Customer Reviews

On Her Majesty's Secret Service

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

John Barry's music for "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" ("OHMSS") is clearly the best overall score in the entire Bond series. "Golfinger" is a close second largely because of a knockout song, but "We Have All the Time in the World," especially as sung by Louis Armstrong, is itself a treasure and Barry's instrumental score is a bit better here. The soundtrack on cd as released by Capital/EMI is acceptable except for the expected missing cuts. As with all of the early Bond soudtracks, the cds are reprints of the original recordings which, because of the limitations of LPs, could only include so much music. Some of these "missing" tracks have appeared in later recordings such as Nic Raine's "Bond Back in Action," but true Bond and Barry fans still yearn for the original recordings or Barry conducted updates. Barry broke with tradition with "OHMSS" by using an instumental for the title (lyrics were written but never used) making this a unique score. And that main theme remains definitive...it is Bond, and even though Sean Connery is missing in this film, Barry is quick to give a musical reminder of what we are about to experience. If any of the Bond scores deserves an expanded edition (and several do: "Goldfinger," "Thunderball," "You Only Live Twice,") "OHMSS" should be at the top of the list. Still, the score in the film is first rate, and this soudtrack recording will do quite nicely.

...despite the kiddie Christmas song included due to the story taking place during the holiday season--a bit of schmaltz by the Petula Clark clone "Nina". When the movie first came out, I thought the theme "We Have All the Time In the World" by Louis Armstrong to be along the same lines--rather uncharacteristic of either a Bond theme (after hearing Shirley Bassey and Tom Jones belt out in-your-face lyrics based on how deadly the bad guy was) or of Satchmo himself (even his mellow stuff tended to be funky). The release of the remix of "What a Wonderful World" many years later proved me to be dead wrong on that, but I won't back down on the titles "Ski Chase" and "On Her Majesty's Secret Service-Main Theme", which are two versions of what I still think is the best theme done in a Bond film outside of the more familiar "James Bond Theme". John Barry has without a doubt set the standard of what Bond soundtrack music is expected to sound like--so much that other people who score the series tend to sound a bit like Barry. Even down to starting the film with a cover version of the "Bond Theme". When I was a teenager, I brought home a copy of the "Goldfinger" soundtrack, and my mom asked me "do you relive the movie or something?" She just didn't get it--to me it and its successors were-and are-MUSIC.

Certain James Bond movies have a great score, and others...don't. Of the 17 MGM/UA Bond movies to date, I can safely say that OHMSS has the best score. Highlights of this CD are the breathtaking "Journey to Blofeld's Hideaway," Louis Armstrong's "We Have All the Time in the World," and the last track, which brings back memories of the movie's tragic ending. This is a great CD even for those who have never seen a James Bond flick. The music is beautiful, and most of it is soft and relaxing. I would recommend this to any jazz or classical music listener. In my opinion, this is the greatest movie score of all time.

ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE is my favorite James Bond soundtrack. George Lazenby possessed a rugged and determined screen presence. George Lazenby looked the part and he certainly looked like he could handle himself. It was the first film to address James Bond as a real person and not some superhero. George Lazenby brought conviction and sincerity to the role with his performance. In track 6: "main theme - On Her Majesty's Secret Service" John Barry brings all the drive and determination that characterized Lazenby's interpretation of James Bond to the role and this film. ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE is the closest to any of the Ian Fleming novels. I really believe this to be the best James Bond film ever made. ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE is filled with minute details defining and detailing the character of James Bond. We watch him at the gambling tables, we notice what he orders for breakfast, we see his office at Universal Exports, we see what the contents of his glove compartment are, what he wears, what he drinks, what he reads: we get detail after detail. Note how track 3: "Try" brilliantly captures the cool aplomb found at the gambling tables and definitively defines the ultra sophisticated world that Bond thrives on and is intoxicated by. Every shot in the film is exquisitely planned for artistic effect to create the world of James Bond. I love John Barry's score. It's full of warmth, action, and sincerity and above all it has a sense of urgency and drive behind it mirroring the dedication of the main character. Getting Louis Armstrong to sing "We Have All the Time in the World" (track 1) was a stroke of artistic genius. I can go on and on. ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE is George Lazenby's film all the way and John Barry methodically and lovingly gave us this brilliant soundtrack. Track 4: "Ski Chase" and track 11: "We Have All the Time in the World - James Bond Theme" are absolute standouts and essential James Bond recordings.

I've always quoted Goldfinger as the best Bond film in terms of most everything, except on soundtrack that is, coming up right after OHMSS ! There's been a long time debate on whether it was John Barry or Monty Norman who composed the original James Bond theme, they have been gone to court over this matter; well, if you listen to Norman's other tunes in the first 007 soundtrack (Dr. No) and Barry's OHMSS, you have more than enough material to make up your own mind. No wonder they decided to play an only-music theme with the main titles for OHMSS !

track
What can I say? The score in the film is too perfect to be of a spy/action film. The problem is that precise score is so unforgettable that we remember better what is missing in the CD-and that's a lot! Which is pity because almost all musics are better than the others in the series. (oh, by the way it's my fave Bond mov)

We've got "We Have All The Time In The World"- it is sung by one of my fave musicians Louis Armstrong- wonderful, wonderful, wonderful, wonderful theme, what can I say? Moving, tender, sad, only the best Bond film could have it.
And that fabulastic, super main theme! Anyone who watched the mov was certainly impressed by this one- no lyric, but does it really matter? Nope, Barry uses it several times in the soundtrack ("Ski Chase" and "Battle at Piz Gloria") and it always causes me chills on my spine of such excitement!!! When he uses it in "Over and Out" is also very beautifully done, it's in a more quiet way and- Makes me remember lovely Diana and Telly Savalas in the part of the poem.
There's also that relaxing "Try" (one reviewer told he could not sleep without it!), a similar instrumental We Have...
"This Never Happened To The Other Fella" is an exciting piece of that unforgettable pre-title sequence.
"Journey To Blofeld's Hideaway" is one of the best tracks, showing majestic chords of the helicopter flight to the mountains.
And the last but not the least "Do You Know How The Christmas Trees are Grown?", an apparently childish track that could have brake the Bond mood. But that's wrong, it works perfectly in the movie in a part Bond is frightened-a real Xmas tune to be listened.

Adding parts like Gumbold's Office and music in interior of Piz Gloria would make give it a solid 5. I usually don't get mad with some missing musics, but... you EDITORS this time you've gone TOO FAR! Yeah, yeah, I know there's Bond Back in Action, but those themes don't sound like in the movie...

OHMSS is one of the most talked about and loved Bond films of all. In having a new actor (Lazenby) it was allowed to be different - and it was. John Barry's score is no exception. The melodies are fresh and the instrumentation far more trendy (for 1969) than any previous Bond score.

The OHMSS soundtrack album is evocative of a very memorable movie (I think I've seen it about 12 times). From the main song (and accompanying instrumental versions) to the heart-stopping title instrumental theme, this is quality score writing.

As a true blue 007 fan, I rate this my favourite soundtrack, even over the fabulous 'Living Daylights.' I must confess my sadness at what is missing - and hope like everyone else, that the master tapes can be found for the pieces that didn't make it to the original album.

I have both OHMSS and Nick Raine's 'Bond Back in Action'(Which does contain new versions of some of the missing tracks!) By putting both into a multi CD player, and programming the tracks, a fan can enjoy a far more complete OHMSS soundtrack in the order the pieces appear in the movie.

If you haven't seen the movie - do so first. It won't be long before you come looking for the soundtrack!

When I got this CD, from this very page, I thought "Okay. The film was good, and I liked the music, so does that make the soundtrack good?" The answer is: Yep! This is one of the best film soundtracks I've heard. Track 1, by Louis Armstrong, is one of the best James Bond themes I've heard! Track 2 contains clips of Barry's The James Bond Theme and totally expresses the feeling of the scene. And, all in all, this is an excellent soundtrack! I'd say buy it. If you like this CD, I also recommend "For Your Eyes Only", also available on Amazon.com.

This Barry score had the best music of any Bond film. The dynamic opening title theme, which is, in my opinion, the best opening title in the series, is incredible. Some great music came out of this film, including "Over & Out", "Journey To Blofeld's Hideaway", and "This Never Happened To The Other Feller". But, again, like many other soundtracks, this one is missing some of the best pieces of music, like "Gumbold's Safe Break", and "Escape From Piz Gloria" (which have been re-scored on the Bond Back In Action CD). So, I must give this four stars, even though it is the best soundtrack.

The best soundtrack ever made is OHMSS. John Barry did well with THE IPCRESS FILE, soundtrack {i have lp}. OHMSS was excellently produced, especially the James Bond end track. I hope they have forsight to digitally remaster this lp. The cd doesnt do the lp justice.