Search - Bernard Herrmann :: Taxi Driver [Original Soundtrack Recording]

THIS is the version to get!

Jules De Simone | Media, PA USA | 11/27/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is an import from Arista Europe. Upon first glance, the only difference between this and the American version is that this CD is cleverly made to resemble a vinyl disc from it's 1975 release, not 1968 as the Amazon product description states.

The good news is that the difference between this version and the US version extends far beyond the merely superficial and cosmetic. This soundtrack sounds so crisp, it sizzles! No wonder, since it's a 20-bit transfer mastered from the original tapes.

I've been a huge fan of Bernard Hermann (and Martin Scorsese) for many years and I've never heard this music sound so sparklingly clear and detailed. Beyond all this, there's a stunning dynamic range on this disc that simply blows the US version out of the water.

I'm completely delighted with the sonic quality of this disc and would recommend it without reservation to anyone who appreciates Bernard Hermann's incomparable scoring."

No Explanation Should Be Needed

d | 10/14/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"To those who disparaged the "smooth jazz" versions of the music on this CD; and to those who don't like the film dialaogue:



Between the 1950s and 1970s, it was VERY common for "soundtrack" albums to include radically rearranged music, to make the listening experience more cohesive and/or more accessible.



It was also very common to include some dialogue from the films for the same reason.



Regardless of your opinions on these practices philosophically or aesthetically, these releases helped to create the very market for soundtracks that we all enjoy today.



"Taxi Driver" was initially released on LP. One side included the interpretations by David Blume; the other side included Herrmann's music, with dialog overdubbed onto one track (Diary of a Taxi Driver).



The CD release discussed here is sixty minutes in length, and presents the music from the film along with the LP content, to bring us a complete release of the music. The underscore of the "Diary" track is all here elsewhere, without DeNiro's monologue. And the David Blume versions are at the end of the CD, and easily skipped over if desired.



The producers of this disc did a good job in presenting both the music from the film while including the original "soundtrack" LP content. They could have gone one way or the other. I give them credit for producing a full release."

What about Ronnie Lang?

Michael S. Dewey | canton, oh United States | 10/16/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"No credits, no plaudits for the man mentioned in my review title and I'm sure the soundtrack, specifically, and the movie, collectively, lose a significant portion of the overall luster without the gorgeous alto saxophone renderings of Ronnie Lang, whose solo work here over the recurring theme is nothing short of a masterpiece unto itself. Why do so many Hollywood ending credits jump at the chance to give "props" to the caterer, or the electrician trainee, or the third best boy, as examples, but make no mention whatsoever of the contributions of the stellar musicians, such as Ronnie, and the solid impact they make on the impetus of a given film? Bernard Herrman deservedly gets his "props", but his "aces" in the pit really take his score to a higher, more subliminal level.



At any rate, my personal kudos go out to Ronnie and the other soloists and pitmen who flourish in their glorious musical interpretations!"