METALLICA: Audio Sample Of 'The Ecstasy Of Gold' Posted Online

A one-minute audio clip of METALLICA's version of "The Ecstasy of Gold", the song from the classic film "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" which has been opening METALLICA live shows since 1983, has been posted online at this location. METALLICA's cover will be released on February 20 via Sony Classical as part of a tribute to composer Ennio Morricone, also featuring some of the greatest names from the worlds of contemporary pop, rock, jazz, and classical music.

Conceived and produced by Luigi Caiola, who worked on the maestro's monumental retrospective, io, Ennio Morricone, in 2003, "We All Love Ennio Morricone" brings together seventeen exquisite interpretations — most of them newly recorded especially for this collection — of Morricone's best-loved film scores and other musical pieces showcasing the extraordinary range of the composer's influences and sensibilities.

Commenting on the new CD, Morricone said, "You realize that you have composed important music when someone, somewhere is playing it. I am however astonished, obviously in a good way, that famous artists from the musical world have paid tribute to me by participating in the project, 'We All Love Ennio Morricone', that brings together my most well-known compositions in different versions and fascinating interpretations thanks to the different musical origins of the various artists. My thanks to everyone, I am deeply honored."

"Not only the film industry, but the music industry at large, are deeply indebted to this phenomenal composer whose expressivity embraces so many genres with such integrity and creativity," said Renee Fleming. "The evocative nature of his work dramatically enhances the visual image and resonates in our deepest emotions."

"I have been inspired by Morricone's raw unbridled emotion, especially in his western scores," said James Hetfield of METALLICA. "As a band, we have used his moving 'Ecstasy of Gold' piece as an intro to our performances since 1983."

In addition to three orchestral tracks — "Gabriel's Oboe", "The Tropical Variation" and "Cinema Paradiso" — performed by Ennio Morricone, the composer has created transitional pieces for "We All Love Ennio Morricone" to seamlessly connect the individual tracks into a continuously flowing listening experience.

"We All Love Ennio Morricone" caps a series of unprecedented honors for the 78-year-old composer, who will receive an Honorary Academy Award at the 79th Academy Awards presentation on February 25, 2007, in Los Angeles "for his magnificent and multifaceted contributions to the art of film music." Morricone has been nominated for five Academy Award Best Original Score nominations — "Days of Heaven" (1978),"The Mission" (1986),"The Untouchables" (1987),"Bugsy" (1991) and "Malèna" (2000). "Receiving an Oscar almost seems like too much, but I can't hide the fact that I'm very happy," said Morricone.

"We All Love Ennio Morricone" (view cover here) track listing:

01. I Knew I Loved You - CELINE DION
02. The Good, The Bad and The Ugly - QUINCY JONES featuring HERBIE HANCOCK
03. Once Upon a Time in the West - BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN
04. Conradiana - ANDREA BOCELLI
05. The Ecstasy of Gold - METALLICA
06. Malèna - YO-YO MA
07. Come Sail Away - RENÉE FLEMING
08. Gabriel's Oboe - ENNIO MORRICONE
09. Conmigo - DANIELA MERCURY featuring EUMIR DEODATO
10. La Luz Prodigiosa - DULCE PONTES
11. Love Affair - CHRIS BOTTI
12. Je Changerais d'Avis - VANESSA AND THE O'S
13. Lost Boys Calling - ROGER WATERS
14. The Tropical Variation - ENNIO MORRICONE
15. Could Heaven - DENYCE GRAVES
16. Addio Monti - TARO HAKASE
17. Cinema Paradiso - ENNIO MORRICONE