Sequencing The Blue Max

Earlier this year, La-La Land Records released a 2-CD set of Jerry Goldsmith's score to The Blue Max. This was the 6th release of this score, with two previous vinyl issues and three previous CD issues. I co-produced this newest release with Nick Redman and while we came up with our own unique playlist for disc 1 (one that is closest to the final movie) we wanted this to be the last word on this terrific score. With Mike Matessino handling the restoration and mixing and Daniel Hersch the final mastering, sonically we knew this would be the best Blue Max yet. But in terms of content, how do you please listeners that have been listening to this music for nearly 50 years? The solution was to figure out what all of the previous albums had on them and make sure it was represented in some capacity. Today, I'm going to share with you how to use the La-La Land album to sequence any of the 5 earlier incarnations of this score.

To do that, I'll list the five earlier albums. The first release is the original album release from Mainstream Records. Prior to the La-La Land release, this sequencing of the score was never on CD.

The second release was from Citadel Records. This release changed most of the original cue titles and the first pressing even swapped two titles on the packaging, so it was the most confusing to figure out. Like the Mainstream, it has never been on CD.

The first CD came from Varese Sarabande in the mid 80s.

The second CD came from Sony in the 90s and had almost the entire score.

The third CD was from Intrada and was released only a few years ago and quickly sold out. It also presented nearly the entire score, but went back to some of the album edits from the Mainstream Records release.

Here's how to listen to any of the earlier releases.

Mainstream Records:  This is the easiest one to re-sequence. Put in disc two and listen to the first 15 tracks. That's the Mainstream Records release! And don't be fooled by the listing at SoundtrackCollector.com. The three source cues were at the end of side 2, not interspersed with the main score. I'll also point out that there were two versions of this album, a stereo release and a mono release, but the musical content was the same.

The cover of the later pressing of the Citadel Records release.

Citadel Records:

1. Main Title - Disc 1 Track 1
2. First Flight - Disc 2 Track 25
3. The New Hero - Disc 1 Track 6
4. Desolation - Disc 1 Track 7
5. Passacaglia - Disc 2 Track 23
6. Mocking Waltz - Disc 1 Track 11
7. Love Theme - Disc 1 Track 12
8. Prelude to Part Two - Disc 1 Track 15
9. Taste of Blood - Disc 1 Track 16
10. Lonely Hero - Disc 1 Track 17
11. Retreat (Part One) - Disc 1 Track 18
12. Retreat (Part Two) - Disc 1 Track 19
13. The End of Bruno - Disc 1 Track 23
14. End Title - Disc 2 Track 12

The cover of the first pressing of the Citadel Records release.

Note that the first release of the Citadel had "The New Hero" before "First Flight". This was a typographical error, the musical content was right. The title swap was fixed on later pressings.

Varese Sarabande:

1. Main Title - Disc 1 Track 1
2. The New Arrival - Disc 1 Track 2
3. First Blood - Disc 2 Track 25
4. The First Victory - Disc 1 Track 6
5. The Victim - Disc 1 Track 7
6. A Toast to Bruno - Disc 1 Track 3
7. The Attack (parts 1 & 2) - Disc 2 Track 26
8. A Lonely Hero - Disc 1 Track 8
9. A Small Favor - Disc 1 Track 11
10. The Lovers - Disc 1 Track 12
11. Finale to Part I - Disc 1 Track 14
12. Prelude to part II - Disc 1 Track 15
13. The Bridge - Disc 1 Track 16
14. Stachel's Confession - Disc 1 Track 17
15. Retreat Parts I & II - Disc 2 Track 27
16. Stachel in Berlin - Disc 2 Track 11
17. Kaeti Has a Plan - Disc 1 Track 23
18. Stachel's Last Flight - Disc 1 Track 24
19. End Title - Disc 2 Track 12

Sony:

1. The Blue Max (Main Title) - Disc 1 Track 1
2. The New Arrival - Disc 1 Track 2
3. A Toast to Bruno - Disc 1 Track 3
4. First Blood - Disc 2 Track 25
5. First Victory - Disc 1 Track 5
6. The Captive - Disc 1 Track 6
7. The Victim - Disc 1 Track 7
8. The Cobra - Disc 1 Track 8
9. The Attack - Disc 2 Track 26
10. A Small Favor - Disc 1 Track 11
11. Love Theme - Disc 1 Track 12
12. The Rivals - Disc 1 Track 13
13. Finale to Part 1 - Disc 1 Track 14
14. Prelude to Part 2 - Disc 1 Track 15
15. Love Theme - Disc 1 Track 10
16. The Bridge - Disc 1 Track 16
17. Love Theme - Disc 1 Track 17
18. Retreat - Disc 2 Track 27
19. Stachel to Berlin - Disc 2 Track 11
20. Nothing Needed - Disc 1 Track 22
21. Kaeti Has a Plan - Disc 1 Track 23
22. Stachel's Last Flight - Disc 1 Track 24
23. End Title - Disc 2 Track 12
24. Pour Le Mérite March - Disc 2 Track 14
25. Presentiar March - Disc 2 Track 18
26. Student Song Medley - Disc 2 Track 16
27. Artist's Life - Disc 2 Track 21
28. Gloria March - Disc 2 Track 22
29. Deutschland Über Alles - Disc 2 Track 15
30. Watch on the Rhine - Disc 2 Track 13

Intrada:

1. Main Title - Disc 1 Track 1
2. The New Arrival - Disc 1 Track 2
3. A Toast to Bruno - Disc 1 Track 3
4. The Balloon - Disc 2 Track 24
5. First Blood / First Victory - Disc 2 Track 4
6. The Captive / The Victim - Disc 2 Track 6
7. The Cobra - Disc 1 Track 8
8. The Attack - Disc 2 Track 26
9. Love Theme from "The Blue Max" - Disc 2 Track 2
10. A Small Favor - Disc 1 Track 11
11. A Lonely Hero - Disc 1 Track 12
12. The Rivals - Disc 1 Track 13
13. Finale to Part 1 - Disc 1 Track 14
14. Prelude to Part 2 - Disc 1 Track 15
15. The Bridge - Disc 1 Track 16
16. Stachel's Confession - Disc 1 Track 17
17. Retreat - Disc 2 Track 27
18. Stachel to Berlin / Food Riot - Disc 2 Track 11
19. Nothing Needed - Disc 1 Track 22
20. Kaeti Has a Plan - Disc 1 Track 23
21. Stachel's Last Flight - Disc 1 Track 24
22. End Title - Disc 2 Track 12
23. Finale to Part 2 / Exit Music - Disc 2 Track 28
24. Pour Le Merite March - Disc 2 Track 14
25. Student Song Medley - Disc 2 Track 16
26. Presentiar March - Disc 2 Track 18
27. Artist's Life - Disc 2 Track 21
28. Gloria March - Disc 2 Track 22
29. Watch on the Rhine - Disc 2 Track 13
30. Deutschland Uber Alles - Disc 2 Track 15

There was another release of this score, this time married to the picture. The Blu-ray from Twilight Time features the score isolated on a separate audio track. And the alternate cues are interspersed on a commentary track featuring Nick Redman, Julie Kirgo, and Jon Burlingame.

Special thanks to John Takis and Jeff Bond.