The Original Score by Lalo Schifrin. Composed and Conducted by Lalo Schifrin. Music remixed from the original multi-track masters by Michael Matessino at Sharpline Arts, Glendale, Calif. Released by Aleph Records, Inc., Beverly Hills., 2004.

     By Stephen Pytak 

     The film "Dirty Harry (1971)" is no doubt
known more for its tough talk and a certain
.357 handgun than its soundtrack.
     But this CD release gives Lalo Schifrin's
film score its due.
     I gave this title a gold rating because, as
far as I know, this disc says it all.
     There are 18 tracks from the film and
four bonus, alternate tracks. Plus, there's a 
full-color insert with a history and 
perspective on each track by the album's
producer, Nick Redman. There are some 
photos from the film as well.
     The theme that most people might recall 
from the film isn't the one written for hero 
Harry Callahan, but his main target, a 
psycho killer named "Scorpio."
     Designed to reveal this sniper's twisted 
mindscape, it's an errie jazz beat with a 
steady snare drum and a haunting choral.
     The woman who lends her voice to the 
killer's theme is Sally Stevens, who, 
according to the album notes, performed the
Shifrin song "That Night" for the 1968 film 
"The Fox."
     Her voice is what I remembered most
about the soundtrack after seeing the film.
It's like one of his victims crying out. And it's
more signature than anything else here.
     Scorpio's theme pops up a few times on
this 43 minute disc.
     The tracks are in order as they appeared
in the film. At the start of the movie, this
theme is slow and ghostly. As the film
continues, it deliberately builds.
     You'll hear it a bit in the first track, 
"Prologue/The Swimming Pool," and a lot in
 track five, "Scorpio's View."
     By the time you get to track 17, "The 
School Bus," it's rockin'.
     Clint Eastwood's signature character 
does have a theme of sorts. It's a slow, simple
organ melody. It's melancholy.
     "It's a simple motif of sorrow and 
loneliness, emphasizing Harry's sick and 
tired disposition," Redman said.
     It can be heard through track 12, "Dawn
Discovery," and track 18, "End Titles."
     Other highlights here include the jazz/
blues song "No More Lies Girl" by Bernard
Ito. It's track 4.
     In the first quarter of the film, when the
bank robbery happens, it can be heard
coming from the robbers' vehicle.
     I doubt anyone remembers it, even though
it is catchy, because the viewer is too caught
up in what's going on in that scene.
    Besides, no musical cue is going to beat the 
"...Did he fire six shots or only five..." speech.