One of the three works that consecrated definitively John Williams at popular level, together with Jaws (1975) and Star Wars (1977), with a well-known and vastly listened main theme, it was amazing the absence of a complete version of the score of Superman (1978), available on its premiere thanks to a double LP. More astonishing even turns out discovering that the scores with the original orchestrations by Herbert W. Spencer and Arthur Morton was destroyed, so for this new recording the orchestrators Brad Dechter, Don Nemitz, Frank Bennett and Larry Dominello had worked by hearing from John William's original sketches. The final result is splendid, and John Debney's baton, although not so impressive as that of the own Williams, unveils hidden shades and sonorities thanks, partly, to the better sound recording; next to it, several new themes not included among the sixteen originally published, as Jonathan's Death, The Helicopter Sequence, The Penthouse or The Truck Convoy, allows to complete the knowledge of the work, though it lacks the song "sung" by Margot Kidder with lyrics by Leslie Bricusse, included in the original edition of 1978. Anyway, an obligatory edition.

SUPERMAN (1978) - 82:10
Royal Scottish National Orchestra - Director: John Debney
VARESE SARABANDE VSD-5981 / 82 '

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