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There is never a low point in this lush, epic score. The main theme is ingenius and instantly memorable. Usually, a soundtrack will have one or two tracks on it that are not quite up to par with the rest of it, but not this one. Each song is very unique in its own right. If I could give this one six stars, I would. My favorite song off of the entire release is the second track called "Escape from the Tavern." To me, this arrangement is one of the greatest action accompanyment pieces I've ever experienced. From the kickstarted beginning to the thrilling end, this song is superb. Another excellent track is also the CD's longest; running at a whopping 18 minutes. This encompasses the segment of the film whenever Queen Bavmorda is casting her spells on the army below. James Horner has the unique touch and rare gift to transport the listener into another time where evil queens rule the land, magic abounds, and trolls quickly become a dangerous nuisance.
On a sidenote, this score was originally released in the fall of 1988. For no apparent reason, it was yanked from store shelves in early 1990. As was expected, WILLOW has become quite a rare find in the CD circuit. I have heard that an original American copy of it has a list price of about $140.00. It is almost impossible to find a copy in America, which is why I finally had to resort to looking overseas in Europe. What do you know, I found it for a considerably smaller price of about $16.00. Without hesitation, I sent in my order form and I received it two weeks later in the mail.
In closing, if you can find a copy of WILLOW, grab it while the grabbing is good, because you will probably never see it again. WILLOW is the jewel of my entire CD collection. Once you start out on your journey for this breathtaking score, never give up and WILLOW will eventually fall into your awaiting hands. The absolute essential James Horner score.
