Tape Project Forum

Tape Project Albums => Suggestion Box => Topic started by: ceved on April 21, 2008, 05:55:37 PM

Title: How the West was Won
Post by: ceved on April 21, 2008, 05:55:37 PM

Great soundtrack! 
MGM records.

Title: Re: How the West was Won
Post by: Scott D. Smith on August 30, 2008, 01:46:30 PM

I actually had the opportunity to hear (and view) the full Todd-AO 7 track version of "How the West Was Won" in John Harvey's living room in Dayton, Ohio a few years back.

While the sound track suffered from many of the ill's of analog, many of the music sections were a true revelation. Most of them were recorded with a basic 5 or 6 channel mike setup, and very little processing.

I always wondered what the multi-channel masters must have sounded like. Unfortunately, I think they have been lost to time and rot after the demise and subsequent sale of Todd-AO to the Pacific Theater group, which has done little to preserve what they have.

Title: Re: How the West was Won
Post by: ceved on August 30, 2008, 01:59:08 PM

Well, it may not be the TP treatment, but HTWWW is being released in a restored version on DVD in September, and Blu Ray as well.
I sure hope they got rid of the two vertical lines that divided the screens in thirds.
I know even the paltry CD had some superb dynamics, and the soundtrack content is quite enjoyable, sort of Copland meets The Pops with percussion.
The vocal tracks are especially good.
Perhaps the Blu Ray will improve the soundtrack as well.
Wouldn't it be nice to be able to play just the soundtrack?
I saw the film along with most of those wide screen epics in Philadelphia at the Boyd Theatre.
The screen was huge.  I am not sure how it compared to an IMAX, but my sense of it is that the IMAX may have been as tall, but nowhere near as wide.
I preferred the front row of the balcony to maintain some sense of perspective.
By the end of the feature I must have looked like a walled eyed pike trying to take it all in.
I apologize, as this doesn't have much to do with music.