Reissue of the classic Bernstein soundtrack which is acknowledged as one of the most tense an intense motion pictures ever made. The score was groundbreaking in it's day, reflecting the tightness of the film with it's ... more »palpitating, sometimes sinister jazz and symphonic arrangements. The jazz sequences are arranged and played by Shorty Rogers and His Giants with Shelley Manne. 2001.« less
Reissue of the classic Bernstein soundtrack which is acknowledged as one of the most tense an intense motion pictures ever made. The score was groundbreaking in it's day, reflecting the tightness of the film with it's palpitating, sometimes sinister jazz and symphonic arrangements. The jazz sequences are arranged and played by Shorty Rogers and His Giants with Shelley Manne. 2001.
"Finally! An affordable CD reissue of one of the great jazz film scores! The reviewer who criticized the sound quality apparently didn't have to live with Decca's fake stereo lp version for twenty years, or spend years trying to track down a mint copy of the original lp, or he would realize that THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING WRONG WITH THE REMASTERING on this disc. It accurately captures the studio sound as recorded in glorious mono in 1955. If your're a Bernstein fan, don't hesitate to add this to your collection."
It's the original
Thomas Bumbera | 02/19/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I can understand one reviewer's opinion of this cd, if they are too young to have ever owned the original Lp. The quality IS top notch and it does NOT need remastering. If it sounds a little "stodgy" it's only because of the recording practices of the day, which happened in very dry studios. This is pre-Star Wars. It also helps to be familiar with the movie and the story. The dry sound actually enhances the reality of the plot.
I WOULD like to see Bernstein do a new recording, with a top notch symphony orchestra playing in a large hall, like he recently did with "To Kill a Mockingbird", but as far as this original sound track is concerned, this is the same as the original Lp, perhaps even cleaner. IT'S A WINNER!"
Blistering jazz soundtrack classic; dodgy recording
azaro | Toronto, ON | 05/08/2002
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I looked everywhere for this CD.Would have given it five out of five if it wasn't for the terrible recording quality - badly in need of a remastering. And this is a 2001 reissue! Very bright sound and at the very beginning sounds like a mangled cassette tape. Bad pressing? Who knows.The content is amazing, though. Intense... and the Frankie Machine theme is unforgettable."
Very, VERY Jazzy
My-2-Cents | Maryland, USA | 06/11/2008
(4 out of 5 stars)
"The soundtrack from the 1955 Otto Preminger/Frank Sinatra film is VERY Jazzy, and that is no understatement. Bernstein's score with help from Shorty Rodgers hits the mid-50's with a rocket, and is an accurate representation of the music of that time (jazz that is). Some of the music even borrows from rock 'n roll in places (or is it the other way around!!).
The transfer to CD is o.k., could have been better in my opinion, but I must assume it was not recorded/mastered all that well in the beginning. I have the record from a mid-1980's reissue, and the quality is about the same, only louder. But I'd rather have it in this form than not at all.
It's a good reminder of the film and again, a good intro to the jazzy music of the era. And it is jazzy indeed!!
Track Listings (11) - Disc #1
![Sweet Smell of Success [Motion Picture Soundtrack]](https://nationalbookswap.com/cd//m/11/1911/151911.jpg)
