Cool Hand Lalo
Brandon Cutro | Tyler, Texas United States | 11/03/2002
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Never having heard the music from Cool Hand Luke, I decided to pick up a copy of this soundtrack anyway because I like Lalo Schifrin. I'm glad I got this soundtrack because it is really good. It actually was nominated for an oscar back in 1967. The main theme is a catchy guitar rhythm and also a song titled "Down Here On the Ground" in which guitar, banjo, and sometimes harmonica are used. "Tar Sequence" has actually been used as a theme for a news program. The piano sequences sound like something Jerry Goldsmith would write and actually has used before. The other action cues are "The Chase" and "Criss-Crossing the Fence". There are some jazz tracks present in "Egg Eating Contest" and "Ballad of Cool Hand Luke". The last 2 tracks are symphonic versions of the main theme and the song "Down Here on the Ground". Most of the tracks have a bluegrass feel to them and sound like they belong on a bluegrass compilation album. The time on the soundtrack runs a little under 60 minutes, which is plenty of music. Get this score if you can find it. It was re-released on Schifrin's record company Aleph last year and you may end up finding it if you look hard. It is worth it though."
Flawed
The Critic | Claremont, CA, USA | 05/14/2005
(4 out of 5 stars)
"This is a very nice re-recording of the original score, but lacks the heart of the original in a few ways. First, the songs from the film are re-recorded and rather lifeless compared to the film soundtrack. Secondly, the "Tar Sequence" track has been given a strange piece of introductory music rather than just starting naturally and loudly, as in the film.
Still a good listen, but these changes are not for the best. Probably still the preferable version of the Cool Hand Luke CD."