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The Wicker Man

"The music to The Wicker Man is quite extraordinary, it is probably the best music I've ever heard in a film" according to Christopher Lee, who is quoted thus on the slipcase of this 2002 CD issue of the movie's soundtrack. With his having been a star of the film, and, moreover, having contributed vocals to 'The Tinker of Rye', one of the songs in it, his can't be considered an unbiased opinion, but it is, I think, music that stands up straight on its own, without the accompanying visuals, and makes for an enjoyable album. 

It's a well-presented release, apparently the first time the original recordings had been given an official outing. Included are a twenty-page booklet incorporating essays by Simon Wells and Gary Carpenter on the convoluted history of the film & the music in it; and an insert that folds out into a mini-poster. The songs on it are a well-judged mish-mash fashioned from folk-music elements, which all come together remarkably well, especially in the lovely 'Gently Johnny' and 'Willow's Song'.

I picked this up for a pittance in a charity shop and made a point of playing it on May-Day for a few years but, much as I enjoy some of the tracks, it's been a while since I last gave it a spin: I really ought to release it back into the wild for someone else to enjoy.

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