The first soundtrack albums I bought as a kid were the soundtracks to the James Bond movies. I bought Goldfinger first (because that was the first Bond movie I saw), and then I bought From Russia With Love (great cover!), and later, Thunderball. I wore the grooves out on all of them. I’ve always liked John Barry’s music. If you look at the track list of this CD, you’ll see all of the action and adventure movies he’s been involved with. Barry’s a very versatile composer. Sadly, John Barry’s style of brassy music isn’t popular today. Movie soundtracks today seem to compilations of current songs or retro-songs (the songs on The Guardians of the Galaxy soundtrack are mostly from the 1970s). But I still like this music and continue to listen to it. Do you have a favorite John Barry piece of music?
TRACK LIST:
1 Goldfinger (2:41)
2 The James Bond Theme (2:01)
3 From Russia with Love (2:54)
4 Thunderball (2:33)
5 007 (1:48)
6 You Only Live Twice (2:22)
7 On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (2:03)
8 Diamonds Are Forever (2:26)
9 All Time High (3:56)
10 Until September (4:25)
11 King Kong (2:37)
12 Zulu (2:45)
13 Pawnee Attack, Pt. 1 & 2 (4:05)
14 Kicking Bird’s Gift (2:06)
15 Journey to Fort Sedgewick (2:40)
16 Two Socks (The Wolf Theme) (1:32)
17 Farewell and Finale, Pts. 1 & 2 (9:52)
18 Did You Call Me (5:24)
19 The Specialist (5:39)
I had the same record-buying/playing experience myself,George. Something about Barry’s lush-but-edgy orchestrations seemed incredibly exciting then, and still does now.
Dan, you’re right about the “lush-but-edgy” orchestrations John Barry specialized in bringing to movie music. But his style seems to have been eclipsed by soundtracks that are basically “Greatest Hits” compilations of singles.
Well, obviously the Bond theme is iconic. But he did a lot of other stuff starting in the 1960’s, like Born Free and The Lion in Winter and Midnight Cowboy.
Jeff, John Barry’s other movie music is on JOHN BARRY, MOVIOLA 1. But, you’re right: he had a lot of range.
LION IN WINTER, THE DAY OF THE LOCUST, OUT OF AFRICA. The big sweeping stuff. I like the Bond music, but there is such a sameness about it from film to film. I like THE COTTEN CLUB for the Jazz touches.
Rick, LION IN WINTER and OUT OF AFRICA had some wonderful music. I’m not sure I saw THE DAY OF THE LOCUST remake. And, you’re right about THE COTTON CLUB!
Was that the one with Petr Graves & the giant grasshoppers?
Dan, you’re right.
The trend to greatest hits soundtracks, as opposed to original music for the film, seemed to take off in the 1980s. Like you, I prefer – and only buy – music composed for the films, such as that Howard Shore did for the FOTR films.
Rick, I rarely buy soundtracks made up of hit songs. I resisted the soundtrack to GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY because it’s mostly songs from the 1970s.
I have this CD and love it. The suite of Bond themes is fabulous but the piece that always gets me excited ad raised the hair on my neck and arms Is Zulu. The slow build to a crescendo is mesmerizing.
Scott, you’re right about ZULU. That music always gets my blood pumping!
I have to list five: Oh Her Majesty’s Secret Service, The Black Hole, The Ipcress File and the themes from the TV series The Persuaders and Vendetta. Here’s Vendetta: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irvY8PAuueQ
Tom, I really like VENDETTA! Thanks for the link!