The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Timed with the release of the special edition DVD of "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly," this soundtrack presents an expansion of Ennio Morricone's score with ten previously unavailable tracks and a running time of 55 minutes. The sound has also been excellently remastered, making a huge improvement over the poor quality of the old LP and CD. Any fan of the film or the music of Morricone will want to grab this right away.A few cautions however: nowhere on the CD packaging or in the enclosed booklet is the listener informed that the new tracks are in MONO, not stereo (stereo masters do not exist for the new tracks). The mono sound quality is clear and well done, but it does clash significantly with the original stereo tracks. I don't think this should prevent anyone from purchasing this CD, but buyers should be aware that the sound varies tremendously between tracks. Also, the enclosed booklet contains no liner notes or information on the music. It does contain three spreads showing close-ups of the eyes of the main characters -- a cool design idea -- but the album producers missed a golden opportunity for presenting background data, restoration notes, and track-by-track commentary. A score of this historical importance certainly deserves this sort of treatment!With this score, Morricone pushed to its limits his rough, weird style of Western music that he developed in his two previous Westerns for Sergio Leone. The famous "Main Title" sums up Morricone's approach perfectly: bizarre instruments, jagged changes in sound, and a thunderous tempo. This main theme appears throughout the score in many variations, depending on which member of the unholy trinity it is describing. The other tracks found on the old CD outline the other important themes: the slow `war theme' heard in multiple bugle calls in "The Strong"; the ethereal female vocal in "The Carriage of the Sprits"; the sprightly dance tempo of "Marcia," which later becomes a slow, grim lament with a wordless male chorus in "Marcia without Hope"; and the vocal piece "The Story of a Soldier," sung by a chorus of imprisoned confederates, and later made into the most touching piece on the album, "The Death of a Soldier." The score concludes with two incredible musical pieces. "The Ecstasy of Gold" is a swirling, gradually building piece dominated by a soaring female solo voice; it casts an incredible hypnotic spell to match the title -- this is true `ecstasy'. "The Trio" covers the tense showdown, and will make your heart pound out of control as the music crescendos with drums, Spanish trumpet, and guitars hammering away at each other.Here's what you'll find on the new tracks."Sentenza" (the Italian name for the character Angel Eyes, played by Lee Van Cleef), "Fuga a Cavallo" (Escape on Horseback"), and "Inseguimento" ("Pursuit") utilize new different versions of the famous theme. "Sentenza" is eerie and played on electronic guitar and low woodwinds, while the other two versions are action-oriented. "Il Ponte di Corde" ("The Rope Bridge") features some of Morricone's most bizarre and comic orchestration. "La Missione San Antonio" is a rare moment of laid-back beauty in the score, using the theme heard in "The Story of a Soldier" as its base. "Padre Ramirez" is a sad and beautiful Spanish guitar lament, another bit of touching music amidst the musical ferocity (although the main theme explodes at the finale). "Il Treno Militare" ("The Military Train") returns to the "The Story of a Soldier" theme, but played slowly and with a martial drum beat underscoring it."Fine di Una Spia" ("End of a Spy") starts with the a soft version of the main theme, then switches over a version of "The Carriage of the Spirits." "Il Bandito Monco" ("The Bandit Monco") and "Due Contro Cinque" ("Two Against Five") are suspense pieces using heavy, punctuated percussion and only hints of any of the film's themes.I hope that some music label will get around to re-mastering and expanding Morricone's greatest score, "Once Upon a Time in the West," with the same care done here!

I have listened more than once to this particular recording,with a caveat of sorts needed to be expressed here and now.I had the pleasure of viewing "The Good, The Bad and The Ugly" in 1969. I was a student at a college located in the community of Canton,Mo. Canton,Mo. is located approximately 50-60 miles from Quincy,Illinois., and as well it is situated about 70 or so miles from Hannibal,Mo.. Canton is a community whose banks run along the Mississippi River. Every spring when the Mississippi River crests, parts of the levy, and the town get flooded.(it use to be that way) with particular calls being made to the college for help in manning the levy,and to help with sandbagging. A friend had asked me if I cared to join them, Joe and his girlfriend to go to the movies. Canton,Mo. had a single movie theater.I recall talking after we all left the Theater. I had reservations about the movie however it was the score that really impressed me,I said so then.In the subsequent time period of many months I happened upon the Album of the Soundtrack to "The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly" at a record store in lower Manhattan. The find was exciting as soundtracks as such had not the appeal nor availability as they would ,the find as it were had that much going for it.The Soundtrack to the film had made a very real impression, I felt fortunate to have found the Album. If anyone wishes to compare as it were copies this is what my particular CD has going for it,mind you the original album is not with me with this most recent listening session being the CD whose image you see as a verified purchase.Capitol Records-MGM Music-EMI-Printed in the UK-UK-866 2482-(724386624826).The cover has the words EXTENDED VERSION under the title "THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY. ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE SOUNDTRACK.(Music by ENNIO MORRICONE).This CD has a asterisk which states Previously Unreleased(*).Here are the pieces that were previously unreleased,3.SENTENZA, 4.FUGA A CAVALLO, 5.IL PONTE DI CORDE 7.INSEGUIMENTO 10.LA MISSION SAN ANTONIO 11.PADRE RAMIREZ 14. IL TRENO MILITARE 16. IL BANDITO MONCO 17.DUE CONTRO CINQUE. If there are any doubts as what all this previously unreleased material is another look at the movie may be required.A case in point 11.Padre Ramirez this is the scene when Tuco drags Blonde in from the Desert,Blondes face has got enough blisters for a whole paragraph in itself but it is revealed that Padre Ramirez is in fact Tuco's brother. Padre Ramirez meets with his brother Tuco with a dramatic scene unfolding Padre Ramirez informs Tuco that there mother has passed away and he , Tuco was not there.One further comment on You tube there are live performances,with Ennio Morricone conducting "The Ecstasy of Gold", plus other Morricone favorites.It is worth watching,excellent, even stellar performances. A great listen on "You Tube" and a very good listening session with this particular purchase.This soundtrack has excellent acoustic guitar work with some worthy work accomplished through the "Carriage of The Spirits", 13."LA STORIA DE UN SOLDATO",or "The Story of A Soldier"(this music is played as Tuco is being tortured nearly to death),"The Death of a Soldier","Marcia without Hope","The Trio(Main Title).