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John Williams - Greatest Hits

Five Stars

John Williams is arguably the world's greatest film composer. He has won dozens of academy awards throughout his diverse career and has written a number of unforgettable themes for such classic motion pictures as "Jaws" and "E.T."

A new album titled "John Williams: Greatest Hits 1969-1999" collects much of William's best known scores and blends them into a mesmerizing showcase of awe-inspiring film music and sheer poetic talent.

The album highlights the composer's diverse career, focusing on Williams' unforgettable pop culture hits like "Raiders of the Lost Ark" and some of his lesser known work like "Home Alone."

The album has 28 songs in all, including his early works and special pieces he composed for the Olympics. The music fluctuates between sweeping, uplifting beats and more somber and reflective pieces - a perfect accompaniment for the Olympics.

The wonderful thing about Williams' music is that it can stand alone as simply great classical music. But when played with their affiliated movies, the scores truly shine.

It would certainly be difficult to imagine Superman soaring through the air without the rousing, heroic theme accompanying him, in which Williams' fast-paced brass and subdued drum roll allows the theme to take flight.

Williams' music is always filled with a magnificent sense of energy. The final song on the album, "Duel of the Fates," from the newest "Star Wars" movie, is a stirring blend of chorus, strings and brass. The score begins slow and peaks until a final, exhilarating finish that remains with the listener long after.

"John Williams: Greatest Hits 1969-1999" is a truly awesome keepsake for fans of great films and great film music.