I got this new release of the score for Christmas from my brother. I didn't know that he'd gotten it for me since he had hidden in inside one of the boxes to another present he had bought me. After I opened it, I immediately put it into the CD player and we spent about 70+ minutes of Christmas morning listening to Jerry Goldsmith rather than the traditional Christmas carols. The score to Total Recall is probably one of my all-time favorite scores by Jerry Goldsmith. Action packed and exciting, this score has pretty much all the elements that make the movie such a blast to watch. When the original CD was issued back in the early 90's, the soundtrack community (myself included) was pretty much in an uproar over the fact that much of the music for this sci-fi actioner was left out. But now the time for being angry is over and film buffs can rejoice in this latest release of Jerry Goldsmith's work. Performed brilliantly by the National Philharmonic Orchestra, this score is probably one of the finest action scores released in the recent past.
While the main title track, The Dream is probably one of the most identifiable tracks on the album due to the fact that it is used over and over again for sports montage scenes, it is still only a window into this soundtrack. While most of the action tracks were included on the original release of the score, this new release also includes some of the shorter cues or incidental pieces that make this score an overall hit. Pieces such as Secret Agent and The Implant follow the key moments of the movie when Ah-nold receives his first implant. This is followed up by several other new tracks that track the action from the conclusion of the Rekall scene right on through the stellar chase into the Subway.
One thing that had disappointed me with the original release was the fact that the music dealing with the scenes on Mars had been left out. These pieces such as The Space Station, The Mountain and fabulous Remembering bring that mystical air to the score. The track Remembering is of particular note in my mind because of the way the cue progresses. As Arnold looks back into the reaches of his mind, the music builds and builds until the truth is revealed. Incorporating synthesized elements alongside the traditional orchestra pieces of the National Philharmonic Orchestra makes for an 'other-worldly' sound that Goldsmith does so well.
The final portions of the score are pretty much the same as they were on the original release, covering the climactic action scenes of the film. In addition to the main music for the film, Goldsmith was responsible for writing much of the incidental music heard throughout the film. This included the jingles for Rekall heard in the television commercials. If you enjoyed it and wished that it had also been released on CD, wish no longer. If you listen to the final track, after it finishes, there is a brief pause after which the commercial theme is heard! So you see? This score pretty much satisfies everybody! If you hadn't purchased the original then buy this CD. If you had bought the original, buy this CD. If you've never bought a soundtrack, buy this CD!
Total time: 73:58