Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, composed and conducted by Dimitri Tiomkin.
Label: Intrada Special Collection, Volume 146
Country: United States
Format: CD
Release Date: December 2010
Limited edition of 2000 copies.
This release by Intrada was the first ever release of the complete War Wagon soundtrack. Intrada was given access to the original session master recordings from Universal Studios vault, and re-mixed and re-mastered this limited edition stereo CD release.
The War Wagon starred John Wayne and Kirk Douglas, was directed by Burt Kennedy, and was released by Universal in May 1967. The film marked the sixth John Wayne film scored by Dimitri Tiomkin, the previous five were: Circus World (1964), The Alamo (1960), Rio Bravo (1959), The High and The Mighty (1954), and Red River (1948). Tiomkin composed stock music was also used in the 1937 John Wayne film, Idol of the Crowds, but it was not made specifically for that film.
As with his other film scores, Tiomkin’s War Wagon score is filled to brimming with exciting and evocative music, and Ed Ames’s rousing rendition of the main title theme, Ballad of the War Wagon ranks right up there with the crème de la crème of film themes.
Great original 1967 artwork campaign plus color stills, with text by Julie Kirgo, completes this rich package of western music. Definitely one of Universal's best previously unreleased 1960's film scores.
The CD, contains twenty-four tracks and more than forty-three minutes of music, opening with a rousing song by Tiomkin and lyricist Ned Washington. The Ballad of the War Wagon is sung over the main title credits by Ed Ames.
Track listing:
01. Ballad Of The War Wagon (Sung by Ed Ames) [3:24]
02. Enter Pierce [1:28]
03. Dark Street [0:37]
04. Meeting [1:15]
05. Lotus Leaf; Fivestone Shaving [1:32]
06. Livery Stable [1:34]
07. Lupe [3:00]
08. Mexican Getaway [0:46]
09. Bronco Saloon [1:27]
10. Wading War Wagon [0:42]
11. Friendly Indians [2:58]
12. Cuarto Cinco [1:32]
13. Chores; Knife Talk [2:54]
14. Indian Trades [1:03]
15. War Wagon; The Bridge; War Wagon Departs [2:41]
16. Steady Fingers [2:32]
17. Spool Of Wire [1:01]
18. Vantage Point [0:31]
19. Dust Gag; Ambush [5:09]
20. The Flour Wagon [1:21]
21. Tatahey [0:26]
22. Get That Wagon! [2:06]
23. A New Life [1:02]
24. Lomax Hits Bottom; and, End Cast [1:01]