La-La Land Records has been hitting a homerun with ‘Jurassic Park’ fans over the years. In 2016, they released a double CD set of expanded and remastered soundtracks for the classic John Williams scores ‘Jurassic Park’ & ‘The Lost World: Jurassic Park,’ with both getting sperate releases (and even more material) in 2022 & 2023 respectively. This year, they have a new soundtrack release for the franchise’s third film, ‘Jurassic Park 3,’ composed by Don Davis! But what sets it apart from previous releases, and is it a definitive presentation of the score? Let’s take a walk in the park and find out!
In 2001, the soundtrack was released on CD in the form of a 54-minute album via Decca records. Composer Don Davis (‘The Matrix Trilogy’) assembled this 1-CD release himself, combining some cues together to form certain tracks, and arranging it all in his own personal sequence. Unlike the John Williams scores for the prior films, this one is nearly wall-to-wall action (just like the film). While it runs through every scene, it also expertly weaves themes established by Williams in very fun and clever ways. Also included on the album was the 1999 Randy Newman song “Big Hat, No Cattle,” which puzzled fans since it is only briefly heard in the film during an early bar scene in the background. While this album featured a decent amount of the score (about 50 minutes of Davis’s material), it did leave off several noteworthy cues that were heard in the film. Some of these were favorites of those who had seen the film, such as the climactic showdown with the Spinosaurus, expecting to find them on the album but ending up disappointed.
Interesting to note is that this album was an “Enhanced CD.” If put into a computer’s CD or DVD ROM drive, it would open a program with access to special features, including: the film’s trailer, a dinosaur size chart, photos, website access, a text conversation with Don Davis, and a trailer for the unreleased PlayStation game ‘Jurassic Park: Survival.’ (It should be noted that the new 2024 soundtrack release does NOT include any of this content.) While this 2001 CD Album is now out of print, it can at least be bought for relatively cheap prices in the secondary market and is also easily available for digital purchase.
It’s been theorized that because the album’s CD needed extra space for the enhanced content (along with the Randy Newman song), it forced Don Davis to make his arrangement of the cues shorter than perhaps he wanted. This explains why the score’s runtime on the album is about 20 minutes shorter than the albums were for ‘Jurassic Park’ & ‘The Lost World: Jurassic Park.’ In fact, it could have otherwise included even more additional music, given the format’s size limits of about 80 minutes.
Curiously, about a year after the album was released, an “Academy Promo” CD was sent out for Oscar consideration that found its way online (perhaps by Dennis Nedry?). This longer, unofficial version of the soundtrack contained several additional tracks not included on the commercial Decca release, including many extended film versions of existing tracks. (However, it did not include the Randy Newman song nor any of the “Enhanced CD” content.) Some of the additional highlights include music for when the raptor eggs are discovered in the jungle, the Spinosaurus chasing the group toward the aviary’s entrance, and the film’s entire climax tracks (albeit with a fuller mix and additional orchestrations). Since this wasn’t an official release that one could find in stores, these unique tracks were shared with many fans through internet piracy. Over the past two decades, this was unfortunately the only way for anyone to hear the extended version of the soundtrack apart from watching the film itself.
Now, La-La Land Records presents a brand-new 2024 expanded release. This edition includes both the original soundtrack album, the additional tracks from the Academy promo, & more!
La-La Land Records, Universal Pictures, Amblin Entertainment, Universal Music Group and Decca Records present JURASSIC PARK III, a limited edition 2-CD remastered and expanded presentation of acclaimed composer Don Davis’ (THE MATRIX, THE MATRIX RELOADED, BOUND) original motion picture score to the blockbuster second sequel in the legendary JURASSIC PARK franchise, starring Sam Neill, William H. Macy and Tea Leoni, and directed by Joe Johnston. Expertly interpolating, and building on, maestro John Williams’ iconic JURASSIC themes, composer Davis propels the film’s excitement even further with his own powerhouse, original orchestral material. Expanded and sounding better than ever, JURASSIC PARK III shines brilliantly – it’s robust, thematic high-octane film scoring that finally gets to shine in full within this deluxe release. Produced by Mike Matessino and Neil S. Bulk, newly edited by Bulk and mixed and mastered by Matessino from the original 24 bit film mixes, this 2-CD presentation showcases the original 2001 soundtrack release remastered on Disc 1, with the expanded film score spread across both discs, concluding with additional tracks on Disc 2. The exclusive, in-depth liner notes are by John Takis, including new comments from the composer, while the sharp art design is by Jim Titus, continuing the eye-catching style he employed for our JURASSIC PARK and THE LOST WORLD re-issues. This is a limited edition of 3000 Units.
The presentation of this edition of the score is the opposite of how their 2022 ‘Jurassic Park’ release was done: the original album is on the first CD, followed by the first section of the expanded score, with the rest of it and some additional alternates on the second CD. The release was presented this way due to space limitations on the CD format and their own personal preferences. The original album was included due to unique edits & takes that several of the tracks had and, of course, the Randy Newman song. For those already familiar with the original album, or want to skip to the expanded presentation, you’ll want to begin with track 17 on CD 1.
Right away, we hear something new: the film version of ‘Isla Sorna Sailing Situation.’ The only real addition to this cue is a sustained note near the beginning (as the film’s title cards are appearing on screen, and the water ripples). Other film versions as heard on the Academy promo are present, such as ‘Bone Man Ben,’ ‘Raptor Repartee,’ and ‘Cooper’s Last Stand.’ But what will be exciting for fans of the score are a few other film versions heard for the first time, such as ‘Dinosaur Man,’ ‘The Dinosaur Fly-By,’ and most notably ‘The Raptor Room’ (which includes an alternate segment and a longer moment with the choir). Additional alternates include an alternate opening to ‘Clash Of Extinction’ (a cue not heard in the film in any form), an alternate ending for ‘Raptor In The Cabin,’ and an alternate ending for ‘River Reminiscence.’ A major highlight, presented in extended form, is ‘The Hat Returns / End Credits,’ which showcases the full version of the end credits for the first time (longer, and arranged differently, than what is heard in the film).
However, despite having all of the Academy promo tracks (making those bootlegs of it finally obsolete), and a few other film versions of cues; there are still several missing, without any explanation. Most notably not on this release are film versions (or, what could be vastly different ‘film mixes’ that remove some of the brass and other instruments from their original compositions) of ‘Frenzy Fuselage,’ ‘River Rampage,’ and ‘Paul Makes A Leap.’ What’s interesting is that some of these tracks do have supposed “extended” versions on this release, but when hearing them there are no discernable differences. Listening closely, there are only either very minor performance differences or a sustained note with a longer fadeout at the end. The cues ‘Party Crasher,’ ‘Brachiosaurs On The Bank,’ and ‘Pteranodon Habitat’ have different openings or endings entirely in the film as well, and are also not present here. ‘Pteranodon Habitat’ has a timpani-heavy ending in the film, and while it is not certain if this piece was even composed by Don Davis, it would have been nice to have gleamed some explanation. Unfortunately, the liner notes (while detailed on the film’s history and the making of the score) don’t give us any intel on this topic.
Do these omissions taint the release of this soundtrack? That may depend on how much you were hoping to have those versions of the tracks. Neither me nor Bernard A. Kyer (who provided some details mentioned in this review) were asked to participate in this release like we did for ‘Jurassic Park’ in 2022 and ‘The Lost World: Jurassic Park’ in 2023, so we can’t explain the absence of these film versions. There is a chance that the elements used in the film could not be found, or some strange rights issues, but without any information given we can only speculate. In my personal opinion, I do prefer the fuller orchestrated versions of these tracks that are included rather than what can be heard in the film.
Omissions aside, this is still the best release the ‘Jurassic Park 3’ soundtrack has ever had. The clever cover artwork that matches the prior two releases is fantastic, the sound quality is great, we finally have an official release of the Academy promo’s tracks, and it provides several film versions of cues people have wanted to hear outside of the film ever since it came out. With the original album also included at the beginning, there really is no need to own the previous release unless you want to hang onto the “Enhanced CD” content (if it even works on your computer anymore).
Listen to some sound clips of the new release below, then be sure to order your copy from La-La Land Records today!
TRACK LISTING (with select sound clips):
DISC 1
ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK ALBUM (54:28)
1 Isla Sorna Sailing Situation 4:21
2 The Dinosaur Fly-By 2:13
3 Cooper’s Last Stand 1:59
4 The Raptor Room 2:35
5 Raptor Repartee 3:04
6 Tree People 2:00
7 Pteranodon Habitat 3:01
8 Tiny Pecking Pteranodons 3:34
9 Billy Oblivion 2:49
10 Brachiosaurus
On The Bank 2:05
11 Nash Calling 3:36
12 Bone Man Ben 7:18
13 Frenzy Fuselage 3:58
14 Clash Of Extinction 1:39
15 The Hat Returns / End Credits 5:07
16 Big Hat, No Cattle 4:24
Performed by Randy Newman
SCORE PRESENTATION (85:07)
17 Isla Sorna Sailing Situation (Film Version) 4:26
18 Dinosaur Man 1:43
19 Udesky, Nash And Cooper 2:29
20 The Raptor Bone 1:18
21 Raptor In The Cabin 1:52
22 The Dinosaur Fly-By (Film Version) 2:28
23 Cooper’s Last Stand (Extended Version) 2:52
24 Frenzy Fuselage (Extended Version) 4:08
25 Clash Of Extinction 1:40
DISC 1 TOTAL TIME: 77:40
DISC 2
SCORE PRESENTATION CONT’D
1 Kirby Paint And Tile Plus 4:07
2 Bone Man Ben (Film Version) 3:39
3 Raptor Eggs 2:54
4 The Raptor Room (Film Version) 2:44
5 Raptor Repartee (Film Version) 3:28
6 Eric To The Rescue 1:52
7 Tree People (Film Version) 2:02
8 Nash Calling 3:36
9 Party Crasher 3:16
10 Pteranodon Habitat 3:01
11 Tiny Pecking Pteranodons (Film Version) 3:24
12 Billy Oblivion (Film Version) 2:54
13 Brachiosaurus On The Bank 2:05
14 Reaching For Glory 2:32
15 River Rampage 2:13
16 Paul Makes The Leap 2:59
17 River Reminiscence 1:07
18 Raptor Harassment 3:41
19 The Hat Returns / End Credits (Extended Version) 10:02
ADDITIONAL MUSIC (13:14)
20 Dinosaur Man (Alternate) 1:43
21 Raptor In The Cabin (Alternate) 1:52
22 Cooper’s Last Stand (Alternate) 2:38
23 Clash Of Extinction (Alternate Opening) 1:46
24 River Rampage (Alternate Ending) 2:11
25 River Reminiscence (Alternate Ending) 1:08
26 Dinosaur Man (With Choir) 1:44
DISC 2 TOTAL TIME: 75:18
TOTAL 2-DISC TIME: 2:32:58
Still available from La-La Land Records are their 2-CD remastered/expanded reissues of ‘Jurassic Park’ & ‘The Lost World: Jurassic Park!’ Don’t miss your chance to own the ultimate versions of those scores as well!
Note: Additional images of physical product provided by Matthieu Munoz.
Are you going to get this new release of the ‘Jurassic Park 3’ soundtrack? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and as always stay tuned to Jurassic Outpost for the latest!
