NEAR MINT -UNSEALED - ONLY ONE AVAILABLE

World premiere expanded CD of early James Horner score for exciting crime thriller set in Moscow, directed by Michael Apted from Martin Cruz Smith novel, starring William Hurt, Lee Marvin, Brian Dennehy, Joanna Pacula.

Horner takes inspiration from icy cold murder site ambiance in night-time Gorky Park, launches with intense cluster of chimes, pizzicato bass, swelling brass to establish oppressive mood. Suddenly the soaring melodic strains of Tchaikovsky overtake grimness with splash of color for skaters unaware of faceless dead bodies nearby. With this stunning opening, Horner already works both drama, locale into his dynamic score. Composer will use similar original score/Tchaikovsky overdub technique throughout score. As story moves through suspenseful investigation, tender love, riveting chases, Horner fluidly responds with his compelling music following suit. Love theme is memorable. Ditto aggressive action cues.

Score has seen several previous truncated 36-minute releases but all of them suffered from odd audio mix rendering several cues in mono, especially those featuring strings such as with gorgeous love theme. (Film itself was in mono.) To present entire score in true stereo for first time, courtesy MGM, Intrada went back to original session masters made by Dan Wallin at Record Plant Recording Studios on 2" 24-track tape, then subsequently mixed by Wallin down to 1/2" multi-track stereo, then finally to brand new two-track stereo mixes for our CD. Working with these mixes, we discovered Horner had scored several cues with alternate versions, all of which are included as "extras" in this CD. Other new highlights include striking motif for "Andreev", who recreates murder victim's faces, exciting "Pasha And Golodkin Shot", fiercely rhythmic "Setting Up The Deal" plus several others. Extra treat! Working with multi-tracks allows us to present all cues containing Tchaikovsky overdubs in both familiar final versions plus in Horner score-only versions for interesting study in contrasts.

Finally, Horner wrote cocktail piano source cue ("Stockholm Salted Peanuts") for late sequence in picture and nostalgic, bittersweet piece appears as closing extra to wrap generous-length CD. Liner notes by John Takis plus graphic design by Joe Sikoryak tie everything up with nice bow. James Horner conducts.

01. Main Title (2:51)
02. No Faces (1:53)
03. Chase Through The Park (1:57)
04. Following Kirwill (3:00)
05. Andreev (1:26)
06. Pasha And Golodkin Shot (1:04)
07. Irina’s Chase (3:43)
08. Arkady And Irina (Film Version) (2:12)
09. Irina’s Theme (Album Version) (3:32)
10. The Sable Shed (Album Version) (6:40)
11. Following KGB (2:03)
12. Iamskoy’s Death (0:43)
13. Setting Up The Deal (2:36)
14. Farewell At The Airport (Album Version) (4:19)
15. Releasing The Sables/End Credits (Album Version) (4:23)

THE EXTRAS
16. Main Title (Without Classical Inserts) (2:51)
17. A Leather Bag With The Gun (0:39)
18. First Flashback (0:44)
19. First Flashback (Without Classical Insert) (0:33)
20. Tailing KGB (0:43)
21. Second Flashback In Arkady’s Office (1:22)
22. Second Flashback In Arkady’s Office (Without Classical Insert) (1:07)
23. Arkady And Irina (Album Version) (2:28)
24. Regaining Consciousness (0:55)
25. Love Montage (1:21)
26. Irina’s Theme (3:48)
27. The Sable Shed (Film Version) (6:40)
28. Irina’s Confession (1:11)
29. Farewell At The Airport (Film Version) (2:59)
30. Releasing The Sables/End Credits (Film Version) (4:25)
31. Stockholm Salted Peanuts) (Cocktail Piano) (4:00)

Total Disc Time: 79.17