Alex North Spartacus [1960-2010]

Composed by Alex North. Released in 1960. Edition Varese released in August 2, 2010.

Varèse Sarabande commemorates Alex North's 100th birthday and the film Spartacus' 50th Anniversary with the release of Robert Townson's 1,000th album.

For this international celebration of one of film music's most influential and important giants, Robert Townson is joined by Nathan Barr, Alan and Marilyn Bergman, John Debney, Alexandre Desplat, Patrick Doyle, Randy Edelman, Dave Grusin, Mark Isham, John Mauceri, Joel McNeely, Diego Navarro, David Newman, Lisbeth Scott, Lalo Schifrin, Brian Tyler, John Williams, Christopher Young

The box set, which is limited to 5000 copies, contains six CDs, one DVD, and a deluxe 168-page book!

The breakdown of the set includes:

CD 1 - All surviving stereo tracks of Alex North's SPARTACUS recording, including all tracks from the original soundtrack album, assembled in film order.

CD 2 AND 3 - The complete original film soundtrack of SPARTACUS, in astounding monaural sound.

CD 4 - A selection of unused and alternate cues from the original film sessions, along with Alex North's original preliminary cue recordings for the film (used for film editing purposes).

CD 5 AND 6 - SPARTACUS LOVE THEME AND VARIATIONS - 22 classic and newly recorded interpretations of Alex North's “Spartacus Love Theme” - featuring Bill Evans, Yusef Lateef, Carlos Santana, Lalo Schifrin, Dave Grusin, Mark Isham, Alexandre Desplat and many others! Newly recorded in Los Angeles, New York, London, Paris and Tenerife!

DVD - CONVERSATIONS ON ALEX NORTH'S SPARTACUS A 96-minute feature documentary on the importance of Alex North and his score for SPARTACUS, with Alexandre Desplat, Mark Isham, David Newman, Lalo Schifrin, Robert Townson, Brian Tyler, John Williams and Christopher Young. Also included are two bonus features with Mark Isham and Diego Navarro recording their own Spartacus Love Theme variations.

Track listing

CD 1 (Stereo - 72:40)
All surviving stereo tracks of Alex North's SPARTACUS recording, including all tracks from the original soundtrack album, assembled in film order.

01. Overture (04:00)
02. Main Title * (03:17)
03. The Mines (03:01)
04. Caravan (01:15)
05. First Pair (03:44)
06. Gladiators Fight To The Death * (02:20)
07. Brooding (02:20)
08. On To Vesuvius (Forward, Gladiators / Forest Meeting) * (04:52)
09. Oysters And Snails (Film Version) (03:07)
10. Hopeful Preparations / Vesuvius Camp * (01:59)
11. Vesuvius Montage (01:19)
12. Blue Shadows And Purple Hills * (03:11)
13. Headed For Freedom * (03:15)
14. Homeward Bound (On To The Sea / Beside The Pool) * (06:27)
15. Metapontum Triumph (01:35)
16. Festival (03:21)
17. Expectant Parents (03:07)
18. Prelude To Battle (Quiet Interlude / The Final Conflict) * (05:11)
19. Formations (01:35)
20. Goodbye My Life, My Love / End Title * (04:16)
21. Spartacus Love Theme * (02:50)

BONUS TRACKS :
22. On To The Sea / Infant Burial (03:03)
23. Oysters And Snails / Festival (Album Version) * (03:24)

* = cues from the original Decca soundtrack album

CD 2 (Mono - 70:40)
The complete original film soundtrack of SPARTACUS (CD1/2), in astounding monaural sound.

01. Overture (03:59)
02. Main Title (03:41)
03. The Mines (03:00)
04. Caravan (01:17)
05. Varinia's Theme (03:15)
06. Training The Gladiators (Part I) (01:29)
07. Painting (01:26)
08. Spartacus' Cell (01:37)
09. Kitchen (Part I) (01:36)
10. Training The Gladiators (Part II) (00:37)
11. Kitchen (Part II) (00:48)
12. Crassus (00:51)
13. Source Music (Part I) (02:36)
14. Source Music (Part II) (03:30)
15. First Pair (03:38)
16. Draba Fight (02:49)
17. Kill (01:12)
18. Brooding (02:18)
19. Revolt (01:16)
20. The Breakout (02:08)
21. Slaves Escape (00:47)
22. Crassus' Home (00:37)
23. Deserted School (01:55)
24. Forest Meeting (04:50)
25. Oysters And Snails (03:03)
26. Vesuvius Camp (01:59)
27. New Recruits (01:51)
28. Glabrus March (00:24)
29. Vesuvius Montage (01:19)
30. Poem (01:27)
31. Love Sequence (03:10)
32. Glabrus Defeated (03:40)
33. Glabrus Disgraced (01:44)

CD 3 (Mono - 65:29)
The complete original film soundtrack of SPARTACUS (CD2/2), in astounding monaural sound.

01. Entr'acte (02:21)
02. On To The Sea (03:07)
03. Luceria Camp (00:42)
04. Beside The Pool (02:28)
05. Dusty March (00:31)
06. Metapontum Triumph (01:33)
07. Roman Baths (01:46)
08. Arrival At The Beach (00:59)
09. Festival (03:20)
10. Sound The Trumpet (00:31)
11. Crassus Legions (00:41)
12. Back From The Sea (00:30)
13. Crassus' Camp (00:48)
14. Camp At Night (02:19)
15. Expectant Parents (03:10)
16. Maneuvers (03:14)
17. Formations (01:30)
18. The Battle (04:09)
19. Desolation Elegy (02:05)
20. I Am Spartacus (03:14)
21. Recognition And Crucifixion March (02:46)
22. Night Crucifixion (00:35)
23. Varinia And Crassus (04:59)
24. Fear Of Death (03:22)
25. Spartacus Defies Crassus (02:17)
26. The Last Fight (04:47)
27. Final Farewell And End Title (04:17)
28. Exit Music (02:48)

CD 4 (Mono - 43:17)
A selection of unused and alternate cues from the original film sessions, along with Alex North's original preliminary cue recordings for the film.

01. Overture (Unused Version) (04:02)
Tracks 01-13 : ALTERNATE & UNUSED CUES
02. Main Title (Alternate Version) (03:33)
03. Gladiator Selection (Unused Version) (02:31)
04. Kitchen (Part I) (Alternate Version) (01:55)
05. On To The Sea (Alternate Version) (02:58)
06. Infant Burial (Alternate Version) (00:47)
07. End Of Act I (Alternate Version) (01:06)
08. Festival (Alternate Version) (01:50)
09. Sound The Trumpet (Alternate Version) (00:23)
10. Spartacus March (00:34)
11. Spartacus March (Alternate Ending Version) (00:18)
12. Spartacus Fanfare (00:13)
13. Fear Of Death (Alternate Version) (03:26)
14. Training The Gladiators (Part I) / Painting (Preliminary Version) (02:45)
Tracks 14-22 : PRELIMINARY CUES
15. Training The Gladiators (Preliminary Version) (02:37)
16. Training The Gladiators (Part II) (Preliminary Version) (00:37)
17. Brooding (Preliminary Version) (03:06)
18. Revolt (Preliminary Version) (00:28)
19. Festival (Preliminary Version) (00:51)
20. Spartacus Love Theme (Preliminary Version) (03:05)
21. Desolation Elegy (Preliminary Version) (03:29)
22. Crucifixion March (Preliminary Version) (02:05)

CD 5 (Stereo - 60:07)
Spartacus: Love Theme And Variations (CD1/2) - 22 classic and newly recorded interpretations of Alex North's "Spartacus Love Theme".

01. Bill Evans (05:09)
02. Yusef Lateef (04:11)
03. Mark Isham (11:09)
04. Dave Grusin (02:53)
05. Nathan Barr & Lisbeth Scott (05:08)
06. Carlos Santana (06:48)
07. Terry Callier (04:28)
08. Patrick Doyle (05:01)
09. Joel McNeely (02:27)
10. Lalo Schifrin (05:17)
11. The Ramsey Lewis Trio (07:12)
"Spartacus Love Theme" As Interpreted By...

CD 6 (Stereo - 50:16)
Spartacus: Love Theme And Variations (CD2/2) - 22 classic and newly recorded interpretations of Alex North's "Spartacus Love Theme".

01. Bill Evans & Jeremy Steig (05:00)
02. Alexandre Desplat (02:36)
03. Regina Carter (06:21)
04. Diego Navarro (03:54)
05. Gabor Szabo (03:13)
06. John Debney (04:45)
07. Brian Tyler (07:08)
08. Randy Edelman (03:49)
09. Richard Stoltzman (04:49)
10. John Neufeld & Marty Krystall (04:01)
11. Eric Stern & The London Symphony Orchestra (04:14)
"Spartacus Love Theme"

Enjoy

Check out Piano version of Love Theme

And Jean-François Maljean Live at Shanghai Conservatory July 2008 Concert

One more piano version from Ino Hidefumi