The Exorcist Soundtrack

There are 2 versions of 'The Exorcist', the original Warner release titled 'Excerpts From' and includes Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells and George Crum's 'Night Of The Living Insects'. The second version. re-issued in 1998 and titled 'The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack', omits both The Crumb and Oldfield due to contractual reasons and includes instead Lalo Schifrin's unused score, music for the trailer and rock ballad. My advice is, is to contact your seller as to which version he/she is selling. Both versions are valid but I suspect most will want the Tubular Bells version.

However, the original 'Excerpts From' is blighted by audio levels which worked in the movie but does not work as a listening experience. You have to crank the volume dial up to hear everything otherwise you will find you are listening to portions of silemce. And if Tubular Bells is your main concern for having this soundtrack, then buy it independantly as it is not served sonically on this release.

Fortunately, the musical core of the movie is available on both issues and is unquestionably terrifying and does seem to crawl under your skin and mess with your brain. Amazingly none of the music, except that by Jack Nitzsche, was composed for the movie and comprises of avant garde classical music composed mostly by the Polish born Krzysztof Penderecki. His compositions were used by Stanley Kubrick in 'The Shining' and more recently in Scorcese's 'Shutter Island'. American born George Crumb's 'Night Of The Living Insects' is an excerpt from 'Black Angels' and influenced by his interest in Numerology and the horrors of The Vietnam War. Friedkin's use of Tubular Bells was meant to suggest a nursery rhyme for Regan and though used sparingly in the movie has since become known as 'The Exorcist' theme.

Although cruelly dismissed by Friedkin at the time, Schifrin's unused score for both the trailer and movie is no slouch in the chill department and more than makes up for the lack of Crumb & Oldfield both of which can be bought fairly easily.

The original contains no pics or sleeve notes, the re-issue does. In an ideal world this soundtrack should be re-released, re-mastered and include everything under one jewel case, even The Allman Bros 'Ramblin' Man'.

Warners 'Excerpts From The Exorcist' (1974)

1. Iraq (01:57)
Jack Nitzche/Krzysztof/Penderecki
2. Georgetown/Tubular Bells (05:27)
Mike Oldfield
3. Five Pieces For Orchestra, OP10 (01:16)
Sehr Iangsam und ausserst ruhig
4. Polymorphia (11:48)
Krzysztof/Penderecki
5. String Quartet (07:11)
Krzysztof/Penderecki
6. Windharp (02:41)
Harry Bee
7. Night of the Electoric Insects (01:38)
George Crum
8. Kanon for Orchestra and Tape (09:48)
Krzysztof/Penderecki
9. Tubular Bells (00:27)
Mike Oldfield
10. Fantasia for Strings (02:11)
Hans Werner Henze

Warner's 'Original Motion Picture Soundtrack' (1998)

1. Iraq (01:56)
Jack Nitzsche/Krzysztof Penderecki
2. Five Pieces For Orchestra (01:11)
Anton Webern
3. Polymorphia (11:49)
Krzysztof Penderecki
4. String Quartet No.1 (07:14)
Krzysztof Penderecki
5. Beginnings from "The Wind Harp" (02:41)
Harry Bee
6. Kanon for Orchestra and Tape (09:52)
Krzysztof Penderecki
7. Fantasia for Strings (02:21)
Hans Werner Henze
8. Music from the Unused Trailer (01:10)
Lalo Schifrin
9. Suite from the Unused Score to THE EXORCIST (11:11)
Lalo Schifrin
10. Rock Ballad - Unused Theme from THE EXORCIST (01:52)
Lalo Schifrin