Vinyl plays with occasional light-crackles (play-graded). Gate-fold cover looks okay; a few creases near edges; light-scuffing and slight discoloration on inner-gate; heavier scuffing, tiny surface abrasions, and surface impressions (front/back/inner-gate). Inner-sleeve is original (ABC logo/photo); seams partially split. Spine is mostly easy-to-read with wear. Shelf-wear along top/bottom-edge and corners. Top-edge is completely split. Opening is crisp with signs of light use and divots. 1968 stereo pressing with blue and gold label. (Not a cut-out.)
The film score from Ben-Hur was composed and conducted by Miklos Rozsa. Rozsa researched Greek and Roman music, incorporating this work into his score for authenticity. Rozsa himself directed the 100-piece MGM Symphony Orchestra during the 12 recording sessions. The soundtrack was recorded in six-channel stereo. More than three hours of music were composed for the film, and two-and-a-half hours of it were finally used, making it at the time the longest score ever composed for a motion picture. Rozsa won his third Academy Award for his score. The score was so lengthy that it had to be released in 1959 on three LP records, although a one-LP version with Carlo Savina conducting the Symphony Orchestra of Rome was also issued. In addition, to provide a more "listenable" album, Rozsa arranged his score into a Ben-Hur Suite, which was released on Lion Records (an MGM subsidiary that issued low-priced records) in 1959. This made the Ben-Hur film musical score the first to be released not only in its entirety but also as a separate album. The Ben-Hur score has been considered the best of Rozsa's career.