Original Film Soundtrack
Label: El Records
Cat.#: 817861
Country: United Kingdom
Format: CD
Release Date: May 28, 2007
UPN: 5-013929-310735
Notes:
2007 UK issue of Max Steiner's soundtrack to the John Ford film starring John Wayne. Hailed as a masterpiece - not only as Ford's greatest film and Wayne's finest acting performance, but as one of the greatest films ever made. Among the generation of film-makers, from Jean-Luc Godard to Martin Scorsese, Wim Wenders to George Lucas, The Searchers has become a sacred text. Presented here in its original form, Steiner's score for The Searchers evokes every last aspect of Ford's vision: its grandeur, its darkness, its passion and its romance. It is an integral part of one of the greatest movies of the 20th century.
Track Listing:
1. Main Titles/The Searchers (Vocals By The Sons Of The Pioneers)
2. Ethan Returns
3. Meet Martin
4. Locket For Debbie
5. Ethan & Aaron/The Searchers
6. Goodbye Ethan
7. Posse Rides
8. Comanches/Edward's Ranch At Sundown
9. Debbie At The Tombstone
10. Martin Dragging His Saddle/Burning Ranch
11. Searchers /Indian's Grave
12. Ethan Joins The Posse
13. Searchers/Indians Surround The Posse/Death Chant/Indians Charge Into The River
14. Saddle Up/Seachers
15. No Bonfires
16. Ethan Returns From Scouting
17. Brad Dies/The Searchers
18. Laurie & Martin
19. Laurie & Martin Argue
20. Ethan's Dummy Ruse
21. News Of Debbie
22. Camp By The Lake
23. Buffalo Herd/Buffalo Drums
24. Assembly
25. Searchers/ Calvary Crosses The Snowfield
26. Searchers/Cavalry Crosses The Snowfield
27. Mose
28. Cicatriz
29. Scar's Tepee
30. Debbie Refuses To Leave
31. Arrow Hits Ethan/The Searchers
32. Laurie Warns Martin
33. Martin To The Rescue
34. Searchers/Martin Shoots Scar
35. Attack On The Indian Village
36. Reunion Of Ethan And Debbie
37. End Title/The Searchers (Vocals By The Sons Of The Pioneers)
38. Searchers (Vocals By The Sons Of The Pioneers)
39. Ride Away (Vocal Danny Knight)
40. Somewhere Voice (Vocal By Danny Knight)
Original Film Soundtrack
Label: Brigham Young Film Music Archives
Cat.#: FMA-MS101
Country: United States
Format: CD
Release Date: 1995
UPN: None
Notes:
One of Max Steiner's most memorable works is the music he wrote for this John Ford/John Wayne shoot' em up, widely regarded as the best western ever filmed. The plot is about Wayne's relentless five year search for a white girl who was captured by Indians and his burning hatred for her captors which fuels his determination to find her. Steiner's score provides a colorful backdrop for the pioneers and their rustic, isolated ranches, the constant threat of Comanche raids, the never-ending hunt for the girl across the Texas plains, false leads and danger at every bend in the trail. The are also fine vocals by the Sons of the Pioneers on the film's main title introduction as well as a few cues throughout the CD. This score is a must have for any John Wayne fan or admirer of Max Steiner whose compositions made many films better through his musical genius. (review from Amazon)
Track Listing:
1. Main Title / The Searchers (01:33)
vocal performed by The Sons of the Pioneers
2. Ethan Returns (01:50)
3. Meet Martin (01:18)
4. Locket For Debbie (01:47)
5. Ethan and Aaron / The Searchers (01:17)
6. Goodbye Ethan (00:45)
7. Posse Rides (01:25)
8. Comanches / Edwards Ranch at Sundown (02:06)
9. Debbie at the Tombstone (00:20)
10. Martin Dragging His Saddle / Burning Ranch (02:33)
11. The Searchers / Indian's Grave (01:41)
12. Ethan Joins the Posse (00:21)
13. The Searchers / Indians Surround the Posse/ Death Chant / Indians Charge into the River (06:50)
14. Saddle Up / The Searchers (01:02)
15. No Bonfires (00:58)
16. Ethan Returns from Scouting (00:18)
17. Brad Dies / The Searchers (03:29)
18. Laurie and Martin (00:51)
19. Laurie and Martin Argue (01:00)
20. Ethan's Dummy Ruse (02:08)
21. News of Debbie (03:17)
22. Camp by the Lake (01:22)
23. Buffalo Herd / Buffalo Drums (02:57)
24. Assembly (00:11)
25. The Searchers / Cavalry Crosses the Snowfield (03:23)
26. Mose (00:26)
27. Cicatriz (02:00)
28. Scar's Tepee (01:44)
29. Debbie Refuses to Leave (01:35)
30. Arrow Hits Ethan / The Searchers (02:46)
31. Laurie Warns Martin (00:44)
32. Martin to the Rescue (01:21)
33. The Searchers / Martin Shoots Scar (01:22)
34. Attack on the Indian Village (01:29)
35. Reunion of Ethan and Debbie (01:01)
36. End Title / The Searchers (02:09)
Vocal performed by The Sons of the Pioneers
37. The Searchers (Ride Away) (04:06)
Vocal performed by The Sons of the Pioneers
Total Duration: 01:05:25
Music by Max Steiner: Pursued & The Searchers
Label: Citadel Records
Cat.#: CT-MS-5
Country: United States
Format: 33rpm LP Vinyl
Release Date: 1975
UPN: None
Notes:
Private pressing produced by and for the Max Steiner Music Society. Not licensed for private sale.
These musical scores are presented “Free Flowing Form,” meaning they score is played through from beginning to end, without breaks to indicate specific points in the film.
From the original liner notes: “With both The Searchers and Pursued, the purpose of this album is to present two of Max Steiner’s best western scores in free-flowing form and in a manner he may have himself have devised had he been commissioned to make orchestral fantasies of the scores. Nothing more need be said about Steiner’s enormous gifts as a film composer but perhaps a further point may be made that few film scores lend themselves to revision as concert works without considerable change in structure, and yet it was relatively easy to take the original tracks of these two scores and form them into symphonic suites. It speaks well for Steiner that his sense of musical flow and development was so educated and sensitive that it was possible to do this. His understanding of drama combined with his talent for melody to make him a superb composer for the screen.
“The Searchers is a consummate Ford picture, full of humor, sentiment and fine characterizations, and structured with loving care. The Steiner score underplays the restrained emotions of the characters and speaks for them, and helps frame the epic proportions of the awe inspiring visuals. Ford liked his scores to refer to traditional melodies and Steiner obliged him with his variations on the folk song “Lorena,” plus references to the cavalry Ford admired so much. Of special interest in this score is Steiner’s sympathetic treatment of the Indians, noting their nobility and humor as well as their savagery. It was typical of Steiner throughout his long career in scoring films that he sought out inner qualities on which to comment. The compassion in the composer, his genuine feeling for human kind, was at all times evident in his music.
“Please Note: This album was produced expressly for The Max Steiner Music Society and is available to members only. It is not licensed for public sale. This album consists of transfers to tape of the original acetate recordings owned by the composer and allowances must be made for a degree of deterioration in sound quality. All of the recordings owned by the Steiner Estate have been transferred to tape for safe keeping.”
Track List:
Side A: Pursued 26:00
Side B: The Searchers 25:00
Artist: Danny Knight
Label: MGM
Cat.#: K12252
Country: United States
Format: 45rpm 7” Vinyl
Release Date: 1956
UPN: None
Notes:
Orchestra conducted by LeRoy Holmes.
Track Listing:
Side A: The Searchers (Ride Away)
Side B: The Somewhere Voice (Across the Hills) [from the film “Frontier”]
Artist: Sons of the Pioneers
Label: RCA - Victor
Cat.#: 47-6507
Country: United States
Format: 45rpm 7” Vinyl
Release Date: April 1, 1956
UPN: None
Notes:
Rare and hard to find.
Track Listing:
Side A: Searchers
Side B: Song of the Prodigal Son
Artist: Tex Ritter
Label: Capitol
Cat.#: F3430
Country: Canada
Format: 45rpm 7” Vinyl
Release Date: May 1956
UPN: None
Notes:
Tex Ritter also released a 7” 45rpm record on the Capitol label in the United Kingdom with The Searchers on side A, and Remember the Alamo on side B. This was capitol records – UK – CL14605
Track Listing:
Side A: The Searchers (Ride Away)
Side B: The Wayward Wind
Max Steiner Memorial Society
Label: Max Steiner Memorial Society
Cat.#: MSMS 6/7
Country: United States
Format: LP
Release Date: 1992
UPN: None
Notes:
This is a 2-LP set, limited issue (only 100 ever produced) and very rare. The set was provided to Al and Betty Bender, and the set cover notes this.
Track Listing:
Spencer’s Mountain / Saratoga Trunk / South of Saint Louis / Parrish / Dark Victory / Triumph of Love / Playing With Fire / St. Louis / Mains / Saratoga / Spencer’s Mountain – Tracker / The Searchers. Also contains a one-half minute song sheet work.
Music from The Searchers
Label: RCA Victor
Cat.#: EPA-851
Country: United States
Format: EP 7” 45rpm Vinyl
Release Date: 1956
UPN: None
Notes:
This is an extremely rare record, and difficult to even find an image of the cover on the internet. The image shown is the only one found in hours of searching. The individual who posted the image was selling the record for in excess of $100. Music on this record was composed and conducted by Max Steiner. All tracks performed by "Max Steiner and His Orchestra"
Track listing
1. Indian Idyll from THE SEARCHERS
2. Forward, the Light Brigade from CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE
3. Petite Waltz from THE FOUNTAINHEAD
4. Symphonie modern from FOUR WIVES