La-La Land Records celebrates one of Hollywood's most iconic partnerships by releasing the soundtrack of the 1974 film, The Sugarland Express-the first collaborative work of director Steven Spielberg and film scorer John Williams.
La-La Land announced the release last June 15, shortly before a screening of a 4k restoration of the film. It marks the 50th anniversary of the film, and of Spielberg and Williams' collaboration. It is also the 21st title in the Universal Pictures Film Music Classics Collection.
By that time, Williams had already made a name for himself, having won his first Oscar for Fiddler on the Roof. Even so, he expressed admiration for the then-28-year-old Spielberg, whom he described as "a very sweet boy, who knew more about film music than I did-every Max Steiner and Dimitri Tiomkin score."
Although Spielberg initially wanted a largescale score for The Sugarland Express, Williams convinced him that a more intimate ensemble was more suitable. The result was a blues and country-inspired score for harmonica, guitars, percussions, and a small string ensemble that vividly evokes the film's landscape.
Williams has since written music for all but five of Spielberg's films. Although his other Spielberg soundtracks have seen celebrated releases, his music for The Sugarland Express was formerly only available as an expanded suite of the theme, recorded as part of the 1991 album, The Spielberg/Williams Collaboration.
It is thought that Williams did not think The Sugarland Express soundtrack had enough material for a standalone album. He has changed his mind since, however. La-La Land Records has released 5000 units of the Sugarland Express album, which was mixed, edited and mastered by Classics Collection producer Mike Matessino. He also contributes liner notes detailing the origins of Spielberg and Williams' five-decade partnership.
