I’m always a bit partial to The Tamarind Seed, even if the album gets a bit repetitive after a while. Some great themes there. And Deadfall is pretty stunning in places too.
Currently listening to Barry's last soundtrack, Enigma. Haven't seen the film yet but I thought I would start with listening to this. It truly is beautiful, I like the maturity Barry reached in his later life. Very Sombre and meaningful.
I like this score a lot, and I think Enigma is a pretty good film. I thoroughly enjoyed the novel as well.
The melancholy main theme is quite beautiful, in a typical late-Barry way. There is also a really nice romantic theme for the Winslet-Scott relationship. One suspense cue in particular (The Train) always reminds me quite a bit of Barry's Bond scores of the 1980s.
BIG TAMWrexham, North Wales, UK.Posts: 773MI6 Agent
I'd also recommend two from 1972: FOLLOW ME! & ALICE'S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND. Both feature charmingly playful scores by Barry. Like the films themselves, undervalued.
I was enjoying the Enigma soundtrack so much that I decided to watch the film. I loved it. I think it was because it was the sort of understated, atmospheric drama film that only the British could make, less now than they used to.
Best thing in the film was definitely the Barry soundtrack. The main theme is beautiful, Golrush, though I was trying to figure out the name of the Winslet Scott love theme which you liked.
I think my favourite track was the car chase, which felt very much in the same vein as TLD.
“The scent and smoke and sweat of a casino are nauseating at three in the morning. "
-Casino Royale, Ian Fleming
Anyone mentioned the sultry Specialist score yet?
The Persuaders theme is also a must listen for me. But I echo those who say everything should be listened to.
Vaguely on topic, anyone in the UK who has Britbox: apparently 60s spy movie The Quiller Memorandum has been added, which features a lovely Barry score of course.
Golrush, though I was trying to figure out the name of the Winslet Scott love theme which you liked.
The bit that I was thinking of is the first half of the cue entitled "Simply Wonderful/Finding Crib". I haven't listened to the score in a while, but as I recall it is a bit like a simplified version of the main theme. I also really like the police chase cue that you mentioned. Also, 'The Convoy' which I think is the longest cue on the soundtrack. It builds suspense nicely as it goes along.
I just watched Somewhere in time, and I must say, that was a beautiful movie, heartwrenching at points, with an amazing John Barry score. The main theme alone is terrific. I read somewhere that Jane Seymour was good friends with Barry and asked him to score the movie
“The scent and smoke and sweat of a casino are nauseating at three in the morning. "
-Casino Royale, Ian Fleming
Out of Barry's later non-Bond oeuvre, I'd recommend Mercury Rising. A fine score with some delicate woodwind passages reminiscent of Barry's score for AVTAK. The heavy suspense meanwhile brings back memories of Gumboldt's Safe in OHMSS...
Unfortunately most of this score is not actually in the film, being replaced for long stretches by more generic Carter Burwell music. A bit of a shame...
Does anyone else enjoy this excellent example of late-period Barry?
I just watched Somewhere in time, and I must say, that was a beautiful movie, heartwrenching at points, with an amazing John Barry score. The main theme alone is terrific. I read somewhere that Jane Seymour was good friends with Barry and asked him to score the movie
I made a right dick of myself last time i watched this film, i actually started blubbing in front of my wife and son, a combination of great acting by seymour and Reeve combined with Barrys heart wrenching music just set me off. I would really like to watch the movie again but i dare not in case it happens again. I have the soundtrack cd and it is beautiful :x
ive smelt that aftershave before and both times ive smelt a rat
Some favourites of mine.......(main themes)
Out of Africa
Dances with wolves
Raise the titanic
The proposal
The scarlet letter
Somewhere in time
The ipcress file
Seance on a wet afternoon
The wrong box
ive smelt that aftershave before and both times ive smelt a rat
This is great! I'm very interested in exploring the John Barry catalogue, but I literally don't know where to start, so this sort of critique is just what I am after. Now that so many years have passed since your detailed overview was initially posted would you consider updating it?
Hmm, tough question. It depends on whether you find the Nic Raine re-recordings to your taste (some don't - I will happily take them if the original is unavailable) and if you want to spend money (sometimes lots) on new editions of old scores that have extra music on them (again, sometimes this is good listening and sometimes it's just padding).
If you have Spotify I think this collection is rather decent; it's a Nic Raine re-recording joint but I think they're generally good versions and there's a very nice spread of music with some good choices.
Having got quite deeply into the world of John Barry listening/collecting, I have a couple of questions, which I'd be grateful if the experts could help me out on.
Firstly, was the Ember "John Barry Plays 007" LP from 1965, i.e. this one: John Barry – John Barry Plays 007 (1965, Vinyl) - Discogs simply a compilation of previously released Ember singles/soundtrack cuts or was it specifically recorded as an album by John Barry with the tracks therefore being new (at the time) versions? I think FRWL is different from the Ember single version (being the "organ version"), but what about the other tracks?
Also, if "John Barry Plays 007" is merely a compilation, are the following the only non-soundtrack/non-compilation John Barry albums, i.e. the only ones he specially recorded as albums and which therefore contained (at the time) all new/mostly new versions of the tracks:
"John Barry Plays 007" was not a specifically recorded album, but a collection of singles etc as you say. It's been re-released many times under different titles with slightly differing tracks.
I haven't time to check the list you give thoroughly, but it looks pretty comprehensive to me as a list of specifically recorded albums.
Edit - I'm home now and have checked against my collection, your list is accurate.
Comments
I like this score a lot, and I think Enigma is a pretty good film. I thoroughly enjoyed the novel as well.
The melancholy main theme is quite beautiful, in a typical late-Barry way. There is also a really nice romantic theme for the Winslet-Scott relationship. One suspense cue in particular (The Train) always reminds me quite a bit of Barry's Bond scores of the 1980s.
Best thing in the film was definitely the Barry soundtrack. The main theme is beautiful, Golrush, though I was trying to figure out the name of the Winslet Scott love theme which you liked.
I think my favourite track was the car chase, which felt very much in the same vein as TLD.
-Casino Royale, Ian Fleming
The Persuaders theme is also a must listen for me. But I echo those who say everything should be listened to.
Take a wild guess who.... ;%
The bit that I was thinking of is the first half of the cue entitled "Simply Wonderful/Finding Crib". I haven't listened to the score in a while, but as I recall it is a bit like a simplified version of the main theme. I also really like the police chase cue that you mentioned. Also, 'The Convoy' which I think is the longest cue on the soundtrack. It builds suspense nicely as it goes along.
-Casino Royale, Ian Fleming
Unfortunately most of this score is not actually in the film, being replaced for long stretches by more generic Carter Burwell music. A bit of a shame...
Does anyone else enjoy this excellent example of late-period Barry?
"The spectre of defeat..."
Out of Africa
Dances with wolves
Raise the titanic
The proposal
The scarlet letter
Somewhere in time
The ipcress file
Seance on a wet afternoon
The wrong box
This is great! I'm very interested in exploring the John Barry catalogue, but I literally don't know where to start, so this sort of critique is just what I am after. Now that so many years have passed since your detailed overview was initially posted would you consider updating it?
Hmm, tough question. It depends on whether you find the Nic Raine re-recordings to your taste (some don't - I will happily take them if the original is unavailable) and if you want to spend money (sometimes lots) on new editions of old scores that have extra music on them (again, sometimes this is good listening and sometimes it's just padding).
Thank you for this; if these are the only updated issues then your original posts are all I need!
If you have Spotify I think this collection is rather decent; it's a Nic Raine re-recording joint but I think they're generally good versions and there's a very nice spread of music with some good choices.
Having got quite deeply into the world of John Barry listening/collecting, I have a couple of questions, which I'd be grateful if the experts could help me out on.
Firstly, was the Ember "John Barry Plays 007" LP from 1965, i.e. this one: John Barry – John Barry Plays 007 (1965, Vinyl) - Discogs simply a compilation of previously released Ember singles/soundtrack cuts or was it specifically recorded as an album by John Barry with the tracks therefore being new (at the time) versions? I think FRWL is different from the Ember single version (being the "organ version"), but what about the other tracks?
Also, if "John Barry Plays 007" is merely a compilation, are the following the only non-soundtrack/non-compilation John Barry albums, i.e. the only ones he specially recorded as albums and which therefore contained (at the time) all new/mostly new versions of the tracks:
Stringbeat
Great Movie Sounds of John Barry
John Barry Conducts his Greatest Movie Hits
Ready when you are, JB
The Concert John Barry
Play it Again
Americans
Moviola
Moviola 2
The Beyondness of Things
Eternal Echoes
"John Barry Plays 007" was not a specifically recorded album, but a collection of singles etc as you say. It's been re-released many times under different titles with slightly differing tracks.
I haven't time to check the list you give thoroughly, but it looks pretty comprehensive to me as a list of specifically recorded albums.
Edit - I'm home now and have checked against my collection, your list is accurate.
That's great, thank you very much indeed.