Given that as a basis for listening to Indiana Jones: The Soundtracks Collection by Concorde Music Group prepares the listener by letting him/her know that everything that emerges from the speakers is a sheer pleasure. Having been a fan of Williams music since I was a kid in the summer of 1975 when the thought of going near any body of water whether it be a sink or a lake was always accompanied by the famed "Da-Dum-Da-Dum" of Jaws. The soundtrack of my mind has been populated by the famed Star Wars, Superman, Close Encounters, and so many other great collaborations between celluloid and sound by Mr. Williams that I cannot think of any movie going experience in the past thirty without instantly hearing a full orchestra. So, I was eager to unwrap the latest package from Amazon containing the great new collected soundtracks of all the Indy films, many not available on CD in years, and contains a great deal of unreleased pieces including a bonus interview disc with the Maestro, George Lucas and Steven Spielberg.

Combine the energy of Williams with Indiana Jones and you have a match made in movie going heaven. As Williams explains on the great bonus CD that contains interviews conducted by Spielberg documentation, Laurent Bouzereau, the Indy films always felt like they were going "90 m.p.h. from beginning to end" and he rose to the occasion to create scores that match the Indy films scene for scene. Plus, discover the origins of the familiar "Raiders' March" that was a "two for the price of one" treat from John Williams to Steven Spielberg.

I took a few minutes to admire the great care and design that went into the packaging of this boxed set from the textured outer box with gold lettering to the fantastic CD artwork of each of the "MacGuffin" on their respective film scores. Each disc contains a booklet with images of the films, many not scene before, and a letter from Steven Spielberg talking about how Williams music drove that particular film, a list of all the musicians that performed on that soundtrack, and track listings. Any Indyfans will have a great time just flipping through the booklets and recalling the films and the scenes.

Moving beyond the packaging, the big question is; "How do they sound?"

Fantastic. My favorite disc is the collection of previously unreleased material that is on the bonus interview disc that contains ten tracks, mostly from Temple and Crusade. With it cranked up to the number "11" button as I type this review, I am immersed in the world of Indiana Jones, albeit only in audio form, but what a world it is. From the complete otherworldly, and awe-inspiring music from the "Uncovering the Ark" to the pensiveness of "The Secret Passage" from Temple, I can almost feel the cool mist of the caverns that lie below Pankot Palace and the dread that waits around the next bend.

The strings, percussions, wind instruments and vocals that combine to add that layer of sound that almost felt it had come from Ben Burtt's sound effects group is the real "musical miracle" that John Williams' scores for the Indy films is what makes this set so great. The quality is so vibrant and may I say, "alive" that it has become it's own being or "force" of sound that transcends so many other film scores. The listener almost is felled to start "moving", as Williams points out on the interview CD. You want to start to accelerate and start searching for some hidden treasures. On a personal note; I always credit Williams' Last Crusade "Scherzo for Motorcycle and Orchestra" that was playing on my car cassette player way back in May 1998 when I was driving my wife, who was in labor, to the hospital and miraculously avoided the typical bumper to bumper early morning commuter traffic heading towards New York! We made it in to the delivery room and her water broke five minutes later, I remember the nurse commenting that I was lucky to make it just in the "nick of time" –(Thanks. Mr. Williams!)

I could go on for pages to describe how wonderful it is to finally have all of these Indiana Jones soundtracks available, but any Indy fan can tell you that. Indiana Jones: The Soundtracks Collection is a wonderful gift to fans of soundtracks, action films, Indiana Jones, and of course great music. Just listening to the familiar the triumphant trumpets of the "Raiders' March" will put a smile on your face and a spring in your step. So, do your self a favor and put this one on your wish list and in your music library. As George Lucas says in the interview; "... I just sat back and watched great artist at work, from great directing, great writing to especially the great music. I didn't have to do anything but say "that's fantastic".

And by George, he's right!

Indiana Jones: The Soundtracks Collection is available now from Concord Music.

Posted by Mitchell Hallock