The Cowboys: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
In a career that's spanned five decades, composerJohn Williamshas scored fewer than five Westerns, which--judging from his exemplary work on this 1972 score for director Mark Rydell's story of a tough veteran cowpoke (John Wayne) helping to bring a group of inexperienced young hands to manhood on a cattle drive--seems something of a shame. Williams offers up a robust, brassy score that leans heavily on the same prime Aaron Copland influences that informed Elmer Bernstein'sMagnificent Sevenand Jerome Moross'sThe Big Country. This fine Varese Sarabande release, notable for the presence and clarity of its recording, also features an unused alternate main title and other previously unreleased music from the film.--Jerry McCulley