Best John Williams Scores?

This is gonna be tough. I've been asked to compile a Top 10 list of the very best John Williams scores for film, TV and, bless him, the Olympics. Why? (1) Because I'm a GIANT NERD for the composer and (2) on March 27-29, at three different Tampa Bay venues, the esteemed Florida Orchestra is putting on a weekendlong "Tribute to John Williams." (TICKETS AND INFO) Might try to go to that last date.

As my podmate Spearsy will tell you, I've been sweating this all day, flip-flopping on a No. 1. He says 1984's iconic Olympic Fanfare has gotta be tops. But it's not that easy for me. For instance, if I'm standing in a puddle, and I start humming the theme from Jaws, I can totally freak myself out. That said, I'm 38 years old, and I still hum the march from Raiders of the Lost Ark almost every day; I don't drink coffee, so I gotta do something. Then again, the most ominous, most BADASS piece of 20th century film music is The Imperial March, Darth Vader's prowling action, from The Empire Strikes Back. But I have a total soft spot for the five-note "signal" from Close Encounters of the Third Kind.

What do you think? Help a geek out. To refresh your memory, here's an awesome John Williams jukebox to refresh your memory. Fair warning: After listening, you'll totally want to ditch work and go have a movie marathon...

The John Williams Playlist

Comments

[samantha]

i really think that jurassic park is being completely overlooked here!

[Rob]

Great article. John Williams is simply a genius. Jurassic Park has to be some of his finest work.

http://retrofinds.blogspot.com/

[Ebony]

Hey, I had no idea JW composed some of the scores listed above, like Schindler's List and Lost in Space. I'll have to check those out!

Of course, I love the Star Wars and Indy scores and I recently downloaded the Harry Potter JW scores to my iPod. For my daughter, of course. ;-)

[bsitt10]

His work with Lucas and Spielberg is the best-known -- "Saving Private Ryan" has a great score -- but he also did great work with Oliver Stone. "JFK" and "Born On The Fourth of July" were excellent.
I was also a big fan of the spare, mostly piano-driven score to "Presumed Innocent."

[AA]

Hey Sean,
As a musician for 25+ years, I was glad to see that "Schindler's List" was mentioned along with the usual suspects (ET, Indy, Harry Potter). You could also add "Sabrina" (1995) as well as the quirky theme of Viktor Navorski from "The Terminal" to show his versatility. Unquestionably, John Williams has a gift of capturing the essence of a character and putting it into each theme.
I hope you've listened to the John Williams and Itzhak Perlman CD "Cinema Serenade"... if you don't own it already, it's definitely worth every penny. The Pittsburg Symphony Orchestra juxtaposed with Perlman's expressive violin practically sings, mourns and brightens through each and every film theme song with Williams at the helm.

[Gary in Gilroy]

Great themes. Too tough to call. How about a Williams vs. Silvestri blog battle ?! Good stuff.

[Marissa]

Yikes! I can't help you out. BUT my cell ringtone for work calling is The Imperial March. AND I love Close Encounters. I'm sure I drove my family nuts when I learned to play it on the piano (yeah,like it was so hard!)

Good luck with this one

[Douglas Arthur]

Since this is supposed to cover his entire career you have to include the themes from Lost In Space and Time Tunnel! Lost in Space is like an earworm to me...but a friendly one!

[aldyndskies]

I'm a huge fan of the two Johns - Williams and Barry who combined have scored most of the blockbuster movies of the past 40 years. Close Encounters and Born Free would top my lists for each but I wouldn't quibble with many of the other choices available.

[Michelle]

1. "The Empire Strikes Back"
2. Not a score, but 1984 Olympic Fanfare
3. "Raiders of the Lost Ark"
4. "Close Encounters of the Third Kind"
5. "Phantom Menace"

[Mark in East Texas]

Sorry, looks like this is Sean's dilemma, not Spearsy's.

No offense intended, Sean.

[Mark in East Texas]

1941 is a great march and merits consideration. One of my fav Williams soundtrack tune is the main title from the 1972 John Wayne movie The Cowboys - give that a listen. The best Williams compilation disc was released in the late 80's and is called By Request with Williams conducting the Boston Pops. It includes much of his great music including the NBC news theme.

This is going to be a tough one, Spearsy. You might have to extend the list to 15 or even 20.

[Hosandi]

Well, i really love this johnny's works :
*Duel of the Fates from the phantom Menace
*Exultate Justi from Empire of the sun
*A window to the past & Double trouble (both in Symphonic Version) from Prisoner of Azkaban
*Across the Stars form the attack of the clones
*Dry your tears Afrika from Amistad
*in fact, the whole Star Wars production. From the federation march to the Celebration of the Ewoks, and of course the smashing Main Titles, indeed a truly epic moment.
*The flying theme from E.T
*Main titles from Hook
*Schindler's list
In fact, almost all of his production is amazing. indeed is a genius, and is the best live composer.

[The Flaming Lips Win Official Oklahoma State Rock Song]

Congrats to THE FLAMING LIPS!

Their 2002 song "DO YOU REALIZE" has been named "Oklahoma's Official State Rock Song."

http://popwatch.ew.com/popwatch/2009/03/the-flaming-lip.html?xid=rss-popwatch-The%20Flaming%20Lips:%20Official%20Oklahoma%20State%20Song-sters

*****

Ohio's Official State Rock Song is "HANG ON SLOOPY."

Washington's Official State Rock Song is "LOUIE LOUIE."

*****

Sean, what is Florida's Official State Rock Song? Is there one?

[CHAD]

1. star wars main theme
2. raider of the lost ark
3. jaws
4. superman
5. e.t.

[erin]

I have to second the awesomeness of the Jurassic Park score. But I think his most iconic music is from Star Wars, especially the Imperial March.

Can we do a Danny Elfman playlist next?

[Bassnote]

Hands down "Raiders Of The Lost Ark" is his best score ever. Followed by "Jaws", then "Star Wars". Fourth would be "Superman," then "Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone."

[Miguel]

Mostly not mosrly. Mosrly reminds me of Mosby as in Ted Mosby as in How I Met Your Mother. Good show.

[Miguel]

I have that same double disc comp,or at least i have a double disc comp.It has his most famous moments mosrly on Disc 1.On Disc 2 we have Home Alone and stuff.
The 1941 tune is also fun.

[Mike W]

Williams' scores have pretty much been a staple of the movies for 30+ years now. They're all hummable and easy to listen to.

As hard as it is to pick, I'd have to probably go with the Star Wars score.

Now I have you to thank for having the Star Wars/Indy/Superman/ET themes running through my head!!

[Sean Daly]

Wait! That's not my ranking. It's just a jukebox. Nothing's official.

I have a John Williams double-disc comp. Schindler's, with Itzhak Perlman's violin, is brutally pretty.

[Miguel]

Oh and by the way,nice list.I would probably put the ET theme above Superman,but it`s all good. John Willimas and Danny Elfman are the greatest.

[Miguel]

Schindler`s List and Jurassic Park have great scores. You should also take a look at the Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom score,it`s possibly the richest score from the Indy saga,not the best movie thow.
The theme from Sugarland Express is very nice too.

[Sherrie]

I can't offer a whole lot of opinions on the top scores here, but I have to say that I've been married to John Williams (the chef, generally unknown except in the lovely city of Largo) for 16 years and I can't begin to tell you how often someone has brought up John Williams (the known worldwide composer) to him and thought it was ever so original. We really should have a top ten JW score list on hand for those occasions, can I steal yours?