The Lord Of The Rings: Return Of The King [2 LP, Clear Vinyl]

Howard Shore's masterful score for The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King concludes the most ambitious film music trilogy in cinema history. Composed, orchestrated, and conducted by Shore, the music was performed by the London Philharmonic Orchestra, London Voices, and the London Oratory School Schola. This limited Indie Exclusive edition on Palantir Clear vinyl captures the epic sweep of Middle-earth's final chapter in a gatefold double LP pressing. The soundtrack earned two Academy Awards for Best Original Score and Best Original Song, along with Golden Globe and Grammy victories, while achieving gold certification in both the U.S. and U.K.

The 19-track album opens with "Minas Tirith" featuring Ben Del Maestro, setting the stage for the siege of Gondor. Key pieces include "The Ride of the Rohirrim," "Shelob's Lair," and "The End of All Things" featuring Renee Fleming. "The Return of the King" showcases Sir James Galway, Viggo Mortensen, and Renee Fleming in the film's coronation sequence, while Annie Lennox's Oscar-winning "Into the West" closes the album, providing an emotional farewell to the journey. The score represents the most expansive of the trilogy's three soundtracks, containing over four hours of finalized music, evolved from Shore's themes in the previous installments into both glorious and intimate endings.

The Palantir Clear vinyl pressing spreads the 72-minute album across four sides within a gatefold jacket, allowing the orchestral dynamics to translate effectively to the analog format. The clear vinyl adds a visual element appropriate to this Indie Exclusive limited edition, making it a distinctive version of one of the most celebrated film scores ever composed. The pressing maintains the delicate balance between Shore's intimate character themes and the massive staged forces that give the Lord of the Rings trilogy its epic grandeur.

• Format: Clear Vinyl 2LP
• Standout tracks: "The Ride of the Rohirrim," "Shelob's Lair," "Into the West"
• Pressing details: Indie Exclusive limited edition, Palantir Clear vinyl, gatefold jacket
• Genre/style: Film Score, Orchestral, Soundtrack, Epic Music
• UPC: 081227813291

Shore's triumphant score remains an integral part of the film's legacy, a musical achievement that matches the scope and emotional depth of Tolkien's vision brought to life in Peter Jackson's adaptation.

Not Available for Streaming!
* The Spotify track list may not exactly represent the tracks and audio of this LP edition.

Track List:

Side A:

1. A Storm Is Coming
2. Hope And Memory 
3. Minas Tirith (Feat. Ben Del Maestro)
4. The White Tree
5. The Steward Of Gondor (Feat. Billy Boyd)

Side B:

1. The Ride Of The Rohirrim
2. Twilight And Shadow (Feat. Renée Fleming)
3. Cirith Ungol
4. Andúril
5. Shelob's Lair
6. Ash And Smoke

Side C:

1. The Fields Of Pelennor
2. Hope Fails
3. The Black Gate Opens (Feat. James Galway)
4. The End Of All Things (Feat. Renée Fleming)

Side D:

1. The Return Of The King (James Galway, Renée Fleming, Viggo Mortensen)
2. The Grey Havens (Feat. James Galway)
3. Into The West (Feat. Annie Lennox)