Da Uomo a Uomo

Hillside are one of the most industrious and well thought of independent soundtrack labels around that concentrate solely on Italian or European film music. They are responsible for some groundbreaking releases and certainly are one of the main labels when it comes to taking risks and issuing long out of print or never before released soundtracks from Italian productions. This edition of DEATH RIDES A HORSE is actually a re-issue of a former Hillside/GDM release, but its not just a straight repress as Hillside have included half a dozen or so tracks in stereo that were not included on the original release. Yes, it’s a classic Morricone western score from the composers most productive and interesting period, but one has to ask the question does it warrant a re-issue so close to the actual release of the original compact disc? Well as a Morricone devotee I will have to say yes, but maybe the time period between the two releases should have been a little longer in duration, after all we are at the moment being bombarded with numerous so called special editions or definitive releases of scores that we all own and love dearly, and for the sake of 6 tracks which granted are in stereo, I would have rather another score be issued which has not yet seen the light of day. Apparently the vaults at CAM, BEAT, GDM, CINEVOX etc are still relatively full of soundtracks that have never been issued, this to me is a staggering statement taking into account the amount of material that has been released over the past six years or so. So why DEATH RIDES A HORSE again? I think Cinevox got it right recently when they re-issued a Morricone western as a deluxe version, this was of course DUCK YOU SUCKER and was in everyway deluxe, two discs superb packaging etc, that was a worthwhile re-issue, not being in anyway derogatory towards Hillside but maybe DEATH RIDES A HORSE, should have been left a little longer in the pasture? Saying that however I must commend Hillside for the production standards on this disc as the sound is far better than any other disc of this particular score that has been issued and the stereo tracks although repeated on the release in mono are standout affairs. The art work too is eye arresting and the stills inside the cover are of interest, devoid of notes though, maybe the Hillside series would benefit from some form of liner notes. So in short, a classic score from the Maestro, but one that could have waited.