Sample This!
Review by Christopher Coleman

Composed  by John Von Tongeren, Christopher Franke, Teal Thompson,
Jay Gruska, Mark Isham, Jeff Rona, Basil Poledouris, Charles Fox, 
Evan H. Chen, Seven M. Stern, James Newton Howard, Steve Porcaro, 
Micky Erbe & Maribeth Solomon
Complied by Nikolia Ugrinsky
Released by Sonic Images Records -  August  2000

The sound of television has come a long way from the static-laden, monophonic broadcasts of the 1950’s. It could be argued, that the music composed for our favorite television shows has kept pace with trends in popular music even moreso than within the feature film industry. 

Now, television programs, made-for-tv-films and even video games receive top quality scores- those which would have normally only been heard in big-budget films from Hollywood.  Weekly or even daily the television buff can be treated to the talents of the likes of  Jerry Goldsmith, Basil Poledouris, Jeff Rona,  Mark Isham and Christopher Franke and Mark Snow.

For years, composer Christopher Franke’s label, Sonic Images, has sought to bring high quality film and television recordings in eye-catching packaging:  Watch the Skies and the Snow Files among them.  One the labels most recent releases, Prime Time, can now be added to that list.

Prime Time offers an eclectic combination of music (all previously released) taken from many recent television series or mini-series.  From Basil Poledouris’ sweeping theme from Lonesome Dove, to the contemporary jazz vibe of Christopher Franke’s music for Raven to his grungy theme for Pacific Blue, one might think this an odd concoction, but the overall music experience works surprisingly well - as a diversion from the norm.  Prime Time makes for a very refreshing break from the more traditional soundtracks that film music fans can tend to gorge themselves on.

Prime Time contains selections from  some of televisions most popular series in recent years: Babylon 5, and Chicago Hope.  It also features the music from series that no longer find themselves on the airwaves: Crusade and The Sentinel.  In addition, this nearly one-hour long disc contains entertaining remixes from Outer Limits and Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman.  

To appease the more traditional orchestral palette the previously mentioned Lonesome Dove theme is joined by the Main Title Theme from Lois & Clark.  Both serve as orchestral islands in the middle of a techno sea.  While these tracks are enjoyable in their own right, this CD gets its punch from those tracks that comprise this synthetic-sea. 

Sonic Images, continues to produce high quality CD releases regarding sound, production, and packaging.  Prime Time is another example of this label's fine and many times unheralded work.   The music contained within this compilation is decidedly more edgy than many purist film music fans are going to embrace.  It is this fact, that actually makes Prime Time a great break from the ordinary and if one is inclined to such alternative stylings, a worthwhile investment.  

 Track Listing and Ratings

	Track	Title	Time	Rating
	1	Outer Limits (Remix) - John Von Tongeren	3:33	***
	2	Pacific Blue (Main Theme- Just Another Day) - Christopher Franke	1:10	***
	3	As Good As She (The Sentinel) - Teal Thompson	3:42	****
	4	Raven Theme - Christopher Franke	1:15	****
	5	See the Light (Raven) - Christiopher Franke	3:31	****
	6	Techno Legacy (Poltergeist) - John Von Tongeren	3:35	***
	7	Lois & Clark (Extended Remix) - Jay Gruska	4:38	****
	8	Chicago Hope (Main Title 2nd Season) - Mark Isham	0:51	****
	9	New Hope (Chicago Hope) Jeff Rona	3:24	****
	10	Lois & Clark (Main Title) Jay Gruska	1:03	***
	11	Lonesome Dove (Main Title) - Basil Poledouris	5:15	*****
	12	The Magic Wind (Conan) Charles Fox	2:37	***
	13	Crusade (Main Title) - Evan Chen	1:31	**
	14	Babylon 5 (Main Title 2nd Season) - Christopher Franke	1:27	***
	15	Babylon 5 (Main Title 5th Season) - Christopher Franke	1:32	***
	16	Spirit Thief (Poltergeist- The Legacy) - Steven M. Stern	5:21	***
	17	The Sentinel (Theme) - James Newton Howard	0:38	***
	18	Bus Chase (The Sentinel) - Seve Porcaro	6:27	***
	19	Rest in Peace (Legacy II) - John Von Tongeren	2:38	****
	20	Clark in the Country (Lois & Clark) - Jay Gruska	1:41	****
	21	Volunteers/ End-Credits (Earth: Final Conflict) - Micky Erbe and Maribeth Solomon	1:52	*****
		Total Running Time	57:38

Referenced Reviews:  
Crusade