| Title | Apollo 13 | |
| Rating | 8/10 |
|
| Composer | James Horner | |
| Add. Credits | Vocal performance by Annie Lennox | |
| Label, Year | MCA Records, 1995 (Promotional release) | |
Review
The original “Apollo 13” soundtrack was quite a disaster for film music fans, since Horner's score was interrupted by period songs and dialog. That's why this promotional release without this, but with about 20 additional minutes of score is particularly appreciated.
Horner's score bears resemblance to many of his other scores, of course. However, this is clearly an above-average one. The huge orchestra and the occasional choir sound just perfect. This music really has something to tell of the real exploration of space. The Main Title is superb. “All Systems Go” is a fabulous hymn, sounds almost clerical. “Docking” is a very lyrical piece. “Master Alarm” is where the action shines through the first time. “The Darkside Of The Moon” and “End Credits” contain non-verbal vocals by Annie Lennox, and I am surprised how well these integrate with the orchestral music, creating a spherical effect. “Manual Burn” is quite dissonant and not enjoyable, but that changes again with the following tracks.
A very good score by James Horner, and a highly recommended promotional release.
Track Rating
| Title | Time | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Main Title | 2:33 |  |
| 2 | Lunar Dreams* | 2:39 |  |
| 3 | “All Systems Go” - The Launch | 10:19 | |
| 4 | Docking* | 2:21 |  |
| 5 | Master Alarm | 3:04 | |
| 6 | Into The L.E.M. | 5:08 | |
| 7 | The Darkside Of The Moon | 5:17 | |
| 8 | Carbon Dioxide* | 5:42 | |
| 9 | Manual Burn* | 1:52 |  |
| 10 | “Four More Amps”* | 3:20 | |
| 11 | Re-entry & Splashdown | 9:06 | |
| 12 | End Credits | 6:59 | |
| 58:29 |
*not contained at all in original release
| Criteria | Weight | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Composition | 50% | 8 |
| Multitude of themes | 10% | 7 |
| Continuity | 10% | 9 |
| Instrumentation | 10% | 8 |
| Sound quality | 10% | 8 |
| Score length | 10% | 8 |
| Final Rating | 100% | 8/10 |