This was one of the first scores recorded at Abbey Road Studios (formerly known as EMI Studios) after Anvil Studios shut down in 1980.
Composition
Williams said that the music did not have to be serious for the film and was instead theatrical and excessive.[2] Williams spent a few weeks working on the Indiana Jones theme, more commonly known as "The Raiders March" that plays during the main character's heroic scenes. Two separate pieces were played for Spielberg, who wanted to use both. These pieces became the main theme and musical bridge of "The Raiders March".[3] A picture disc vinyl LP of "The Raiders March" was released by Walt Disney Records in 2021.
For the romantic theme, Williams took inspiration from older films like the drama Now, Voyager (1942) to create something more emotionally monumental that he felt would contrast well with the film's humor and lighter moments.[2][3] Williams used "dark" orchestral pieces to represent the actions of the Nazis, using the "seventh degree on the scale of the bottom". He said this signified a militaristic evil.[3] To create something suitably biblical for the Ark of the Covenant, he used a mix of chorus and orchestra.[2]
The soundtrack was re-released in an expanded edition by DCC Compact Classics, Inc. in November 1995 on CD and LP, with thirty minutes of new and extended cues and a 24-page booklet. The LP had an extended "The Well of the Souls" sequence that was absent on the CD release.
Contains previously unreleased material (Extended to include "Uncovering the Ark / Marion Into the Pit" on DCC LP release)
5:28
12.
"Airplane Fight"
Previously unreleased
4:37
13.
"Desert Chase"
Contains previously unreleased material
8:15
14.
"Marion's Theme"
2:08
15.
"The German Sub / To the Nazi Hideout"
Previously unreleased
4:32
16.
"Ark Trek"
Previously unreleased
1:33
17.
"The Miracle of the Ark"
6:05
18.
"The Warehouse"
Previously unreleased
0:56
19.
"End Credits"
5:20
Total length:
73:35
The Indiana Jones Trilogy
Silva released a newly recorded version of Williams' Indiana Jones music entitled "The Indiana Jones Trilogy"[4] on January 21, 2003. It features various cues from the first three Indiana Jones films, with seven from Raiders. However, although they use the original manuscripts, this is a re-recording performed by the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra.
No.
Title
Length
1.
"The Raiders March"
2:40
2.
"The Map Room / Dawn"
4:09
3.
"The Basket Game"
4:23
4.
"Marion's Theme"
3:43
5.
"Airplane Fight"
4:22
6.
"The Ark Trek"
1:29
7.
"Raiders Of The Lost Ark"
4:54
Total length:
25:40
Indiana Jones: The Soundtracks Collection
The five-disc release by Concord Records was released on November 11, 2008. The set contains the three original soundtracks to the trilogy, expanded and remastered, including material never before issued on CD. The box set also includes the standard Kingdom of the Crystal Skull soundtrack (released in May 2008, no bonus material added) plus a bonus CD that includes more music from the trilogy and an exclusive audio interview CD with Williams.
2008 Concord Set
Disc One
No.
Title
Note(s)
Length
1.
"In the Jungle"
4:13
2.
"The Idol Temple"
3:56
3.
"Escape from the Temple"
1:34
4.
"Flight from Peru"
2:24
5.
"Washington Men / Indy's Home"
Previously Unreleased
1:06
6.
"A Thought for Marion / To Nepal"
2:12
7.
"The Medallion"
2:55
8.
"Flight to Cairo"
1:30
9.
"The Basket Game"
5:02
10.
"Bad Dates"
Previously Unreleased
1:14
11.
"The Map Room: Dawn"
3:53
12.
"Reunion in the Tent / Searching for the Well"
4:02
13.
"The Well of the Souls"
5:28
14.
"Indy Rides the Statue"
Previously Unreleased
1:09
15.
"The Fist Fight / The Flying Wing"
4:37
16.
"Desert Chase"
7:33
17.
"Marion's Theme / The Crate"
2:10
18.
"The German Sub"
1:23
19.
"Ride to the Nazi Hideout"
3:20
20.
"Indy Follows the Ark"
1:40
21.
"The Miracle of the Ark"
6:07
22.
"Washington Ending & Raiders March"
6:52
Total length:
74:20
Disc Five
No.
Title
Note(s)
Length
1.
"Raiders March"
2:30
3.
"Uncovering the Ark"
Previously Unreleased
5:32
Total length:
8:02
The re-issues of the three original soundtracks are also available in Europe as a single release. The content is identical to the first three titles in the box-set.
Indiana Jones: The Complete Collection Box Set
The 2008 edition of the soundtrack was reissued by Walt Disney Records and released alongside the other four film soundtrack albums from the series in a collective 5-CD box set on March 27, 2024.[5]
Missing music
There are about three minutes of music from Raiders of the Lost Ark that—so far—have not been released on CD.
Marion Into The Pit (Present on DCC LP)
Indy Rides The Statue (Original Film Version—Concord Release is an Alternate)
In addition to the missing music, "Desert Chase" is incomplete on the Concord set. It has been trimmed down to its 1981 album length, making the 1995 release the only complete representation of that cue.
