The Good, the Bad and the Ugly: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack was released in 1966 alongside the western film

Western (genre)

The Western is a genre of various visual arts, such as film, television, radio, literature, painting and others. Westerns are devoted to telling stories set primarily in the latter half of the 19th century in the American Old West, hence the name. Some Westerns are set as early as the Battle of...

, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly is a 1966 Italian epic spaghetti western film directed by Sergio Leone, starring Clint Eastwood, Lee Van Cleef, and Eli Wallach in the title roles. The screenplay was written by Age & Scarpelli, Luciano Vincenzoni and Leone, based on a story by Vincenzoni and Leone...

, directed by Sergio Leone

Sergio Leone

Sergio Leone was an Italian film director, producer and screenwriter most associated with the "Spaghetti Western" genre.Leone's film-making style includes juxtaposing extreme close-up shots with lengthy long shots...

. The score is composed by frequent Leone collaborator Ennio Morricone

Ennio Morricone

Ennio Morricone, Grand Officer OMRI, , is an Italian composer and conductor, who wrote music to more than 500 motion pictures and television series, in a career lasting over 50 years. His scores have been included in over 20 award-winning films as well as several symphonic and choral pieces...

, whose distinctive original compositions, containing gunfire, whistling

Whistling

Human whistling is the production of sound by means of carefully controlling a stream of air flowing through a small hole. Whistling can be achieved by creating a small opening with one's lips and then blowing or sucking air through the hole...

, and yodeling

Yodeling

Yodeling is a form of singing that involves singing an extended note which rapidly and repeatedly changes in pitch from the vocal or chest register to the falsetto/head register; making a high-low-high-low sound.The English word yodel is derived from a German word jodeln meaning "to...

 permeate the film. The main theme, resembling the howling of a coyote

Coyote

The coyote , also known as the American jackal or the prairie wolf, is a species of canine found throughout North and Central America, ranging from Panama in the south, north through Mexico, the United States and Canada...

, is a two-note melody that is a frequent motif

Motif (music)

In music, a motif or motive is a short musical idea, a salient recurring figure, musical fragment or succession of notes that has some special importance in or is characteristic of a composition....

, and is used for the three main characters, with a different instrument used for each one: flute

Flute

The flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening...

 for Blondie (The Man With No Name), arghilofono

Ocarina

The ocarina is an ancient flute-like wind instrument. Variations do exist, but a typical ocarina is an enclosed space with four to twelve finger holes and a mouthpiece that projects from the body...

 for Angel Eyes and human voices for Tuco.

It is widely considered one of the greatest and most original film scores in history.

The score complements the film's American Civil War

American Civil War

The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...

, containing the mournful ballad, "The Story of a Soldier

The Story of a Soldier

"The Story of a Soldier" is a song from Sergio Leone's 1966 Western The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly. Like the rest of the film's score, it was composed by Ennio Morricone, and it is the only song in the score accompanied by lyrics. The lyrics were written by Tommie Connor.-Differing versions:The...

", which is sung by prisoners

Prisoner of war

A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...

 as Tuco is being tortured by Angel Eyes. The film's famous climax, a three-way Mexican standoff

Mexican standoff

A Mexican standoff is a slang term defined as a stalemate or impasse; a confrontation that neither side can foreseeably win. The term is most often used in lieu of "stalemate" when the confrontational situation is exceptionally dangerous for all parties involved.In popular culture, the Mexican...

, begins with the melody of "The Ecstasy of Gold

The Ecstasy of Gold

"The Ecstasy of Gold" is a musical composition by Ennio Morricone, part of his score for the Sergio Leone film The Good, the Bad and the Ugly...

" and is followed by "The Triple Duel". This epic showdown is considered by many film critics to be one of the most electrifying climaxes

Climax (narrative)

The Climax is the point in the story where the main character's point of view changes, or the most exciting/action filled part of the story. It also known has the main turning point in the story...

 ever filmed, and the music is an integral component of the drama.

The main theme was a hit in 1968. The soundtrack album was on the charts for more than a year, reaching No. 4 on the Billboard

Billboard (magazine)

Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...

pop album chart and No. 10 on the black album chart. The main theme was also a hit for American musician Hugo Montenegro

Hugo Montenegro

Hugo Montenegro was an American orchestra leader and composer of film soundtracks. His best known work is derived from interpretations of the music from Spaghetti westerns, especially his cover version of the main theme from the 1966 film The Good, the Bad and the Ugly...

, whose rendition on the Moog synthesizer

Moog synthesizer

Moog synthesizer may refer to any number of analog synthesizers designed by Dr. Robert Moog or manufactured by Moog Music, and is commonly used as a generic term for older-generation analog music synthesizers. The Moog company pioneered the commercial manufacture of modular voltage-controlled...

 was a No. 2 Billboard pop single in 1968.

The album was remastered and re-released on Capitol Records

Capitol Records

Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...

 in 2004, which had 10 additional musical cues from the film. A European release by GDM music in 2001 contains even more music, with a running time of 59:30.

Original Release

Original Release Date: December 29, 1967

Audio CD Release Date: October 25, 1990

1. "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
   The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (theme)
   "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" is the theme to the 1966 film of the same name, which was directed by Sergio Leone. Included on the film soundtrack as "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly ", the instrumental piece was composed by Ennio Morricone, with Bruno Nicolai conducting the orchestra. A cover...
   
   " (main title) - 2:38
2. "The Sundown" - 1:12
3. "The Strong" - 2:20
4. "The Desert" - 5:11
5. "The Carriage of the Spirits" - 2:06
6. "Marcia" - 2:49
7. "The Story of a Soldier
   The Story of a Soldier
   "The Story of a Soldier" is a song from Sergio Leone's 1966 Western The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly. Like the rest of the film's score, it was composed by Ennio Morricone, and it is the only song in the score accompanied by lyrics. The lyrics were written by Tommie Connor.-Differing versions:The...
   
   " - 3:50
8. "Marcia Without Hope" - 1:40
9. "The Death of a Soldier" - 3:05
10. "The Ecstasy of Gold
    The Ecstasy of Gold
    "The Ecstasy of Gold" is a musical composition by Ennio Morricone, part of his score for the Sergio Leone film The Good, the Bad and the Ugly...
    
    " - 3:22
11. "The Trio" (main title) - 5:00

Extended Release by GDM CD Club

Release date: 2001

1. "Il Buono, Il Brutto, Il Cattivo (Titoli)" - 2:38
2. "Il Tramonto" - 1:14
3. "Sentenza" - 1:39 *
4. "Fuga A Cavallo" - 1:05 *
5. "Il Ponte Di Corde" - 1:51 *
6. "Il Forte" - 2:19
7. "Inseguimento" - 2:22 *
8. "Il Deserto" - 5:14
9. "La Carrozza Dei Fantasmi" - 2:06
10. "La Missione San Antonio" - 2:13 *
11. "Padre Ramirez" - 2:36 *
12. "Marcetta" - 2:49
13. "La Storia Di Un Soldato" - 5:30
14. "Il Treno Militare" - 1:22 *
15. "Fine Di Una Spia" - 1:12 *
16. "Il Bandito Monco" - 2:43 *
17. "Due Contro Cinque" - 3:45 *
18. "Marcetta Senza Speranza" - 1:48
19. "Morte Di Un Soldato" - 3:07
20. "L'estasi Dell'oro"
21. "Il Triello" - 7:14 (the last part of this tune is in mono)

(*) previously unreleased on the original album issued in 1966

Enhanced and Extended Release

Release date: May 18, 2004

1. "Il Buono, Il Cattivo, Il Brutto (The Good, The Bad And The Ugly) (Main Title)" (Digitally Remastered 04) - 2:41
2. "Il Tramonto (The Sundown) (Digitally Remastered 04)" - 1:15
3. "Sentenza" - 1:41
4. "Fuga A Cavallo" - 1:07
5. "Il Ponte Di Corde" - 1:51
6. "Il Forte (The Strong) (Digitally Remastered 04)" - 2:22
7. "Inseguimento 2:25
8. "Il Deserto (The Desert) (Digitally Remastered 04)" - 5:16
9. "La Carrozzo Dei Fantasmi (The Carriage Of The Spirits) (Digitally Remastered 04)" - 2:09
10. "La Missione San Antonio" - 2:15
11. "Padre Ramirez" - 2:36
12. "Marcetta (Marcia) (2004 Digital Remaster)" - 2:52
13. "La Storia De Un Soldato (The Story Of A Soldier) (2004 Digital Remaster)" - 3:53
14. "Il Treno Militare" - 1:25
15. "Fine Di Una Spia" - 1:16
16. "Il Bandito Monco" - 2:45
17. "Due Contro Cinque" - 3:46
18. "Marcetta Senza Speranza (Marcia Without Hope) (2004 Digital Remaster)" - 1:40
19. "Morte Di Un Soldato (The Death Of A Soldier) (2004 Digital Remaster)" - 3:08
20. "L'Estasi Dell'oro (The Ecstasy Of Gold) (2004 Digital Remaster)" - 3:23
21. "Il Triello (The Trio - Main Title) (2004 Digital Remaster)" - 5:02

Personnel

• Composed by Ennio Morricone
  Ennio Morricone
  Ennio Morricone, Grand Officer OMRI, , is an Italian composer and conductor, who wrote music to more than 500 motion pictures and television series, in a career lasting over 50 years. His scores have been included in over 20 award-winning films as well as several symphonic and choral pieces...
  
  
• Conducted by Bruno Nicolai
  Bruno Nicolai
  Bruno Nicolai was an Italian film music composer, orchestra director and musical editor most active in the 1960s through the 1980s...
  
  
• Orchestra: Unione Musicisti di Roma
• Chorus: I Cantori Moderni di Alessandroni
• Vocals: Edda Dell'Orso, Franco Cosacchi, Nino Dei, Enzo Gioieni, Gianna Spagnulo
• Whistling
  Whistling
  Human whistling is the production of sound by means of carefully controlling a stream of air flowing through a small hole. Whistling can be achieved by creating a small opening with one's lips and then blowing or sucking air through the hole...
  
  : John O'Neill
  John O'Neill (musician)
  John O'Neill was a professional musician born in County Durham, England to Irish parents. He was famous for his whistling abilities and was also an accomplished trumpeter....
  
  
• Arghilofono
  Ocarina
  The ocarina is an ancient flute-like wind instrument. Variations do exist, but a typical ocarina is an enclosed space with four to twelve finger holes and a mouthpiece that projects from the body...
  
  : Italo Cammarota
• Flute
  Flute
  The flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening...
  
  : Nicola Samale
  Nicola Samale
  Nicola Samale , is a composer and conductor.- Biography :...
  
  
• English horn
  Cor anglais
  The cor anglais , or English horn , is a double-reed woodwind instrument in the oboe family....
  
  : E. Wolf Ferrari
  Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari
  Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari was an Italian composer and teacher. He is best known for his comic operas such as Il segreto di Susanna...
  
  
• Trumpet
  Trumpet
  The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
  
  : Michele Lacerenza, Francesco Catania
• Guitar
  Guitar
  The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
  
  : Bruno Battisti D'Amario
• Harmonica
  Harmonica
  The harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes...
  
  : Franco De Gemini
• Percussion
  Percussion instrument
  A percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
  
  : Vincenzo Restuccia