Lord of the Rings Trilogy: Review (LPs)
Summary: Back on LP several years later, this re-release is a very good - but sadly not perfect - successor to its previous vinyl counterpart.
4
Frodo Lives (Again)!
Seven years in the remaking since the Rhino Records premium offering (which sold out in an instant, mind you), the glorious The Lord of the Rings movie trilogy LP soundtrack by Howard Shore featuring the London Philharmonic Orchestra lives again!
Having listened to this trilogy to death on Apple Music and also a surprisingly solid collection of Shore songs on a somewhat obscure City of Prague Philharmonic LP (via Digger Records), I was chomping at the bit for this Warner Music Group Company re-attempt at the One [brass LP] Ring.
First things first, unboxing Middle Earth’ers! Each of the three LPs – The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and Return of the King – are complete with unique artwork, supported by song listings and album inspirations inside each record fold. Thus, this is thankfully not a ‘best of,’ with every song from the original LPs featured. Thus, if you’ve been dying to get your hands on these vinyl bad boys for decades, Warner Music Group Company makes this dream finally come true, young Hobbits.
But here’s the Fool of a Took which I never expected. Sadly, there are no unique new liner insertions of any kind, thus pretty much no frills. The LPs are also presented on a base black vinyl with no additional color options. Third, and more importantly, they are not 150g or heavier vinyl. This was unexpected, as the previous Rhino Records offerings – outside of alternative color – featured all.
Where it matters most is the substance of sound. While the three LPs wonderfully capture booming percussions and delicate string nuance, there’s an abundantly noticeable hiss and pop throughout you simply can’t ignore. Second, the sound just doesn’t embody LP quality, one of the rare instances where digital trumps vinyl. After notifying them, Warner Music Group was extremely apologetic, and sent a second batch for review. (Thanks so much, guys!) Sadly, there is little discrepancy between the two sets. Plus, there were likewise quality control matters on both sets in the size of the hole in the record’s middle.
This is not my first foray through Isengard, and no Cave Troll hiss would stop my Fellowship. For Gondor(!), I tried to isolate the sound issues and hopefully remedy them. Record washing didn’t help (it almost always does), nor did a needle clean or a subsequent pass with a cleaning velvet brush. A vinyl weight didn’t reduce the effect either. I tested all three on two turntables with solid mid-upper level needles, also streaming via Bluetooth to a Bose QuietComfort headset.
Even with the hisses and pops, I wouldn’t declare these poor recordings. These do an admirable job of capturing the most important aspects of the Shore compositions, and serve as the best LP option for the Lord of the Rings Trilogy currently available. The shortcomings require a trained ear to become a bother. Meaning, if your turntable of choice is entry level, these may not be as discernible.
Like most waiting with bated breath for this re-release, I state with confidence that most LOTR obsessives like myself would’ve gladly paid twice the price for heavier weights and purer sound. I suppose my Fellowship brethren will simply wait for a Collector’s Edition equivalent somewhere in the Palantír future.
Final Thoughts
We finally have the long-awaited re-pressing of the Rhino Records’ Lord of the Rings release… and it’s a mixed bag. It’s solid, but not perfect. Some additional QA/QC and weight – even at a higher price – would’ve been welcome. Still, it’s the best LP version of LOTR currently available, and a must-have for fans of the Trilogy.
About the Author
Paul Stuart A gamer for over 30 years with 400+ reviews across four sites literally spanning the globe, Paul Stuart has an unhealthy obsession with Assassins Creed, God of War, and all things Lord of the Rings.
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