One of the loveliest and most lyrical symphonic scores of the early 1970s comes to CD in deluxe form in Jeremiah Johnson (1972), the Sydney Pollack-directed, John Milius-scripted western starring Robert Redford as a 19th century mountain man. Decades before Dances With Wolves, this adventuresome tale (featuring breathtaking views of the Utah wilderness) told a somewhat different but still existential tale of a white man determined to escape society, who forges his own, often violent relationship with the land and its Native American inhabitants.

The gorgeous, folk-symphonic score to Jeremiah Johnson was composed by a team of musicians largely unknown to soundtrack collectors (except for this effort)—but don’t let that fool you. John Rubinstein (b. 1946) and Tim McIntire (1944-1986) were primarily actors but also musicians with a handful of composing credits; they won the assignment after Rubinstein had a meeting Pollack through his acting agent. Between McIntire’s efforts as a singer-songwriter and Rubinstein’s gifts as a symphonic composer and orchestrator—and their collaborative harmony—they created a lasting piece of Americana centered around several original songs (sung by McIntire) essaying Jeremiah’s story. The symphonic portions, meanwhile, brim with the Milius ethos of heart, humor, strength and love of the land—very much in keeping with the robust orchestral scores Basil Poledouris would later compose for Milius’s films as director and, apart from Milius, the Emmy-winning Lonesome Dove.

Previously available only on LP, the complete score to Jeremiah Johnson has been restored from excellent stereo sources to present a main program generally following the LP but omitting the dialogue that appeared on several tracks (rather like a concept album). A comprehensive bonus section includes those dialogue-laced tracks, plus alternate instrumental cues from the original soundtrack and—thanks to Rubinstein’s foresight in saving the material—the complete demos which the composers used to secure the assignment. Including early and unused versions of the songs, the CD is a lasting treasury

• 1. Overture
• 2. Spirits Landing
• 3. Jeremiah Johnson Main Title
• 4. Hatchet Jack's Letter
• 5. Bear Claw
• 6. You Got Some Work To Do
• 7. Jeremiah Johnson
• 8. Top Knot
• 9. Wedding Chant
• 10. The Way That You Wander
• 11. Swan
• 12. The Cabin
• 13. It'll Have To Do
• 14. Ride To the Buffalo
• 15. Who Won?
• 16. Intermission
• 17. Entr'acte
• 18. The Burial Ground
• 19. Ride Home
• 20. The Wake
• 21. Funeral Fire
• 22. Indian Death Chant
• 23. He's Never Been Known To Be Wrong (an Indian Says)
• 24. Jeremiah Johnson
• 25. Violence Montage
• 26. To Qualens
• 27. What's On the Spit?
• 28. Green and Muddy
• 29. The Way That You Wander
• 30. Jeremiah Johnson End Title
• 31. Spirits Landing (Instrumental)
• 32. Paints His Shirt Red
• 33. Hatchet Jack
• 34. M11
• 35. M12
• 36. Yes
• 37. Close Shave
• 38. He's Never Been Known To Be Wrong (Instrumental)
• 39. Hatchet Jack
• 40. Bear Claw
• 41. Full Time Night Woman
• 42. The Wedding
• 43. The Way That You Wander
• 44. Maybe April
• 45. The Way That You Wander
• 46. End Title
• 47. Spirits Landing
• 48. Jeremiah Johnson
• 49. The Cabin
• 50. Flute and Violin
• 51. Jeremiah Johnson
• 52. The Heart of a Lady
• 53. Guitar Improvisation
• 54. Violin and Piano
• 55. Jeremiah Johnson End Title
• 56. The Way That You Wander
• 57. The Heart of a Lady (Humming)
• 58. Jeremiah Johnson End Title