Planet of The Apes: The Original Topps Trading Card Series by The Topps Company Inc, Gary Gerani

The original 1968 recording is short by CD standards – under 30 minutes – but the production is crisp and dynamic. Jerry Goldsmith employs an array of exotic percussion plus artfully arranged strings, brass, woodwinds and his trademark echo effects to create one of the most evocative science fiction soundtracks ever recorded. From the first eerie moments of the "Main Title" to the simian outcry of "No Escape," he sets us in a harsh, inhuman world. Too many science fiction film scores, with their use of sweeping symphony orchestras and soon-clichéd electronics, sound disappointingly earthbound. Goldsmith's music makes you believe you are on a truly alien planet – which makes the film's payoff even more effective. A template for what a science fiction score can be.