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A review by JAMES SOUTHALL

It's a pity, really, that the western genre - which seemed to dominate films for so long - gradually died away, because there is surely no other genre that so inspires film composers, especially American ones.  John Williams would seem to be a natural for the genre, but sadly he has only worked in it a few times.  The Cowboys is a real treat, probably his best western score.  It starred John Wayne as an ageing cowboy who takes a group of youngsters under his wing, and then follows them in a coming-of-age saga.

Williams takes his cue from the likes of Copland, Moross and Bernstein to come up with a delightfully boistrous, engaging score.  His main theme - heard frequently over the half-hour running time of the album - is highly-infectious, composed for harmonica and orchestra in the classic tradition of such movies.  Of course, there's also more tender music, with "The Ranch" being a particular highlight - again it is generally more low-key variations on the main theme, but it's very attractive stuff.  Naturally, there is some action music too, like the terrific "Rustlers", a piece charged with anguished emotion.  The best cue is probably the "Overture", which is mysteriously placed right in the middle of the album, a grand, sweeping cue which instantly conjures up images of rolling plains and galloping horses.

This is a wonderful score, the chance for Williams to put his Copland hat on with all the justification in the world.  I'm sure that many will feel that, as often seems to be the case, Williams just takes a theme and then repeats it ad nauseum, but here he does enough interesting things with it (and the album is short enough) that no momentum is lost.  This is a good package, with excellent liner notes and a great cover painting by the late Bob Peak.  Recommended.

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Tracks

1. Main Title (2:48)
2. Schoolboys or Cowboys? (1:09)
3. Learning the Ropes (1:28)
4. Wild Horses (1:40)
5. Deserted (1:40)
6. Crazy Alice (1:58)
7. Alternate Main Title (1:27)
8. The Ranch (2:31)
9. Overture (2:30)
10. Bedtime Story (1:44)
11. Rustlers (1:16)
12. Stealing Back the Heard (1:22)
13. Nightfall (1:53)
14. A Sad Day (1:33)
15. Into the Trap (2:12)
16. The Drive (1:42)
17. Summer's Over (1:29)