Customer Reviews

Body Heat (1998 Re-recording of 1981 Film)

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Seventeen years after the theatrical release of Lawrence Kasdan's 1981 film noir classic "Body Heat", the film score has finally been released. It is well worth the wait. Joel McNeely and the London Symphony Orchestra have faithfully recreated one of the truly great film scores composed by John Barry. From the hauntingly erotic main title to the shocking conclusion, this score weaves a tangled web of lust, lies and greed. Its contribution to the film is so significant, that it's almost like having another character in the film.

This cd is true to the original score. Film music buffs fearing an adapted or deriviative version of the score will not be disappointed. Joel McNeely and the LSO have performed an extraordinary service to Barry's score for "Body Heat". Special thanks should go to the person(s) at Varese Sarabande responsible for adding this long overdue release to their "Film Classics" series. They have done a great sevice ! to both movie buffs and soundtrack aficionados.

Ironically, after several attempts to locate this score down through the years, I stumbled upon it while looking for the score to "The Spanish Prisoner". Unfortunately, it appears to be commercially unavailable. Maybe the good people at Varese Sarabande will release this excellent score in the near future. In the meantime, just sit back, relax, turn down the lights and enjoy "Body Heat".

Having lived in St. Petersburg, Florida for many years, I can attest that this soundtrack captures the mood, heat, and humidity of Florida beautifully. I've run my movie tape so many times just to hear the music, that the tape is almost worn out. When I hear the piano and saxophone on this soundtrack, I can just feel the stifling heat, especially at night, and I love it. Buy it! You won't be sorry!

The greatest concern I had whether Joel McNeely would be faithful to John Barry's famous score for Body Heat. I had been disappointed with others' attempts, even Nic Raine's orchestrations for Raise the Titanic and Franklin and Eleanor in The Music of John Barry. While those were expertly done, I could tell that the tempo was not the composer's. Raine probably wasn't all to blame: I'm sure there were time considerations. But that experience made me weary of others attempting to step into Barry's shoes.

Fortunately, this might as well be Barry's original score. Joel McNeely uses the London Symphony Orchestra fully; the atmosphere of Kasdan's film is brought to life: Ned and Matty returned. Although I haven't seen Body Heat for years, McNeely's conducting is as I remembered Barry's. Unlike Barry's own slightly softer version of the theme in Moviola performed by the RPO, McNeely has re-created the original, more seductive theme from the main title; the alto sax, expertly performed by Andy Mackintosh, swaying. Even the packaging is seductive, its cover painting taking the viewer back to the Florida heat.

Robert Townson and all at Varèse Sarabande deserve great credit for this marvellous classic remake, a must for John Barry fans.

The producers of the Varese Sarabande Film Classics series should be thanked for giving us a fine recording of John Barry's score for the film "Body Heat," one of the sexiest ever written. This CD by Joel McNeely and the London Symphony Orchestra, though not labeled original sound track, appears to follow the composer's original work. The performance and the sound quality live up to the music, which makes excellent use of a small orchestra, particularly the saxophone. You can find an even sexier re-orchestrated version of the main title on the compact disk "Moviola," a collection of John Barry's film scores conducted by the composer.
Michael Michaud, Vienna, Austria

After listening to this very noir score by John Barry from the noir film Body Heat, the mood is so overpowering that you want to run and grab a cold drink, and, perhaps, run the cold glass across your forehead. That's how effectively Barry captures the heat, the emotion, the feel of the film. This is certainly a case where the film itself and the score are equal partners in conveying that emotion.

I've always loved the film of "Body Heat" so I was delighted to buy the soundtrack when it came back on the market in this re-recorded version. It brings the film back into your mind completely as you listen to it. Its main refrain throughout is sultry seduction in the Florida heat via saxophone, piano, violins and so forth, all via the London Symphony Orchestra. It is entirely instrumental. Got a big date coming over for dinner? This is the album you want to play. Actually, it is great to listen to at any time. I must make one distinction though. Listening to a soundtrack is generally not like listening to a powerhouse soloist who absolutely knocks you out. This album is not like an album by Frank Sinatra, John Coltrane or Chet Baker. The only soloist you will envision is a character you remember from the movie! This is generally true of soundtracks though. I absolutely love listening to soundtracks but they are quite different from listening to the album of one of the top 100 solo singers or musicians in the world. Soundtracks make better mood and background music than theater music typically does though. This is because the mood and tone remain consistent throughout whereas a show can change pace, tone and mood rapidly. "Body Heat" fits exactly within what one can reasonably expect when buying and listening to a really fine soundtrack. If you want to discover whether you even like listening to soundtracks, this would be a good one for you to try as a sample. That is my only warning: you may be the type of person who discovers you don't like listening to soundtracks at all, that they are too repetitious and boring for you.

I'm one of those persons lucky enough to own the original score as orchestrated by Barry on Label X 45 RPM vinyl back in '82. Unfortunately, it has picked up some wear and tear and I wanted the score on CD. I bought this one, and it is superbly recorded, but the orchestrations just don't come up to par with Barry's. Still, it's a noteworthy release, and the next best thing for those who can't get a copy of the original limited release as composed and performed by Barry.

John Barry's pristine rendition of this classic soundtrack was released on vinyl via indie label Southern Cross Records, back in the early Eighties. (Good luck finding THAT version.) Sadly, it has never been re-released in any format, let alone CD. So here's Joel McNeely's version with the LSO on Varese Sarabande, and you know what? You could do MUCH, much worse. Though slightly different in tempo and texture, you can almost feel the Florida humidity flushing your skin, squeezing out so much moisture that you have to strip down to whatever is legally allowed...and beyond...just like Ned and Mattie...

Until the actual soundtrack is found, remastered and once again loosed upon the world, this will do in a pinch, slap and tickle...Even purists will hit "play" and have to admit that Lawrence Kasdan's post-noir vibe comes to throbbing life in every groove.

If you've ever fantasized about being Lauren Bacall (turned really, really bad), this soundtrack provides the proper backdrop. This steamy mixture of violins and saxophones evokes that trecherous combination of desire, frustration and determination. Just put on "a simple blouse and skirt" similar to what Matty wore at the Pinehaven Taven and everything becomes crystal clear. All you have to do is get some poor sap to help you get all that lovely money. Listening to the track entitled "I'm Weak" will make you feel anything but (just watch out for the broken glass). This is some serious seduction music...heady, sophisticated and haunting. The poor guy won't know what hit him.

If you've ever fantasized about being Lauren Bacall (turned really, really bad), this soundtrack provides the proper backdrop. This steamy mixture of violins and saxophones evokes that trecherous combination of desire, frustration and determination. Just put on "a simple blouse and skirt" similar to what Matty wore at the Pinehaven Taven and everything becomes crystal clear. All you have to do is get some poor sap to help you get all that lovely money. Listening to the track entitled "I'm Weak" will make you feel anything but (just watch out for the broken glass). This is some serious seduction music...heady, sophisticated and haunting. The poor guy won't know what hit him.