

(written from a Production point of view Real World article

The Best of Both Worlds is the extended soundtrack to the Star Trek: The Next Generation two-part story. Released in May 2013 from GNP Crescendo Records, the single-disc release contains the complete score of the two episodes.

The release includes a 16-page booklet featuring commentary from Lukas Kendall and John Takis and track-by-track breakdowns.

Summary

Blurb One of the undeniable highlights of television's Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994) was the two-part episode, "The Best of Both Worlds" (the third-season cliffhanger and fourth-season opener). For composer Ron Jones, "The Best of Both Worlds" marked the apex of his impact on the first four seasons of Star Trek: The Next Generation – a thrillingly dynamic symphonic score that fits the episodes like a glove. Jones's achievement was so popular that it became only the second Next Generation soundtrack album released at the time of production.

Although the complete score is infused with Jones's customary musical craft, the composer's chilling theme for the Borg, often voiced by eerie synthesized chorus, dominates "The Best of Both Worlds". It forms the basis for some of the score's exciting action-oriented material. In the episodes' quieter moments, Jones' scoring is subtle yet melodic, with colors and harmonies chosen to evoke emotion without overpowering the onscreen drama.

GNP Crescendo's 1991 soundtrack album from "The Best of Both Worlds", containing the major cues from both episodes, was enormously popular. This Expanded Collector's Edition, licensed by CBS Consumer Products, features the complete scores, adding the shorter, transitional moments that contain at least one piece of important thematic material missing from the original album. The 16-page booklet contains notes on both production and music by Lukas Kendall and John Takis – based on interviews with Jones and other primary source material.

"The Best of Both Worlds" is a testament to Jones's remarkable talent and creative imagination – and to the unconquerable Human spirit that is the essence of Star Trek.

Excerpts of copyrighted sources are included for review purposes only, without any intention of infringement.

Track listing

# Title/Runtime 1 Star Trek: The Next Generation Main Title (1:49) " The Best of Both Worlds " 2 New Providence (1:22) 3 Not Ready†/Job Grabber†/Early Worm†/No Doubt† (2:08) 4 Preparations†/What Do You Want?†/Fatigue†/Hansen's Message (2:12) 5 Borg Engaged (1:13) 6. First Attack/Looks†/Tell It Like It Is† (5:28) 7 Contemplations† (0:52) 8 Borg Take Picard/Death Is Irrelevant/His Place (4:52) 9 Away Team Ready/On The Borg Ship/Nodes (5:19) 10 Captain Borg (3:55) " The Best of Both Worlds, Part II " 11 Energy Weapon Fails (3:16) 12 Repairs†/Humanity Taken (1:17) 13 Contact Lost (0:39) 14 Repairs Complete†/Cemetery Of Dead Ships (2:06) 15 Currents (0:56) 16 Intervention (4:26) 17 Sitting Ducks†/Borg Reach Saturn† (1:08) 18 The Link (2:58) 19 Sleep Command/Destruct Mode/Picard Is Back (6:24) 20 Picard's Nightmare (1:04) 21 Star Trek: The Next Generation End Title (3rd Season, long version) (1:04) Total running time: 55:12

† Previously unreleased material

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