Along with the James Bond, Pink Panther, and Peter Gunn themes, the title piece of The Good, the Bad & the Ugly is arguably one of the greatest themes ever written. The entire score ties with those from Midnight Express and Blade Runner as the greatest soundtracks of all time. Many imitated the profoundly unique, deeply haunting style of composer Ennio Morricone, but none could attain his level of brilliance. Hugo Montenegro comes very close in a pop vein. His version of “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” was a smash, and he weaves bells, marching chants, and myriad other sounds into a spaghetti tapestry that not only recalls the tension on the screen, but also makes for fine listening. The themes from A Fistful of Dollars and For a Few Dollars More also have several great moments. Get this too-brief comp for its excellence and historical significance, but get Morricone’s originals because therein can be heard some of the best music ever created. – Doug Stone