Soundtrack Review: Doctor Who – The 50th Anniversary Collection (Original Television Soundtrack)


Doctor_Who_50th_AnniversaryMusic Composed by: Various Artists

Formats: Digital Download

Number of Discs: 2 (45 tracks, approx. 2 hour 37 minutes)

Label: Silva Screen Records

Overview:

Fifty years, 11 Doctors and 45 tracks, this is the release that Doctor Who fans have been waiting for.

Assembled after years of research and trawls through dusty archives and libraries it’s a compilation of the very special music that has accompanied the Doctor over his travels through time and space from William Hartnell in 1963 to present day Matt Smith.

From Ron Grainer’s iconic theme realized by the BBC Radiophonic Workshop’s Delia Derbyshire to Murray Gold’s orchestral tapestries, this is a sci-fi musical saga.

The esteemed collection of composers featured include Tristram Cary, Brian Hodgson, Dudley Simpson, Geoffrey Burgon, Paddy Kingsland, Roger Limb, Malcolm Clarke, Keff McCulloch, Dominic Glynn, John Debney and more.

The set includes liner notes from Doctor Who composer Mark Ayres on the history of music in the series and details of the episodes.

As 2013 draws to a close we wrap up our Doctor Who 50th Anniversary celebration with a soundtrack that covers the whole 50 years of the series. TheĀ Doctor Who – The 50th Anniversary Collection (Original Television Soundtrack) 2 disc set can itself be considered a time machine in its own right, transporting us through five decades of music style.

I can only describe this musical experience as listening to a spectrum of light. It’s like listening to colors of time. You can hear the progression through each of the 11 Doctors and the grouping of songs easily conveys the time of the airing of the episode, the drama of the planet or villain in opposition and the personality of the Doctor himself. That’s a tall order for a song, but this compilation does just that.

My favorite tracks from the 2 disc set of Doctor Who – The 50th Anniversary Collection’s (Original Television Soundtrack) include all of the great themes throughout the years and the following:

*An Unearthly Child – Three Guitars Mood 2 which is just deliciously 1960s

*Terror of the Zygons Suite which in actuality is a beautiful track with lovely flutes

*Tracks 15-20 are all from personal favorite episodes and they just completely transport me back to when I watched those episode as a kid. We all have our first Doctor and I’m certain you’ll find that tracks on this compilation will transport you in a similar way.

*Tracks 36-45 are the representatives of the reboot. If you feel this is too little, there are many other soundtracks available. We’ve even reviewed a couple. Check out Doctor Who: The Snowmen / The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe or Doctor Who: Series 7 or Doctor Who Series 6.

I love everything Doctor Who, old and new, and this is the perfect musical collection of it all. It is worth each and every star in a perfect score despite the unfortunate track The Macra Terror – Chromophone Band. I can’t actually think of a reason you’d want to play this track on prupose, but it’s one dud in 45 tracks and easily skipped.

I give the Doctor Who – The 50th Anniversary Collection (Original Television Soundtrack), Five Out of Five Stars.
fivestars

 

 

Doctor Who: The Snowmen / The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe Soundtrack is available to order from Amazon now. Here’s the link:
[AMAZONPRODUCT=B00GUZNSGM]


Jess Orso
Written by Jess Orso

Jess is the Managing Editor and Southern Correspondent for SciFiMafia.com