Myself, now an older older guy, orig. fan, I still get misty eyed and a pounding heart rate when I see and hear the Jupiter 2's long orbit decay and crash sequence in the Blk n Wht episode of Island in the Sky. As a kid, I was in awe with excitement at that episode with the music and FX by Williams, those clanging chiming bells and the steady rise in pitch etc. felt like a Sci Fi orgasm :) and after the ship crashed I was exhausted from excitement. about 12 of these songs or scores are somewhere on youtube in various audio qualities but the music made soooooo many of the episodes enjoyable or action and adventure like the awesome nautical score theme for The Chariot land vehicle and the booming tuba type music for the early Robot's movements I loved so much of the music from The Day the Earth Stood Still in the pilot episode I as a kid had also, also used my tape recorder to try and record the mono audio music and shows from off our portable blk n wht TV set but alas all i got was background noises, the phone and my mother's voice the dog barking I remembering trying to hold the microphone a few inches from the TV monitor's speaker and then taping it down but i could never get the right distance between the two for clear audio Of course every LIS fan's favorite is that Robinson theme song with the sweet slow mushy gee golly 50's style charm to it. When you heard that cue or music you just knew it was a Robinson Family moment between John and Maureen or john and one of the children Music by Herman Stein on youtube "Herman Stein + Family / The Robinsons" Cue: ''dah, dah dah dah dah, dah, dah dah dahhhhh" John Robinson to son Will: ""You see Will, I am a scientist first. I would rather met an alien with the hand of friendship before i assume the alien is hostile. Remember Will, 'we' are the alien inturders on this planet" Will to his father: "Yes Sir. Gosh, I never thought of it like that. Gee, then not all aliens are bad."" Maureen to John: "Oh John is it really over, are we really out of danger?" John to Maureen: "Yes darling, we're safe now. I'm not leaving you alone again.' Maureen; "Ohhhh John," cue music Also posted on youtube music track "" Storm Coming Up + John Williams" very exciting build up climatic music leading to the storm :) I Dearly miss that childhood show. Kids wanted to be Will and have a friend like the Robot and go off on adventures with this exciting music.
I could not agree with you more!!!! The soundtracks back then were far superior then what could ever be done now in my opinion. Part of the awesomeness of Lost In Space was the music. Just incredible scores!!!
I really appreciate your review and, like you, I was profoundly moved by the LIS soundtracks as a little kid ( I watched the show when it was brand new. It was the first show to be so popular in Australia that the 0/10 network airfreighted episodes into Australia so that the local audience could see the show at roughly the same time as their American cousins.). I loved the music, especially the reused Bernard Herrmann cues for the jetpack and the first season episode: "Follow the Leader". Of all the soundtracks I especially loved (and still love very dearly) the soundtrack to "My Friend Mr. Nobody". This suite is surely the finest piece of composing for any 20th century tv show. It was Williams at his finest and underscores, beautifully, the mystery and majesty of the creation of a new galaxy and the wonder of childhood. In my will I have requested that the last track of this episode be played as my coffin is taken out of the church...that's how much I love this music. I have now purchased the boxed set and it sits proudly with my Star Trek TOS boxed set. Thank God for LaLa Land Records and God bless you for this heartfelt and lovely review.
I haven't purchased these CDs yet but a highlight for me is the inclusion of the wonderful track from 'Reluctant Stowaway' titled 'Defrosting' -which had been previously been thought lost! If you search on RU-vid for 'Waking Up the Robinsons John Williams' you will find a poster's early reconstruction of this sequence using audio clips from various episodes. Now it appears the original soundtrack has been discovered at long last!
Very enjoyable review, Alex! I recently ordered one of the last copies of this set from La-La Land, and I'm waiting for it to arrive. The set is now SOLD OUT, at the La-La Land website. So, if anyone missed it (like I almost did), they will now have to search for it from secondary markets (at almost certainly MUCH higher prices). I can't wait to listen to all of this wonderful (and under-appreciated) music. This set will look great on my shelf, next to my Bernard Herrmann at Fox set, and my Spartacus set, and my Star Trek: The Original Series set, and my Elmer Bernstein FilmMusic Collection set, and my Irwin Allen set...
Great review Alex! I love your selections, and your knowledge is quite vast. I am a huge Lost In Space fan, and since I was a little boy, I have always enjoyed the music. Never in my wildest dreams would I have believed we would be treated by having all of this wonderful music available to the masses. I own this myself, and they even used the logos I restored years ago for Kevin Burns on the covers and discs! This video has inspired me to now go and listen to some of this great music again!
Great video. I grew up on this show. I too bought this magnificent box set. And love it! I also used to tape the show on a tape recorder just to get the awesome music (showing my age here!). I love and share your enthusiasm! Thank you.
Thanks for the great review. You gave me goose bumps with excitement as I wasn't even aware this had been released. To say it was the most memorable and evocative score ever recorded for a television series would be an understatement. John Williams greatest work to my mind, despite all his success that followed.
+rumbers Mannnn, such exciting music, esp. in the blk n wht 3rd?? episode Island in the Sky with the entire sequence of their ship loosing orbit and then going into a nose dive Those chiming clanging bells , soooo exciting. and loved the theme for the Chariot land vehicle, very Nautical sounding and adventure :)
Thanks for the info. I have an Irwin Allen set from years ago that has music from all 4 series (each series has its own disc). I agree that John Williams produced some great music orchestrations for LIS. I thought you might be interested in checking out British composer Barry Gray. He did similar type music for Gerry Anderson's series.
I'd like to know what music cues are missing from this boxed set & it would have been nice to hear John Williams talking about his work for LIS like he did for the Star Wars boxed set that is out.
@The Cinemologists > Alex Questions: Q1) so i dont have to look it up, is this CD set over $60.00 ? and Q2) are there any intros or comments written by Mumy or Cartwright in the booklet? Q3) Does the last disk have any bonus Sound FX ie. ships' spinning core, the ship in flight, the view screens turning on n off, the laser gun fire, the gentle humm of the Robot's processors and the sounds of Alpha Control computer consoles etc.?? Q4) are the boxes each numbered
+The Dark Angel The set is $149.98, the liner notes are just by Jeff Bond, and there are no sound effects on the last disc (though that would have been pretty neat). It is a limited edition of 1500 units but not numbered. I included a link in the description so you can read about any other details of the set.
Sorry, but it's not every library cue. In fact many cues are missing. The No Place To Hide cd is sadly lacking. The sound quality over all is very weak. Return from Outer Space is rife with music that was never in the episode and missing music that was.
