INDIANA JONES AND THE DIAL OF DESTINY (Brown Vinyl, 2LP)

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023) was supposed to be composer John Williams last hurrah. Completed while in his early nineties, its his fifth score for the five-movie franchise and counts among well over 100 in his illustrious career. The fact that Williams changed his mind about retiring by the time the time-traveling prequel-sequel hit theaters doesnt change the fact that, despite some expected recycling from prior installments, Destiny captures Williams at his thrilling, epic best. Clocking in at over an hour, the score was performed by the Hollywood Studio Symphony and conducted by Williams and William Ross. It opens with a sweeping and ominous, mood-shifting prologue before introducing the romantic "Helenas Theme," a pivotal new theme for Indys troublemaking goddaughter, played by Phoebe Waller-Bridge. The musics highly adventurous and emotional spirit follows the film through settings like wartime Germany ("The Raiders March" is first fully revealed during the cue "Germany, 1944"); 1960s New York; Tangier, Morocco; Athens; and more, with the experimental "Water Ballet" among its compositional highlights. The closing track, "Helenas Theme (For Violin and Orchestra)," was recorded in a separate session with violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter and the San Francisco Symphony. "Helenas Theme" went on to win a Grammy for Best Instrumental Composition, and the score was nominated for an Academy Award -- Williams 54th Oscar nomination in all. ~ Marcy Donelson

Please note for shipping purposes this counts as 8 discs