Studs Lonigan
 
 

It seems Goldsmith's toughest critic (himself) was even keen to see this score properly preserved, so it must be good. Dating back to 1962, Studs Lonigan - the movie, was a very minor affair but the score proved to be a gold mine of musical invention and a building block in the young composer's career that would ultimately reinforce his new position on the A list. Studs' was a small drama about growing up and the inevitability of responsibility set in depression hit America of the 1930's. Goldsmith's score seems to capture the good times and bad perfectly as responsibility looms for the movie's wild one and one time lead. From sweet harmonica to warm strings and lazy brass statements that play like cool 50's Jazz. Then steaming ahead into a manic ragtime style heralded by a cacophony of orchestral force and a virtuoso performance by a young John Williams at the piano. Cues 3 and 4 are worth the purchase price alone as Goldsmith initiates one hell of a barn burner that plays out over six minutes. Stunning stuff! As the final act moves into view Goldsmith tones everything down for some frustratingly short emotive cues, really sad and tragic scoring, that captures the downbeat and abrupt ending just right. Required listening.

Varese's club CD features a fantastic stereo source and a bonus monaural track from Goldsmith's own archive. As always there's informative notes along with some nice period poster art. Though I wish they would take a leaf out of FSM's booklet style and lay the track details out and discuss the tracks in order.

Quartet Records re-issued the score in 2011 and their version differs slightly missing off the mono extra cue. Details here.