As someone who owned this CD for many years until I sold it (for a good price) on eBay a couple of months ago I would say yes, it is worth a few extra pounds/dollars/euros, whatever. The main theme is gorgeous with very strong and well-defined instrumentation (the recording is a very clear, precise one) - an unusual mixture of pipes on top of one of Poledouris' best themes - not so bombastic or dramatic as, say, Conan or Flesh + Blood but much stronger than, say, On Deadly Gound.

There is a limit, of course, but the disc is easily worth 3 or 4 x most of those of the more popular composers such as Goldsmith, Williams or Zimmer.

So why sell it? Simply that I knew it was worth an extra few pounds which would help fund my addiction to soundtrack buying on eBay! I know that I shall regret it once the addiction abates - oh well!

Mitch, September 5, 2004; 7:21 PM

Thanks for the info Mitch.
I thought I was the only one with that addiction, my wife doesn't understand it..........how I can spend so much money on soundtracks and be moved by them!........anyway I think I'll buy it if I can be patient until one comes up at a reasonable price.
I bought "Lonesome Dove", liked that very much, "Cherry 2000" didn't like, "Wind"....still undecided, "Quigley Down Under".....disappointed.

john, September 5, 2004; 7:43 PM

The chances Farewell To The King sells for less tan $80 are quite scarce but goodluck with getting it because it's an awesome score.

baalgehenna, September 6, 2004; 11:35 AM

Hello John,
To further add to you query, FAREWELL TO THE KING, in my opinion is one of Poledouris' weeker scores and if you didn't care for CHERRY 2000 I don't understand your appreciation for his work. CHERRY is just as strong as ROBOCOP but with a whistfully romantic edge. WIND is a mix of pop-new age and stirring orchestra for sailboat racing. Most of Poledouris' work I would recommend, even FAREWELL, but it is not his best. I'd say DEFINITLY get:

CONAN THE BARBARIAN
ROBOCOP
WIND
THE TOUCH
FLESH & BLOOD
CONAN THE DESTROYER
STARSHIP TROOPERS
THE BLUE LAGOON
BIG WEDNESDAY

A composer is not going to "hit the perfect note" every time, that's why I collect, because I may come across a really good score. That's why I a big Goldsmith fan, the first 20 CDs I bought of his scores were literally GOLD!!

deviantman, September 7, 2004; 5:19 AM

Hey, Deviantman, you left out "Les Miserables" from your list of essential Poledouris scores... I'd say that's certainly one of his best, if not the best score he has ever composed...

...certainly the varying moods of the story allow him to show off the full range of his talent over the course of one album. It's also one of the few instances where the quality of the film itself came anywhere near close to equalling the quality of his music.

benjaminorchard, April 15, 2005; 7:59 PM