Sony Music Masterworks celebrates the 30th anniversary of Chris Columbus’ classic hit film Home Alone by reissuing its well-loved soundtrack by the legendary film composer John Williams. Originally released alongside the 1990 film, the soundtrack was nominated for two Academy Awards upon its release, with the film’s theme 'Somewhere in My Memory' becoming an instant classic in the cannon of both film and Christmas music...

Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without Home Alone... the none festive film that just happens to be set during the most magical of holidays. To celebrate it's 30th Anniversary Sony Music has reissued John Williams's original score.

Being a lifelong Williams fan... I'm a little embarrassed to confess that I'd forgotten that he'd composed the music to this movie. It's one of his score's I've never owned, for reasons I'm now left scratching my head contemplating.

There are a lot of similarities to some of Williams's other scores, a hint of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984) and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989) here and there. His work on Jaws (1975) seems to have been revisited on tracks like 'Scammed By a Kindergartner' but on balance it feels like the composer would return to this for inspiration when working on Jurassic Park (1993) three years later.

While the songs 'White Christmas', 'Please Come Home for Christmas', 'Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas' oddly there's no sign of probably the most memorable piece... 'Rockin' around the Christmas Tree'.

The score contains 19 tracks (56 min, 52 sec) and while Williams's music doesn't conjure up a festive flavour, as such, there are organ and choir performances of traditional carols including 'O Holy Night' and 'Carol of the Bells' as well as a beautiful new composition, 'Star of Bethlehem', by Williams.

There's a nice mix of styles here, certainly enough to make it an essential purchase if you're a fan of Williams's work.

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Darren Rea