*batteries not included (2CD)

Premiere expanded 2-CD release of fanciful 1987 James Horner soundtrack! Steven Spielberg presents for Amblin Entertainment, Matthew Robbins directs, Spielberg, Kathleen Kennedy, Frank Marshall executive produce, Brad Bird co-writes from a story by Mick Garris, legendary acting couple Hume Cronyn & Jessica Tandy star, Universal Pictures releases. Adding to all those megawatt names is James Horner with a lengthy, fanciful, richly emotional score full of fantasy, excitement, nostalgia and color. Originally slated as an episode of Steven Spielberg’s television series Amazing Stories, story impressed famed director to develop it for the big screen instead. Composer Horner steps up to the plate with his involved, moving musical tapestry to share the vision. Small diner setting allows for several of the composer’s signature swing-style numbers, mean-spirited tactics of real estate developers to tear down the dwelling affords Horner opportunity to infuse music with solid degree of serious drama, tender love stories both aging and young bring in nostalgia, romantic ideas while arrival of two tiny spaceships with extraordinary abilities lets Horner aim for musical fantasy and magic in healthy doses! Resulting score is dynamic meld of nostalgia, warmth, intense drama, exciting fantasy action all play in equal doses, albeit tender material supporting two leads remains at heart. Nowhere is this sensitive manner better revealed than an unusually gentle, even fragile “Getting Old” sequence - previously unreleased - featuring oboe, soprano sax and bassoon, followed by flute, harp. Delicate Coplandesque writing displays Horner at his most haunting! At the other end of the spectrum, Horner provides “The Basement” (also previously unreleased) with powerful orchestral outbursts underlining the tension of pending arson sequence. And for rousing excitement, Horner provides lengthy “Aerial Ballet” and even lengthier “The Flying Lesson” - yet two more previously unreleased sequences - to the fore. Top drawer 80’s-style Horner! Other cues balance between all previous orchestral flavors to create so much more depth than original MCA label album allowed for. Twice as much in fact! Entire 2-CD Intrada release is assembled and mastered from original 1987 two-track stereo masters engineered by Shawn Murphy at The Burbank Studios across seven days in May, 1987 and vaulted by Universal in pristine condition. Flipper-style cover art prepared by Kay Marshall for colorful booklet offers two distinctive artwork campaigns. Informative liner notes from Frank K. DeWald provide insight to release edited, mastered and produced for Intrada by Douglass Fake with executive production work from Roger Feigelson. Since complete score (90 minutes) requires two CDs, second disc also features remastered presentation of Horner’s original 1987 album. Greig McRitchie, Billy May orchestrate, James Horner composes, conducts. A knockout! Intrada 2-CD set available while quantities and interest remain!