Jerry Goldsmith was an American composer and conductor whose five-decade career made him one of the most versatile and influential voices in film music. From avant-garde experiments to sweeping orchestral adventure, his scores helped define the sound of science fiction, horror, and action cinema.
Born Jerrald King Goldsmith on February 10, 1929 in Los Angeles, he studied piano with Jakob Gimpel and composition at the University of Southern California, where he was influenced by Miklós Rózsa. He began his career writing for CBS radio and television before moving into feature films in the late 1950s.
Across more than 200 film and television scores, Goldsmith continually pushed the boundaries of the orchestra. His atonal, percussion-driven score for Planet of the Apes (US, 1968) reimagined what film music could be, while Patton (US, 1970), Chinatown (US, 1974), Alien (US, 1979), Poltergeist (US, 1982), Total Recall (US, 1990), and L.A. Confidential (US, 1997) showcased his extraordinary range. His main theme for Star Trek: The Motion Picture (US, 1979) later became the signature melody of Star Trek: The Next Generation (US, 1987).
Nominated for eighteen Academy Awards, Goldsmith won a single competitive Oscar — for his choral horror score to The Omen (US, 1976) and its unforgettable Ave Satani. He also received five Emmy Awards and numerous Golden Globe nominations. He died on July 21, 2004 in Beverly Hills, California, leaving a body of work that continues to influence composers today.
Further reading: Jerry Goldsmith on Wikipedia.
Jerry Goldsmith: His Last Recordings
Jerry Goldsmith
United States / 2007-02-13
Varèse Sarabande 302 066 788 2
3xCD (Album) / 49 Tracks / 133:05 m:s
Jerry Goldsmith: His Last Recordings
Jerry Goldsmith
Germany / 2007-02-26
Colosseum Schallplatten CVS 6788-3.2
3xCD (Album) / 49 Tracks / 133:05 m:s
Judge Dredd (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Alan Silvestri
United States / 2015-05-12
Intrada (Special Collection) ISC 316
2xCD (Album) / 47 Tracks / 137:48 m:s
King Solomon's Mines (Expanded Original MGM Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Jerry Goldsmith
Spain / 2014-12-17
Quartet Records QR181
2xCD (Album)
King Solomon's Mines (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Jerry Goldsmith
Belgium / 2006-12-05
Prometheus Records PCD 161
1xCD (Album) / 22 Tracks / 70:42 m:s
King Solomon's Mines (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Jerry Goldsmith
United States / 1991
Intrada (Film Music Treasury) FMT 8005D
1xCD (Album) / 18 Tracks / 27:10 m:s
L.A. Confidential: The Deluxe Edition (Original Motion Picture Score)
Jerry Goldsmith
United States / 2022-11-18
Varèse Sarabande (CD Club)
1xCD (Album) / 39 Tracks / 73:17 m:s
L.A. Confidential (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Jerry Goldsmith
United States / 2019-02-01
Varèse Sarabande
1xLP (Album) / 11 Tracks / 29:39 m:s
L.A. Confidential: The Deluxe Edition (Original Motion Picture Score)
Jerry Goldsmith
United States / 2022-11-18
Varèse Sarabande VSD00562
Digital (Album) / 39 Tracks / 75:18 m:s
The Last Castle (Music From The Motion Picture)
Jerry Goldsmith
United States / 2020-10-27
Intrada (Special Collection) ISC 451
2xCD (Album) / 46 Tracks / 138:34 m:s
The Last Hard Men
Leonard Rosenman
United States / 2012-12-11
Intrada (Special Collection) ISC 224
1xCD (Album)
Legend (Expanded Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Jerry Goldsmith
France / 2021-10-25
Music Box Records MBR-199
2xCD (Album) / 28 Tracks / 125:48 m:s
Link
United States / 2011-01-25
Intrada (Special Collection) ISC 158
1xCD (Album) / 11 Tracks / 39:01 m:s
Link (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Jerry Goldsmith
United States / 2016-03-29
La-La Land Records LLLCD 1384
1xCD (Album)
Link (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Jerry Goldsmith
United States / 2017-08-23
La-La Land Records
Digital (Album)
Lionheart: The Deluxe Edition
Jerry Goldsmith
United States / 2021-04-30
Varèse Sarabande
Digital (Album) / 20 Tracks / 83:20 m:s
Lionheart: The Deluxe Edition (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Jerry Goldsmith
United States / 2021-04-30
Varèse Sarabande (CD Club)
2xCD (Album) / 22 Tracks / 82:38 m:s
The List of Adrian Messenger
United States / 2014-02-10
Varèse Sarabande (CD Club) VCL 0214 1149
1xCD (Album) / 16 Tracks / 38:26 m:s
Little Box Of Horrors
Various Artists
United States / 2016-11-18
Varèse Sarabande VLE-9206
12xCD (Album) / 255 Tracks / 587:24 m:s
Logan's Run (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Variant: Blue/Green and Yellow Vinyl Variant
Jerry Goldsmith
United States / 2018-06-29
Waxwork Records WW035
2xLP (Album) / 23 Tracks
Logan's Run (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Variant: Green and Red Vinyl Variant
Jerry Goldsmith
United States / 2018-06-29
Waxwork Records WW035
2xLP (Album) / 23 Tracks
Logan's Run (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Jerry Goldsmith
United States / 2002-02
Film Score Monthly (Silver Age Classics) FSM Vol.5 No.2
1xCD (Album) / 23 Tracks / 73:38 m:s
Lonely Are the Brave (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Jerry Goldsmith
United States / 2009-06-29
Varèse Sarabande (CD Club) VCL 0609 1094
1xCD (Album) / 24 Tracks / 61:35 m:s
The Lonely Guy (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Jerry Goldsmith
United States / 2018-09-04
Intrada (Special Collection) ISC 416
1xCD (Album) / 43 Tracks / 63:23 m:s