John Williams: Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (2LP, soundtrack) [DISNEY]

Why you'll love it

This 180g 2LP set in a gatefold jacket stretches the score across four sides, far more music than the original album held. AllMusic called its action sequences genuinely exciting, and Filmtracks heard a powerful symphonic romp of suspense and adventure.

This edition

• 2LP set
• 180g vinyl
• Gatefold jacket

About the album

Temple of Doom opens in a Shanghai nightclub with Kate Capshaw singing Cole Porter, and from there John Williams barely lets the orchestra sit down. For Steven Spielberg's 1984 sequel he kept the Raiders March in his pocket but wrote a darker, wilder score around it, full of clanging metal percussion, chanting choirs and some of the most breathless action music of his career.

"Anything Goes" sets the glamorous scene before "Fast Streets of Shanghai" and "Slalom on Mt. Humol" send Indy, Willie and Short Round tumbling across Asia. "Short Round's Theme" brings a cheeky warmth, "The Temple of Doom" builds its menacing chant to a frenzy, and "Slave Children's Crusade" is a driving march that critic James Southall counts among Williams' finest themes. Then comes "The Mine Car Chase," a runaway-train ride in musical form, before "The Broken Bridge / British Relief" and the "End Credits" bring everyone home.

Williams produced the original album with Bruce Botnick, and Laurent Bouzereau and Mary Hogan oversaw this reissue for Walt Disney Records. We'd suggest playing "The Mine Car Chase" in the car, though not, on reflection, on the way to anywhere with a speed limit.

Also at Kops: more John Williams on vinyl · browse Soundtracks

Tracklist

Listen

On Walt Disney Records, a reissue of the 1984 soundtrack.