Customer Reviews

James Bond: Back in Action 2

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

 

 

If you love the Bond film scores (is there a life form on the planet
that doesn't?), you really should get this CD without hesitation.
However, if you are like me, you already have way too many repetitive
Bond CDs. With very few exceptions (namely THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH
with music composed by Mr. David Arnold)), most Bond soundtrack CDs
usually self destruct (and flat-out bore you to death) shortly after
the opening-credits cue. Enter Silva "Records" and Mr. Nic
Raine with condensed "suites" of Bond film scores that keep
you from hitting the eject button as a "normal reflex."
Mr. Raine, of course, was the arranger for Mr. John Barry's Bond film
scores. Raine is, in my view, the person who made the earlier Bond
film-scores so unforgettable (sorry Mr. Barry!) and a most-talented
composer in his own right. In a series of releases, Silva
"Records" has discovered that condensed Bond film scores are
what us mortals really crave. This CD is the latest in the
Silva/Raine series that does exactly that (but, alas, in the Silva
"tradition," there are the usual number of repeat tracks
from prior Silva issues--"cheap" is the word that immediately
jumps into the foreground). None the less, test drive this CD, it's
serial predecessors, and the next (hopefully) ones to come. The bottom
line (of course): less Bond is more!

I was somewhat disappointed with this album, because I really loved the first volume of re-recorded cues and "never before released" cues. The best thing about the first volume was all the new cues, even if they weren't exactly like in the movie. Also, the new recordings of old good cues were decent, and a good balance between the old and new was perfect.

Unfortunatley, this second volume has far fewer "never before released" cues, and the repeats from the original albums are too numerous and for the most part not very good. The suites are too jumbled and don't make any sense thematically. For the most part, the music is good material, but the arrangements are clumsy with strange juxtapositions. Also, the orchestra is not too accomplished on this recording, especially on selections from Man with the Golden Gun and Octopussy. The best retreads are from Living Daylights.

As for the positives, by far the best thing on the album are the "never before released" cues, specifically the skydiving music and Chateau theme from Moonraker, and the awesome A View to a Kill fanfare when Bond rescues Stacey from the fire in the same movie. There is also some new romantic material and Nick Nack's (Herve Villechaize) theme from Golden Gun and the overly drawn out Tank chase music from Goldeneye. Nevertheless, I can think of many more cues I would have liked to have heard: The Rosie Reggae sequence from Live and Let Die, several short passages from Spy Who Loved Me, especially all the Egyptian music, The Jazz version of All Time High when Bond dines with Magda and the finale(s)(circus and airplane) from Octopussy, and also the Sax flavored versions of View to a Kill when Bond "cleans up a few Details" plus the Eiffel Tower theme, the Chateau theme, Stacey's first appearance, the steeplechase Escape, etc, etc, etc. Oh, well, maybe there'll be a third volume?

Since I suspect this CD is for hard core fans of Bond or Barry, I'd say go for it. But if you're not to into the scene, I'd say skip it.

It is disappointing that there are no "License to Kill" or "Live and Let Die" cues in this CD. Some of the remaining cues, such as from "For Your Eyes Only" and "A View to a Kill" are unfortunately brief.

On the other hand, the producers _did_ try to condense almost 20 years of music onto a single CD. Compare this to the first collection, which encapsulated about 10 years of music - obviously much more time to devote to each individual film. Ah, if only they could've done, say, a Roger Moore CD and then a Dalton/Brosnan CD. In any case, I didn't really miss "License to Kill" all that much - while it works great on film, Kamen's score here seems a bit too sparse and incidental (bordering on meandering) to really produce enjoyable standalone pieces. ("Brazil" or "Die Hard", on the other hand...)

That said, this is a rather fine collection. What's particularly interesting are the breaks from Barry's scores - the lavish string arrangements for Conti's "For Your Eyes Only" (if only they added the disco cues, but again see above comments) and Hamlisch's jet-setty "Ride to Atlantis" provide an interesting contrast from the string pads and brass fanfare that dominate the remainder of the CD. John Altman's "GoldenEye" contribution is a refreshing interpretation of the original Bond theme.

I happen to have the Rykodisc version of "The Living Daylights", so there's nothing new here for my favorite score of the Bond films. Seems also like they set the drum machine a little too fast for "Hercules Take Off"....

This the third anthology of James Bond film music done by Nic Raine and The City of Prague Philharmonic. The interpretations and performances for this recording are perhaps the best of the three. But as with any review of earlier film scores, there are ups and downs here. The good news is that there are several positives with this recording, including the performances and interpretations. Several of the sutites are quite enjoyable, especially "The Man with the Golden Gun," "Moonraker," and "A View to a Kill." Bravo, as well, to the "new music" from "Golden Gun," "Moonraker," and "Living Daylights." The best cut is "Fanfare" from "The Living Daylights," and this is no surprise, since Raine worked with John Barry on the original soundtrack. The down side includes music still missing: a full pre-credit suite from "Moonraker" and "Octopussy," and the "Welcome to India" flourish or fanfare from "Octopussy." Oddly, the best pieces are all by Barry, and the least impressive are the non-Barry inclusions which still fail to excite despite a noble effort by Raine. The music from "Goldeneye" remains a problem, there is no way around this reality. The packaging is disappointing, but adequate. Overall, however, this is still a very worthy effort and worth the price.

I thoroughly enjoyed the first 'Bond Back In Action', and I really tried to like this. While it has it's high's (like the 'TLD' and 'GE' parts, as well as 'TSWLM' and 'FYEO'), it had it's terrible, crash and burn, lows, such as: what ever happened to 'LALD'?? What, did it suddenly get lost? And doing music from 'TMWTGG'? That was some of the corniest music (Chinese overtones? I know we're supposed to be in the Far East and all, but please spare me).

One of the very first things I noticed when I got the CD: the packaging was very poor and just done very badly (like a trained monkey had put the thing together), and, in addition, the front cover of the case had a big 2-inch crack in it.

Sadly put: this CD could've been better. Lots better.

I like his CD. But I love 1st vol. more. Because, 1) No "Live and let die"and "License to kill" music is here. (I wish to hear "Gun-Barrel"music of "Live and let die" and Sound Track CD of "License to kill" has bad editing!) 2) "Bond 77"(or "Car Chase" music) isn't here. 3) "Hercules Takes Off"is too Fast.(I love that cue!) 4) More musics of "Golden eye" should be here. (Especially "Climax Chase on Antenna"must be!) 5) Most of all, why no "Gun-Barrel"music ? Film version of "Tank Drive Around ST. Petersburg"is welcome, though it isn't so nice cue for me. My best cue on this CD is "Freefall"(Yes, Pre-title action cue of "Moonraker"!)

So , I gave only 3 stars to this CD. But I really wish to buy Vol.3 ! Please never say never again ! (And please more "Gun-Barrel"music for fan!)

Silva Screen presents a follow-up to their previous releases of the most famous "Secret Agent" ever to grace the big screen - "The names Bond, James Bond!". Our bigger than life hero has appeared in many forms - Sean Connery, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan - all capable actors with an aire of complete confidence in saving the world.

To assist our hero are various film score composers - John Barry, Bill Conti, Marvin Hamilsch, Eric Serra and Monty Norman, all have attained immortality and classic status in film scoring. Monty Norman had done the famous James Bond Theme of sorts, but John Barry gave it the polish with a new arrangement, a guitar, different accompaniments and so forth...now recognized world wide as the most popular theme ever.

Nic Raine who was fortunate to work with composers - Elmer Bernstein, Maurice Jarre, George Fenton, Gerald Gouriet and Stanley Myers...but was passionate when he orchestrated two James Bond scores for John Barry - "A View To A Kill" and "The Living Daylights" and conducted both Silva Screen's release "THE CLASSIC JOHN BARRY" and "THE ESSENTIAL JAMES BOND" with The City of Prague Philharmonic.

This latest album "BOND BACK IN ACTION 2", with a faithful and outstanding interpretation in the form of suites which incorporate some of the best "action" cues - some material that hadn't been available before. Nic Raine adapted and changed the material where necessary for the demands of a 75-piece orchestra. This is a "must have" for "film-score-buffs" and "movie-music" collectors!

Total Time: 65:38 on 16 Tracks...Silva Screen 1119...(2000)