Music Album Review: ‘Superman: The Movie – Original Sound Track (1987 CD Edition)

💫 Superman: The Movie (1987 CD Soundtrack Review & Reflection)

Before Rhino Records unveiled its deluxe 2-CD edition 25 years ago, the 1987 Warner Bros. release was the lone CD version of John Williams’ score for Superman: The Movie. Conducted by Williams and performed by the mighty London Symphony Orchestra, this abridged album still captures the heroic scale and romantic core of the film. From the triumphant “Theme from Superman” to the tender “Love Theme,” it resonates even without the expanded suite of the reissue.

In the late 80s, budget-conscious soundtrack CDs were often trimmed to fewer tracks. Compared to the original 1978 double LP and cassette editions (which featured 16 cues), this version omits “Growing Up” and “Lex Luthor’s Lair.” Although the latter’s absence is forgivable—its motifs are reprised in “The March of the Villains”—“Growing Up” is a poignant loss. That track radiated young Clark Kent’s awakening, from the gentle “Superman Fanfare” to a soaring motif that evokes both footballs kicked into the stratosphere and trains outrun by a boy just discovering what he is.

While some cues were creatively spliced to enhance musical flow, the sequencing mostly follows the film’s story. Still, this edition diverges from the Rhino/Warner Archives reissue in a few important ways:

• 📽️ Narrative Fidelity: The 2000 2-CD re-release follows the film scene by scene, echoing producer Nick Redman’s precision on Star Wars and Raiders of the Lost Ark Special Editions.
• 🌠 Love Theme Placement: Here, Track 5 is “Love Theme from Superman,” originally intended as “Growing Up.” Ironically, the Love Theme is not just a romantic interlude—it’s also featured prominently in the film’s closing credits, anchoring the emotional aftermath of Superman’s odyssey.

• 🎼 Main Title Concert Version: The CD opens with a shorter concert version of the Main Title, missing the film version’s woodwind intro and swelling build. That cinematic cue is restored in the reissue.
• 💬 Flying Sequence & Vocal: Margot Kidder’s “Can You Read My Mind” appears immediately after “The Fortress of Solitude” in this edition, while the reissue presents it as a bonus. For the curious, a discarded pop version—never used in the final cut—is tucked away on the 2000 2-CD reissue’s bonus cues section.

Despite missing a few crucial cues, this “super-saver” release retains the heart of Williams’ work. The LSO delivers firepower and finesse—just as it did for the Star Wars saga and Raiders—and under Williams’ baton, this score makes you believe a man really can fly. It may not be the definitive version, but it remains a remarkable bridge between cinema and symphonic storytelling.

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📀 1987 CD Track List

From the Warner Bros. “Super Saver” release:

1. Theme From Superman (Main Title) – 4:24
2. The Planet Krypton – 4:45
3. Destruction Of Krypton – 5:58
4. The Trip To Earth – 2:23
5. Love Theme From Superman – 5:00
6. Leaving Home – 4:48
7. The Fortress Of Solitude – 8:29
8. The Flying Sequence & Can You Read My Mind – 8:08
9. Super Rescues – 3:24
10. Superfeats – 5:00
11. The March Of The Villains – 3:33
12. Chasing Rockets – 7:33
13. Turning Back The World – 2:01
14. End Title – 6:24