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John Barry - The Collection - 40 Years of Film Music 8 reviews Product Rating : 3.0 .................................................................................................................... John Barry is one of the best represented film composers on CD, but this four-disc collection outdoes everything that's come before with tracks from more than 50 film and TV projects. Of course there are the biggest names you'd expect. James Bond is acknowledged by 10 of the infamous themes and a couple of suites. There's the Western romance of Dances with Wolves, the sultriness of Body Heat, the jazzy highs at The Cotton Club and the encapsulation of the 1960s by The Ipcress File. But this collection's strength is i ... at 17 Stores Lowest Price : £9.96 |
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| Why you might consider this box set. 2008-05-18 The reason why this box set is worthwhile is not all the movies represented here have had their soundtracks released on CD. Since Silva Screen's extensive Barry project began, FSM has released 'Born Free', 'Deadfall', 'Aice's Adventures In Wonderland', 'The Appointment', 'King Kong' & 'Monte Walsh' & Intrada has released 'Mary Queen Of Scots. However the original soundtracks for 'Robin & Marian', 'Walkabout', 'The Deep' & 'Raise The Titanic' remain unreleased so until FSM (or someone like them) steps forward, these versions are the only way you or I will hear them. Imporant to note too is that these versions found on this box set are faithfull to the original scores and not Barry's own re-recordings which he made in the 70's for polydor. A decent summary can be found on Polydors 1981 release 'The Best Of John Barry: Films & TV Themes'. Not every Prague version works, 'The Ipcress File' is just plain wrong as is 'The Persuaders' but 'Zulu' improves on the original. The Bond versions are utterly redundant since most of these scores have been re-mastered and in some cases extended. So, in summation, until Barry's entire catalogue is made available, these recordings serve a place in your collection.  By D.L.J.Mann |
| Movie music magic all in one place 2008-03-29 This grand compilation of John Barry's movie music from almost 40 years in the film business may offend some purists because it may not be exactly as the music appears in the films or as Barry himself might have conducted it - but it is still quintessentially John Barry's own stirring, romantic, melodic, movie music. Where else can you get in one place unexpected gems like 'the Dove' and 'Raise the Titanic' alongside the peerless 'Zulu', many of the Bond themes and the sly and spooky 'Ipcress File' which conjures up a tango amongst spies in Cold War Berlin? (I watched the film recently just to hear the music in context and the music is the best thing about the film which otherwise is a less than convincing conspiracy thriller - set entirely in London!).  By Richard Barnes |
| An Amazing Collection of Movie Music 2008-01-03 This was never intended to replace the actual movie soundtracks for which John Barry wrote the music. On the other hand, by creating an orchestrial arrangement, the CDs emphasise the extraordinarily high quality of the melodies Barry has written over the eyears, and are superb pieces of music in their own right. A truly remarkable and very large music collection. By Dr. Miles Oglethorpe |
| What a disappointment! 2007-11-18 When you think of film and television theme music, you think of the music which was actually played in the film or television programme, not a shallow copy of it like that on this compilation of John Barry's superb music. The City of Prague Orchestra hasn't just lost the plot, they don't have a clue as to the DRIVE and breadth of sound which the theme music originally envisioned. The music is played well enough, but because it isn't the ORIGINAL orchestra, or the original conductor, or even the original sound of the music, somehow the music seems shallow and completely lacking in feeling. I was VERY disappointed with this four-disc set and I don't even bother playing the music. I can't give the boxed set a rating of more than one star, and even then I feel I'm being generous.  By W. Tranter |
| Definitely not the originals 2004-10-30 This stuff may have been played by a perfectly competant orchestra but WHY? The recordings completely loose the feel of the originals. For example, the moodiness of the Persuaders theme is completely lost as the original Mandolin (I assume) is replaced by something electronic. Why when the original and superior recordings clearly still exist is an album of 'covers' required? - best to avoid! By |
