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"Play it again, Sam..." - The John Barry Appreciation Thread
I don't even know where to begin this discussion except to say that John Barry's death earlier this year was a hard blow to take. I'm sure many others will agree that his passing was fairly devestating. His music, through which he ultimately bore his soul, is a part of our minds and hearts and to know that we won't be exposed to any more of his passion... well, it's still upsetting. I feel pretty rediculous admitting such a thing, especially as I never even met the man, but his music has gotten to me and still gets to me every single time I push play. I was exposed to his music in the first Bond film I watched, Moonraker, and after devouring the music of this series, I soon looked to his other films. The Scarlet Letter, Hanover Street, Swept from the Sea... the list is endless.
So, tell me, what are your favorite scores of John Barry? What score was your first? What was his most romantic cue?
I hope a discussion like this hasn't been posted before. I searched through the forums, but did not come across anything similar... so, here we are. =D
So, tell me, what are your favorite scores of John Barry? What score was your first? What was his most romantic cue?
I hope a discussion like this hasn't been posted before. I searched through the forums, but did not come across anything similar... so, here we are. =D
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Comments
My favourite John Barry scores were always FRWL
and
On Her Majesty's Secret Service
The first Bond film I ever saw was GF and one of the things I remember about it was how powerful the score was. Powerful, but not overpowering in a "they're trying too hard" kind of way. Just something that added to the film being unlike anything I had ever seen before. Barry's contribution to creating the "world" of Bond is immeasurable.
Someday years from now when most of us are gone in body, Barry should and likely will be mentioned in the same breath as Mozart, Bach, Beethoven, Grieg, etc. He was just as true a maestro and master. The world of music will never be the same again.
I have all of his Bond Scores and his scores for...
"The Black Hole, 1979" Very atmospheric and suspenseful. I always play it when I play space themed games.
and
"Raise the Titanic, 1980" Another atmospheric score, gives you the feeling of being Underwater along with some light happy tracks. The main theme sounds like a Possible Star Trek theme.
RIP John, your music will live on for many many generations!
All vintage John Barry. Works of art.
Best non Bond: The Lion in Winter and The Cotton Club.
Excellent choice although I would add The Specialist to that. Jazz never sounded so good as during the lovemaking between Stallone and Stone.
Some of my favourites from JB's film work include: The Quiller Memorandum which features a beautiful song called "Wednesday's Child" sung by Matt Munro. If you haven't heard it you should do yourself a favour and check it out. I also love the sublime 14 minute plus "Romance For Guitar And Orchestra" used in Michael Caine & Bryan Forbes Deadfall. I have both these albums on CD. The ones I have on vinyl record apart from all his Bond scores are Midnight Cowboy, King Kong and The Lion in Winter.
Funnily enough I've always heard bits of "Sacrifice" from King Kong in David Arnold's "African Countdown" featured in Casino Royale. You can listen here if you like...
For those that haven't heard Romance for Guitar you can hear it here...
I hope you enjoy the samples I've linked. :)>-
And the greatest actor AND greatest human being of all time : Sir Roger Moore !
On a side note I didn't realise that JOHN BARRY and Nina van Pallandt had recorded 'THE MORE THINGS CHANGE' which was written for, but not featured in the James Bond film, 'On Her Majesty's Secret Service'. I know some people don't like her 'Do You Know How Christmas Trees Are Grown?', but I think it works beautifully as a background score when Bond is being chased by Blofeld's henchmen in the skating ring. Here's the unused song if you're interested (the pic is of Jane Birkin and NOT the singer Nina)...
Dances with Wolves
The Lion in Winter
Midnight Cowboy
Somewhere in Time
Body Heat
Good call on all of those, especially Lion In Winter, one of my favourite Barry scores ever!
I can recommend The Specialist though, a sensual and at times very jazzy score.
The 1976 Dino De Laurentiis remake of King Kong (starring Jeff Bridges and Jesssica Lange) was one of the first scores John Barry composed after settling in Los Angeles from his native England. Although the composer was forced to write quickly due to production delays, he provided a powerful score that reflects both the film’s exotic adventure setting and the love story at its emotional center.
An unusual variety of melodic ideas to characterize Kong and a strong romantic theme endow the score with a lush sensuality and emotional poignancy that balances the harsher and more horrific elements. Barry’s music ranges from the primitive dances of island natives to the soft saxophone strains of contemporary romance without missing a beat.
FSM released the 1976 Reprise Records album master of King Kong in 2005 when no additional material was available. But now, with the cooperation of Paramount Pictures, we are able to premiere John Barry’s complete score newly mixed and mastered from the 2" 24- and 16-track masters on the first disc of this 2CD Deluxe Edition. We again present the album master on disc 2, augmenting it with several film alternates to make this the most complete possible representation of Barry’s effort.
Informative notes by John Takis, numerous film stills and dynamic original poster art comprise FSM’s colorful 20-page booklet.
If viewers of King Kong care about the hulking creature, it is in no small part because Barry makes them care. Through his art, painstakingly preserved and lovingly presented on this 2CD set, listeners are able to see past the mask of the monster to the infinitely lonely soul locked within.
http://www.filmscoremonthly.com/cds/detail.cfm/CDID/487/King-Kong--The-Deluxe-Edition-2CD/
"Pinewood Studios have renamed Theatre 7 as the JOHN BARRY THEATRE in memory of the composer who scored 11 Bond films. The new name was unveiled in a ceremony held on Friday attended by members of the Bond franchise."
Who was on the guest list I wonder? I now want pictures.
That is fantastic and without doubt thoroughly deserved! The man was a legend! Hopefully their will be more pictures revealed soon on MI6 for us all to see who was in attendance?
I couldn't even if I wanted to. That film has Jacqueline Bisset and two of her remarkable talents to pull me in time and again. ;-)
Oh yes, and John Barry too. :-)
It is quite possibly my favourite Barry track. It gives me goosebumps!
My favorite Barry track would have to be "Bond Lured to the Pyramid."
It's so grand and majestic. It's otherworldly. John's music inspires me even in my own music compositions. He was a legend and will forever be one. Rest in peace John.