So why am I offering a mono version of this when there’s a stereo version readily available out there?

Because it sounds miles better.

If you’re a fan of this Goldsmith score, chances are you’ve been listening to the original Mainstream CD (paired with Stagecoach) or the more recent Harkit CD (which is probably booted from it). Both those versions are in (theoretically) superior stereo. I mean, it’s stereo, so it’s got to be better than mono, right? Well, I don’t know about you, but when I listen to those stereo versions, they sound stretched, reverby, unnatural. The strings are overly bright and harsh, and there’s no bass presence on the recording at all. Something’s just not right.

I have the Mainstream mono LP (in fact I have two copies) and in comparison to the stereo mix it just rocks. Listen to the drums kick in at 0:46 in the Main Title. That whispy snare-like smear of percussion on the stereo version is revealed to be… a single pop drum kit. It’s crisp, it’s beefy, it bops along just like a drum kit should. In fact, all the percussion on the album has that same crisp quality, an oomph that the stereo version sadly lacks. And it’s not just the drums, everything sounds warmer, more intimate, more natural. I haven’t tinkered with the sound other than de-clicking with ClickRepair.

Give it a whirl. You might be pleasantly surprised.

FLAC:
https://mega.nz/#!cQVB0IpD!U_vANoM80LLkLrt5DBGYcViyJcFLpgrKxuChnEuw844

MP3:
https://mega.co.nz/#!AQcSVYbA!h6JgNsW_vHsf_3FzcZu5bnKwg7Rl8-1Em2PdsdENvqY

Thank you for sharing!

Thanks a lot, I have only one lousy bootleg copy of this score.

As a drummer, I'll pay attention to your remark.

Thanks for this, your efforts are very much appreciated, if it's a good as you say, I may convert it to stereo and compare the result with the "official" stereo version...

Thanks it looks good !

Thanks share!

Thank you share!

thank you GREAT!

This does sound better! The strings are less "warpy" sounding and other aspects sound clear and punchy. Thank you feedthecats!
BTW, this is a score that dearly needs a complete (and remastered) release. There's a few very nice, emotional cues missing from this album version heard in the film.

Mouther...Nature
I was skeptical at first, but you are correct, I hear more individual instruments in the mono version, a different listening experience.
Thanks you!

Thank you very much!

Thanks.

Thank you!

Thank you.

Thank you.

Better late than never: thank you!

Thanks for sharing this, I'll give it a listen...

Thanks a lot!

I will give it a try sounds interesting thank you L

For the sake of clarity, I should probably add that when I created this thread the 2015 Intrada remaster hadn't been released. It goes without saying that their stereo mix sounds superb, and my bashing of the previous stereo versions doesn't apply to the Intrada one. I think the mono mix still has a lot of merit, though - as others have said, it's a different listening experience.