Filmtracks Theme of the Month: 2001 Label Power Rankings

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Month of April, 2001

From an average fan's perspective, the record label of a favorite album may not be very important. But while you browse the sections of your local record store, labels are hard at work to provide to you the best music possible for the cheapest prices. Film music is inherently different from most other forms of music when it comes to its release on CD. It is the one genre of music which is not specifically aimed at album listeners; because it is composed for a film or show, not every piece of music written in this genre makes it onto a CD album release. Neverthess, there are both well known and specialty record labels that often take fiscal chances in order to publish these film and television scores on CD. In the list below, Filmtracks ranks the top labels pertaining to the modern film music genre. This gives you, the fans, the opportunity to keep an eye on these labels so that you can learn about the biggest and best upcoming albums on their sites.

The 2001 Label Power Rankings

Top Tier:

1. Sony Classical (http://www.sonyclassical.com) - The premiere label for John Williams, James Horner, and Rachel Portman, Sony Classical has released the majority of Academy Award and Golden Globe winning and nominated scores of the past few years. Their expansive history and monetary dominance in the field affords them the luxury of releasing expensive scores at lengths of often 75 minutes or more. For successful scores, they also release sequel albums with previously unreleased music. Because of the length of their albums, and the undeniable quality of the scores they release, Sony Classical stands firm at the top of the list. This also includes the variety of sister companies (Epic/Legacy/Columbia/etc...) under the Sony umbrella. Recent albums of note: Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Enemy at the Gates, Shakespeare in Love, The Cider House Rules, Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, Titanic, The Red Violin, Erin Brockovich, Chocolat, Angela's Ashes, East-West, The Talented Mr. Ripley.
2. Varèse Sarabande (http://www.varesesarabande.com) - The most prolific film music label, Varèse Sarabande has been releasing vast quantities of scores for decades. Although the label does not often produce the biggest blockbuster scores, it specializes on releasing the lesser known gems by major composers, and has also been known to give a break to talented new composers. Since the mid-1990's, Varèse Sarabande (often referred to simply as Varese) has worked to restore classic scores, especially those by Bernard Herrmann. Along with the resurrection of original scores, Varese also contracts the Royal Scottish National Orchestra to re-record classic scores with the help of John Debney and Joel McNeely. Although Varese sometimes frustrates fans with short albums, the combined mass of output from the label still exceeds that of any other label. Recent albums of note: Cast Away, Cleopatra, The Matrix, The Sixth Sense, Superman, Veritgo, Total Recall, Cruel Intentions, Last of the Mohicans, The 13th Warrior.
3. Decca/Universal (http://www.decca.com) - With the two album releases of Braveheart in the mid-1990's, Decca was established as a winner. Only a few years later, associated with Universal, Decca began producing some of the most popular score albums by other mainstream composers. With long, and well assembled albums, Decca eventually hit the jackpot once again with Gladiator. The explosive fiscal success of that album has allowed the label to release several major releases thereafter, including X-Men, The Mexican, Hannibal and a Gladiator sequel album. With its 2001 releases, Decca has begun experimenting with dialogue over the music, with controversial results. Keep a close eye on the Decca/Universal web site, where you can download audio from upcoming albums. Recent albums of note: Gladiator, Braveheart, Hannibal, X-Men, The Mexican, Ever After, The Mummy, Snow Falling on Cedars, The Bone Collector.
4. Hollywood Records (http://hollywoodrecords.go.com) - While many of its releases take the form of song compilations, Hollywood Records provides two or three large scale score albums per year. Usually, these albums are pretty good, too, with lengthy scores presented by major composers. In the 1990's, the label was well know for its collaboration with Hans Zimmer and the Media Ventures composers, releasing Crimson Tide and The Rock, among others, and continuing with Mission: Impossible 2. Hollywood Record's film score albums feature almost every famous composer, and they have led trials of packaging two of their score or score/song albums together into one packaged set, however these sets don't include extra music, and they aren't necessarily cheaper. Recent albums of note: The Patriot, Unbreakable, Autumn in New York, Mission: Impossible 2, Les Misérables, Sleepy Hollow, Crimson Tide, The Ghost and the Darkness, The Horse Whisperer.
5. Dreamworks Records (http://www.dreamworksrecords.com) - In the effort to become the commanding force over every aspect of its films, Dreamworks studios set up its own record label with which to release the scores for its films. Obviously, with the founding role of director Steven Spielberg in the company, and the relationship between Spielberg and John Williams, Dreamworks has become the label of choice for their current collaborations. The studio's recent venturing into the animated and video game genres of entertainment led to a massive campaign of albums for The Prince of Egypt, as well as the highly popular Chicken Run film and Medal of Honor game. Ever since its big score debut with The Peacemaker, the label has experienced success. However, that success has been limited to Dreamworks studio projects, and is, like Disney, restricted by that aspect of its construction. The label's welfare, therefore, is dependant on the quality of its studio's films. Recent albums of note: Saving Private Ryan, The Prince of Egypt, Chicken Run, American Beauty, Medal of Honor, Amistad, The Peacemaker.
6. Silva Screen (http://www.silvascreen.com) - The master of compilations and re-recordings, the mass of material produced by the branches of Silva Screen is performed by the City of Prague Philharmonic. With performances of classic and modern film score themes and suites quite common place by 2000, this performing group still reigns as the first and most prolific of them all. Along with the Crouch End Festival Chorus, the City of Prague Philharmonic's Cinema Choral Classics albums have been huge hits. These performers arguably record the best renditions of film music today. Their full album of Raise the Titanic was one of the most popular releases of the entire 1999 year for film score fanatics, and their original album for John Debney's classic Cutthroat Island remains a favorite as well. While their output has strayed into the more obscure as of late, don't count their compilations out. Recent albums of note: Raise the Titanic, Cinema Choral Classics, Space and Beyond, Rambo: First Blood Part II, Cutthroat Island, Citizen Kane: Essential Herrmann, The Omen: Essential Goldsmith.
7. Chapter III Records (http://www.chapteriii.com) - One of the more recent newcomers since 1998, Chapter III Records (formerly Compass III) is quickly making its name known in the film music community as a rising star. Two of the very best albums of 2000 came from Chapter III, including Rachel Portman's The Legend of Bagger Vance and the much desired expanded reissue of David Arnold's Tomorrow Never Dies. 1998 and 1999 were not as fantastic (some might say that Joel McNeely's The Avengers is a guilty pleasure) for the label; it spends some of its resources on non-score albums. In the past year, the label launched its "Double Feature" album releases of mostly unreleased scores from the Silver Age, including Jerry Goldsmith's Logan's Run. The label has more such tributes to the past planned in the upcoming year. Recent albums of note: The Legend of Bagger Vance, Tomorrow Never Dies, The Avengers, A Simple Plan, Eight Millimeter.
8. Milan Records (http://www.milanrecords.com) - Over the past five years, Milan has made a business out of pressing albums of film music from more obscure films. It is without doubt the prevailing "arthouse" film score label. It's recent crowning achievement was the immensely popular Princess Mononoke album, which was the first release of that music in the United States. Milan's specialty is in the release of hidden gems such as The Deep End of the Ocean, Goodbye Lover, and Sunshine. On the other hand, interspersed with these enjoyable albums are such scores as Blair Witch 2: Book of Shadows, which best be forgotten. The label's output has remained somewhat consistent over the past year, but it hasn't published a fantastic score album during that time. Recent albums of note: Princess Mononoke, Rules of Engagement, The Deep End of the Ocean, The General's Daughter, Blair Witch 2: Book of Shadows, Goodbye Lover.
9. Walt Disney Records (http://disney.go.com/DisneyRecords) - Like Dreamworks, Disney Records' soundtracks are confined by the films released by the parent company. This hasn't stopped it from becoming one of the wealthiest labels in the world, of course, although that fact doesn't mean much to the collector of film scores. With the Disney scores and songs now failing to win Academy Awards at the rate they did in the early 1990's, some might argue that the quality of Disney's records are on the decline. The score-only release of Dinosaur in 2000, however, injected some much-needed energy back into the label's perception from score fans. The greatest aspect of the label is that you can be sure that any major Disney film will experience an album release. Its negative flipside, though, is the tactic of the company to let its albums fall out of print even though demand is still high. Recent albums of note: Dinosaur, Tarzan, Mulan, A Bug's Life, Toy Story 2.
10. Film Score Monthly (http://www.filmscoremonthly.com) - The team of Lukas Kendall and Jeff Bond at Film Score Monthly is quickly becoming the foremost producer of scores from the Silver and Golden Ages of Hollywood. FSM is the decade old print magazine (and recent web site addition) that has branched off into releasing its own albums and, not to forget, a composer video of Basil Poledouris. Some of the FSM albums are not first-time releases, however they have managed to fill in some holes in dedicated film score collectors' want lists. Most of the online community's attention has been paid to the Silver Age Classics series, but many of Kendall's best efforts have taken form in the Golden Age Classics series. If you are a die-hard score fan, keep an eye on these releases. Recent albums of note: Patton/Flight of the Pheonix, The Poseidon Adventure/Paper Chase, Fantastic Voyage, Monte Walsh, Prince Valiant, From the Terrace, The Towering Inferno.

Second Tier:
11. BGM/RCA Victor (http://www.getmusic.com/classical/bmg) - Sporadic film score releases, punctuated by the Star Wars trilogy releases of 1997 and David Arnold scores. Recent albums of note: Star Wars Trilogy: Special Edition, The Thin Red Line, Independence Day, Incognito, Stargate.
12. SuperTracks/SuperCollector (http://www.supercollector.com) - Specializes in promotional and rare film score releases not available in regular stores. Recent albums of note: U-571, Galaxy Quest, High Road to China, Krull, Splash, Heavy Metal 2000, Big Trouble in Little China.
13. Atlantic Records (http://www.atlantic-records.com) - Only occasional film score releases rather than song albums, but some very strong score titles on a yearly basis. Recent albums of note: South Park: Bigger, Longer, and Uncut, Message in a Bottle, Great Expectations, Anastasia.
14. Warner Brothers (http://www.music.warnerbros.com) - Preferring its massive enterprise in other genres of music, its film score releases have tapered off since 1997. Recent albums of note: The Green Mile, Evita, Contact, 1492: Conquest of Paradise.
15. Rykodisc (http://www.rykodisc.com) - Known throughout the film score community for releasing Silver Age M-G-M Classics on enhanced CDs, with the James Bond albums popular. Recent albums of note: The Living Daylights, The Missouri Breaks, Octopussy.
16. Intrada (http://www.intrada.com) - Long time independent label, releasing both promotional and commercial score releases. Some flops, but some stunning successes, too. Recent albums of note: Durango, Heart of Darkness, Thunderheart, Island of the Sharks, Switchback.
17. GNP Crescendo (http://www.gnpcrescendo.com) - Recently becoming the musical partner of the Sci-Fi Channel, the label is still best known for its Star Trek releases. Recent albums of note: Star Trek: Insurrection, Star Trek: First Contact, Star Trek: Generations, Farscape, Lexx.
18. Sonic Images (http://www.sonicimages.com) - Once highlighted by the Babylon 5 scores of its founder, Sonic has branched out with some success. Weak of late. Recent albums of note: Babylon 5 Episodics, Wing Commander, Earth: Final Conflict, Lonesome Dove, Chicago Hope.
19. Prometheus (http://www.soundtrackmag.com/prometheus.html) - Releasing the most obscure music of all score labels, Prometheus' limited edition albums are aimed at only hardcore fans. Recent albums of note: Fire on the Mountain/Flyers, Africa, The Challenge, Bite the Bullet.
20. Pacific Time Entertainment Co. (http://www.pactimeco.com) - The newest upstart of the score labels, recently expanding from Europe to America. Keep an eye on them. Recent albums of note: Shadow of the Vampire, Turbulence II: Fear of Flying, Piovani: Music from Cinema.

* Also of note: while they do not produce modern film scores that cater to the interests of the majority of Filmtracks' visitors, take a moment to visit the Marco Polo label if you wish to investigate classic albums of music by Waxman, Steiner, Salter, Korngold, Young, Herrmann, A. Newman, etc, etc.

Themes of the Month Index

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