While much of the rest of the catalogue world is kicking into overdrive in time for the holiday season, at least one group of labels seems to keep busy year-round: that of the soundtrack reissue specialists. Our friends at Kritzerland yesterday announced their latest two-on-one CD release bringing two classic United Artists film soundtrack LPs back into print. These soundtracks were the work of true titans of the field: Dmitri Tiomkin, Bronislau Kaper and Andre Previn, from films starring the legendary likes of Audrey Hepburn and Burt Lancaster; and Kirk Douglas and Robert Mitchum.

John Huston's 1960 The Unforgiven featured a score by Tiomkin, the Academy Award-winning composer of such classic westerns as High Noon, Gunfight at the O.K. Corral and The Alamo, and in addition to stars Hepburn and Lancaster, had Audie Murphy and Lillian Gish among its cast. 1967's The Way West had Bronislau Kaper in the composer's chair (whose work has already been anthologized this year in a Film Score Monthly box set, to which this release is a perfect companion) and no less a luminary than Andre Previn conducting. Stubby Kaye and Sally Field, in her film debut, supported Douglas, Mitchum and Richard Widmark. Kaper's score also features a title song with lyrics by Mack David performed by the Serendipity Singers, which is included on the soundtrack along with the group’s performances of “Mercy McBee” and the film’s finale.

Both titles have been issued on CD before; The Unforgiven appeared in FSM's The Unforgiven: Classic Western Scores from United Artists box (FSM Vol. 10 No. 10) dedicated to the genre, and The Way West was released in a limited edition by Intrada (Vol. 92) but both CDs have been remastered under the supervision of producer Bruce Kimmel for this limited edition of 1,000 copies. Both releases are long sold out and fetch high prices on the collectors' market, making this re-release particularly welcome.

Kritzerland's edition is available at their usual single-CD price of $19.98 plus shipping and handling, and while CDs are guaranteed to ship by the second week of October, pre-orders are more likely to arrive at your doorstep later this month. The Unforgiven/The Way West features a 12-page full color booklet with new liner notes, and it can be pre-ordered here.  The track listing follows after the jump!

Various Artists, The Unforgiven/The Way West: Original MGM Motion Picture Soundtracks (Kritzerland, 2010)

1. Prologue
2. The Unforgiven – Main Title
3. Across the Texas Panhandle
4. Turkey in the Straw
5. The Horse Ballet
6. Search for Abe Kelsey
7. Charlie Courts Rachel
8. Kiowa Warpath
9. The Unforgiven Alone
10. Riding Back to the Soddy
11. Matilda Confesses
12. The Kiowas Attack
13. After the Battle – End Title
14. The Way West (featuring the Serendipity Singers)
15. Overture (Main Title)
16. Lige Celebrates
17. We’re Crossing First
18. Flowers for Mr. Mack
19. I Killed Him (Execution)
20. Water/Billy’s Death
21. Mercy McBee (featuring the Serendipity Singers)
22. Buffalos and Indians
23. Becky’s Theme
24. On to Crystal City/Tadlock’s End
25. Reluctant Mercy
26. Finale (featuring the Serendipity Singers)

Tracks 1-13 from Dimitri Tiomkin's The Unforgiven: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack - United Artists LP UAS-5068, 1960
Tracks 14-26 from Bronislau Kaper's The Way West: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack - United Artists LP UAS-5149, 1967