Search - Lalo Schifrin :: Dirty Harry Anthology - Original Soundtracks

"Anthology" may not be perfect, but it's close as they get.

Chadwick H. Saxelid | Concord, CA United States | 04/27/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This digitally remastered collection of tracks from Schifrin's first three Dirty Harry scores is only marginally better than the 1983 vinyl release 'Sudden Impact and the best of Dirty Harry', an album that included music from 'Dirty Harry', 'Magnum Force', 'The Enforcer' (some excellent work from the late Jerry Fielding) with the fistful of 'Sudden Impact' tracks. While it was a nice enough overview of the composer's contributions to the films, nonetheless, cues were left out, leaving the true collector disappointed and hungry for more. Like the above mentioned release, Dirty Harry Anthology seems to be lacking some tracks to make it feel truly complete. Examples? Dirty Harry's Creed is still missing a piano solo and I guess... issues kept the somewhat painful Roberta Flack end title song from Sudden Impact off of this release (although the track San Francisco After Dark is an instrumental cover of that tune). The melancholy electric piano solos that played on the closing credits of 'Dirty Harry' and 'Magnum Force' are not included, but the composition can still be heard on the track 'The Mayor'. Also Schifrin does not bother to include any of his fine work for the (to date) final Dirty Harry movie 'The Dead Pool'.Quibbles aside, this is the most complete collection of some of the greatest cop movie music ever composed and it still sounds fresh and invigorating almost thirty years later. Any serious soundtrack collector should be happy to have it, just don't be too quick to throw out that 1983 vinyl release. You'll still need it. Highly recommended, regardless."

Dirty Harry at last - hubba, hubba!

pauldex@aol.com | Didcot, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom | 10/28/1998

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This very long-awaited collection is an inconsistent, albeit comprehensive, look at what must rank among Lalo's darkest scores in his thirty year plus film career. While not being as complete (and pleasant!) a listening experience as his work on Bullitt, there are some outstanding examples of why this man is so influential on many of today's forms of music, both popular and in film. Most are very short and it is obvious why the films did not have separate soundtracks released previously. The highlights are all from the first two films, 'Dirty Harry' and 'Magnum Force', and are as funky and representative of the '70s as anything I can think of. I have had a few moments, however, where I have been showing off this CD to friends when I have been forced to suddenly leap to my feet and change tracks. The weedy electro and Kenny G attempts from 'Sudden Impact' are best left well alone and it is sad that he did not stick to the ideas that he initially used for the series. The vast majority of the 19 pieces, however, are a fantastic example of how music should be written for film. Don't sample it as you will only embarrass yourself!!"

Too much of an anthology not enough from the original.

A. J. Palmer | London | 08/16/2000

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Starts incredibly with the first two tracks but the Sudden Impact and Magnum Force themes are in my opinion not even from the films....I'm sure they are just cover versions and not very good either. There are a couple of other good tracks, Palancio standing out but this is really just a cop out, pardon the pun. I'm sure they have omitted some of the funkier stuff from the first two films and why I ask. Some of it sounds terribly eighties and yes that is a critisism. I don't think the publishers understand their targetted audience. We are still waiting for the definitive Dirty Harry album."