I clearly remember the day that I saw the Star Wars 4CD Box Set sitting high on a shelf behind the counter at Cheapies in Hamilton back in 1996. I was relatively new to soundtrack “collecting” so I had no idea that this legendary box set was released back in 1993. I had no money at the time; I was a poor college student and only made a few hundred bucks each week working at McRauchies!
About a month later I saved up enough cash for the $89 plus tax price tag (my most expensive soundtrack purchase at the time) and headed downtown to make the historic purchase before class. I gave the fairly good looking cashier 5 green 20’s (and maybe a couple of bucks more in change) and waited patiently for her to grab a step stool to get the box set down from the shelf. When she handed it to me I swear my hands were shaking. I couldn’t believe I now owned a trilogy of music I’ve been singing in my head for at least 13 years.
Unfortunately, I had to wait a few hours before I could spin the albums as I had a few classes to attend. However, during my urban politics class, I remember opening the shrink wrap and flipping through the brilliant booklet enclosed. Maybe that’s why I eventually failed the class.
I don’t think I will ever experience anything like that ever again.
Another memorable purchase was DCC’s Raiders of the Lost Ark. When I found out about the release by visiting my favourite John Williams web page I immediately jotted down DCC’s phone number and waiting until later that afternoon to place my first ever phone order. This again was another soundtrack that I thought I would never own. It was and still is my all-time favourite score.
When the album arrived a few weeks later, I secluded myself in my room, inserted the disc into my boom box, sat on my bed and again soaked in the sounds of the LSO while reading through Lukas Kendall’s masterful liner notes (something sorely missing from the recent Indy box set) I spun that disc on repeat for days and to this day I still think it is the finest representation of music from Raiders of the Lost Ark out there.
So, there are a few film music memories that will stay with me forever…
This article was inspired by THIS Film Score Monthly thread.
Dear Erik,
just wanted to say that I am happy that you are runing your show.
I first listened to your show some years ago may be it fell into the time when you took a break short after so I lost the show out of my eyes. now I remembered there was this “nicely- put-together-film-music-show” from this guy with the nice voice. I must say I am still happy that you are our there and that you make your show! I hope that I do not lose you out of my ears for the next years! keep up the good work, dude!
Best wishes from germany,
Thank you for your very kind comments!