included in the set is a bonus disc of additional alternates, source music and songs, plus a full disc of Ron Jones's music for the 1988 Superman animated series, rounding out a full decade of Superman music. The 8 CDs are accompanied by an in-depth, full-color 160 page hard-bound book, all housed in an elegant blue slipcase box with the Superman "S" embossed in sliver.

 

Only 3000 copies? What a stupid STUPID move.

It's "stunts" like this which promote piracy

 

No it's not. "But there was still one catch. And it's a big factor in all of this today. The number of units allowed under the new AFM fee is negotiable, but can't exceed 3000."

 

Okay, I totally tried to post this news two hours ago, but the forum seemed to be dysfunctional.

Well, this is quite exciting. Even though only the original Superman score was composed by Williams, the sequel scores (and the TV series music) follow in his footsteps, and are quite competently written / adapted. As for Superman itself, awesome! The previous "complete" release of the score was adequate, but it used poor-sounding second or third generation masters and did not contain all the alternative cues written by Williams.

And then there is Williams's inexplicable involvement in Superman IV: The Quest for Peace. We'll finally learn why on Earth he bothered to write new themes for that film (or what he was paid, ah-hah!).

 

Well, as that article states, it's great for smaller releases, but I wouldn't class this as that. They could easily sell a lot more than 3000

 

working in the music industry, i'd very much disagree with that last part!

 

I think certainly there may be more than 3000 buyers -- but not many more. Not many people can or would be willing to pay 120 dollars for soundtracks. Most people who already have the Varese or Rhino set probably wouldn't buy it, because Williams is the big name here, and most people aren't obsessive soundtrack nuts willing to pay big bucks for a moderately nicer presentation of something they already have. There's probably a fair audience who would buy this in a store, but it being an FSM release they may not ever know about it because it's primarily available online.

 

Sounds like a really nice set.I'd like to see the presentation of this thing because that could be the seller. But I agree with Itunes and Mp3s, 3000 units sounds fair for this.

 

However, there is this from Gandy at the Superman Cinema message board who is talking with the makers of this box set.

There is also this from Dharmesh.

This wasn't talked about sooner because not many knew about it. I just found out today on the Superman Homepage. To me, this is something I've longed looked for.

 

Sounds great, although it's on the pricey side. I'm also not sure how badly I need the complete scores for II and III.

I may pick this up, if only for the new edition of Williams' original score and Courage's Superman IV.

 

I'm quite interested in Ron Jones's Superman music. If Family Guy is any indication, the guy's a very capable composer.

 

You need to follow the film score community more.

The re-use fees for this stuff is very high and it will probably take months, or years for this to sell out. Film scores are mainly used as promotional tools to sell a movie and its rare when a film score transcends the movie that it was written for. I know that that might be hard to believe but its true. For people, like us, that love film scores its very easy to see how this would be a huge hit. But it will still take awhile for it to sell out. I plan on buying a copy, just because that 160 page book sounds damn intriguing.

 

I'm not sure I'd like 3 and 4's music. 2 had some good stuff and I'd like the whole thing with great quality. Limited copies, for 3 and 4 its good but not 1 and 2. Too bad there released together.

 

This is definitely geared more towards the serious collectors. A limited run makes sense, though 3000 may be a bit too limited.

 

Buy two copies and sell the other one on ebay in a few years.

 

I quite enjoyed the scores to all four films, regardless of quality of film. So for me, this is definately a must have. Also, from what I gather, most soundtracks of this type are usually set at 3,000 copies. The complete Terminator, Ghostbusters and Predator scores for example. Even the four Karate Kid films were given a boxset with only 2,500 copies made.

Part of this boxset owes to the folks at the Superman Cinema forums and website, who were the leaders in getting the Ultimate boxset and the Donner Cut made. So at the very least, it is possible for all three thousand copies to be sold out.

 

Superman: The Music is now available from Screen Archives Entertainment and for preorder from moviemusic.com. Sound clips are up too!

 

Just to clarify, it looks like nobody is actually going to be shipping the Blue Box until the 28th or 29th, so any order placed is really a pre-order.

 

I ordered mine. I'm really looking forward to the book that is included in this set.

 

Here's a voluptuous interview with the producers of the Blue Box. Lots of great info!

 

FSM has sold all but 400, as of yesterday. They will be doing another run of 3,000 copies. So far, no changes will be made except possibly to the book. I'll post back with when they'll be available, but it won't be for a couple of months.

 

I got mine today...HELL YEAH..and am reading the booklet. For the above poster; I do indeed have the Rhino release...but it's out of print, and that's the only Superman music I have. So I figured this was a necessary buy...to have backup. As far as the price? Money is no object when it comes to "The Maestro"


I think I will make a thread about what else I got today..which I'm almost just as excited about....

 

Okay, as of right now, all three thousand copies of the Blue Box have sold out. The second pressing will be released in early June.