A Christmas Story | ||
 | Composer: Carl Zittrer Label: Rhino Entertainment Company Release Date: 2009-11-10 Producer: Carl Zittrer Conductor: Paul Zaza Buy this soundtrack:   |   |
 Track Listing | ||||||||||
| 01 Bob's Major Award (2:08) 02 Jogging To School (0:11) 03 Black Bart Bites The Dust (3:46) 04 Meeting Of The Minds (3:14) 05 And They're Off! (0:14) 06 Truth Or [Triple Dog] Dare (2:17) 07 Jingle Bells (1:23) 08 He Had Yellow Eyes (2:49) 09 A Chip Off The Old Block (3:10) 10 When Things Seem Hopeless... (3:02) 11 "Feet, Do Your Stuff!" (0:19) 12 Ralphie's Brilliant Idea (2:04) 13 Ming The Merciless (3:05) 14 Don't Look Back (0:19) 15 Sleigh Bells (2:26) 16 Ralphie's Revenge & The "F" Word (2:51) 17 Joy To The World & Silent Night (2:00) 18 The Bumpus Hounds Make Their Rounds (1:33) 19 Glorious, Beautiful Christmas (3:14) 20 Silent Night (4:38) Total Length: 44:43 | ||||||||||
More Soundtracks by Carl Zittrer Reviewed by Scott - Grade: B Fans of this hilarious 1983 holiday classic can relive every moment and savor Bob's Major Award.If you have never seen A Christmas Story then you may have been living on another planet since 1983. Rhino Entertainment treats us to a full release of this score and allows listeners to re-live every moment of this classic holiday comedy. The score opens up an orchestral version of Deck The Halls and a trumpet gently takes us into a section of strings that entice us into the mystery and exoticness of "Bob's Major Award". The score shifts gears quickly into "Jogging to School" which has a William Tell Overture feel to it for a mere 11 seconds. This track reminds us how full this release is because it captures as much music as possible. It even includes the quick cuts and flashbacks with a western flair (yes including a horse whinney) of "Black Bart Bites the Dust". We all remember when Ralphie appears and takes them down with his red rider. You hear a whip crack and a gun with ricochet sounds tearing through the music. A galloping chorus of horses and a single horn escalate until we are back to reality. This is a fun and light hearted piece that really works best with the film and doesn't stand on its own very well. "Meeting of the Minds" makes an entrance with that familiar comical tuba section accompanied by flutes, curious strings and plucks that tell the infamous tale of the Double Dog Dare of sticking your tongue onto the frozen flag pole. Note this is the track that is used as the second half of this scene. The first piece of it is "Truth Or [Triple Dog] Dare" which seems curiously out of place as it occurs after this part in the score. I can only imagine it is placed that way for continuity purposes. This track is a single snare drum and horns as the boys ratchet up the dare, double dare and triple dog dares! Listeners will remember fondly "A Chip Off The Old Block" as it brings us back into the main theme of Bob's award. The second half of this track has an after school special feel to it, but it is a soothing piece used when Ralphie finally gets his gun and his dad surprises him. It is a great piece and really captures the love between father and son as Ralphie loads his red rider for the ultimate destiny that awaits him. We are taken to "Ralphie's Revenge and the "F" Word" that everyone can remember about this film growing up. It is a dark piece that could easily have been used in a dramatic thriller just as the killer is stalking and about to attack. The funny thing is, it is used to capture the moment in time when a boy is caught saying the "F" word for the first time by his father. As the moment happens, the orchestra comes to a stop and a somber section of strings take us back into the car to inform the mother. "The Bumpus Hounds Make Their Rounds" shows up and includes the barking and whimpering Bumpus Hounds along with a good ole boy hee haw country stomp with shattering glass, boings, and a kazoo. Overall this score is pretty ecclectic and is probably for the true collector. But if you want to relive this movie then there are definitely a few tracks that stand out and instantly take you back to the city of Hohman and all of the ecclectic characters that inhabit it. The truth is that there is a little bit of each character in this film, in every one of us. You could put a few of these tracks on in the background as good ole holiday cheer. If anything you can show it off to your friends and definitey elicit some good laughs. "Bob's Major Award" LMAO!!!! More Movie Soundtracks
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