Customer Reviews

King Kong [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack]

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

How odd that no one else has reviewed this CD before, since it's so lovely to listen to. Fans of Barry's work may already be familiar with his music for "Out of Africa", the James Bond films, and "Dances With Wolves". Perhaps his score for Dino's "Kong" is ripe for rediscovery. If only the rest of the movie had been this lush, romantic, and grand! Max Steiner's score for the original "Kong" is of course a milestone, but Barry's approach to this fairy tale story is more melancholy, more wildly romantic, and somehow just as resonant. His love theme for Jessica Lange's debut character is elegant and irresistable, and his scoring of the darker scenes lends an air of menace and sweep to a film that really needed the boost. To those put off by the idea of "Kong" music, I'd say give this a chance: the feeling you got from other, more famous Barry scores is here as well. He had a way with the epic in movie music, and his wildly melodramatic melodies and arrangements hint at the superlative film Dino's remake could have been.

How odd that it would take a new version of the classic story of "King Kong" to focus more appreciative attention on John Barry's underrated score for the 1976 film incarnation. Barry's music stands out for several reasons. First, he wrote a solid score for a substandard film. Second, Barry's music generally took a new musical spin, quite differeent than that of the great Max Steiner. And third, not unlike James Newton Howard's recent effort, Barry chose to emphasize the female lead character and her relationship with that "goddamned chauvinist pig ape," resulting in one of Barry's best themes. The action cues are typically good, but on this reissue of the original soundtrack are somewhat marred by the addition of sound effects. Barry's choice to score this film was surprising in the 1970s, but his music is an interesting part of the composer's collected works, and well worth a listen aside from the film itself. Nicely produced, and wonderfully packaged by FSM.

What a shame that you never hear good things about the sound track of the 76' remake. I was hooked the first time I heard it and the whole sound track is a gem. Very sweeping and it has a majestic quality to it. It's also very pretty (Dwan's theme) and when something is about to happen in some of the Island scenes there is a ominus tune that I like very much. It's kinda wierd but it reminds me of one the background themes that I've heard in the Lone Ranger TV show.

On the first couple of listens I didn't hear the ominus version that I heard in the film. I hate it when they leave one of the tunes out of the soundtrack. The Godfather is guilty of this also. If you remember the scene where the Godfather was shot and there is a collage of scenes depicting the scramble for power and territory. There is a nice piano being played. I like that tune very much but it's not on the soundtrack and that's dissapointing.

This is one of my favorite film scores from my childhood, but I'll confine this to a warning. If you're buying this album be sure you get the Film Score Monthly release, which is authorized by the studio and made from the album master tapes. The Italian Mask release is a bootleg made from an LP, and is missing the second half of two tracks. The sound quality is not great and your money is going to support thieves. (Although the album is apparently legal in Italy, where copyright laws seem to be much more lax.)

Barry's "Kong" never got the appreciation it deserved. The movie was kind of 'so-so' but the music score helped push it more to the positive. I've always been a Barry fan so I fell in love with the score at first listen. I think it's a sensitive score that captures the essence of Kong and his feelings. It's more than just a 'giant ape movie' afterall. Give this a listen. It's good that it was rescued and remastered.

This is one of the most underrated soundtracks of all time. I listen to it all the time and find it a little to short. If you like movie music, you'll love this one.

The lush, sweeping soundtrack to King Kong from the legendary John Barry, has for many years been seemingly lost to the unforgiving critical eye of time...as many filmgoers have come to revile (unjustly) the campy 1976 take on the great movie beast.

The music is big, foreboding, and tender. There are 4 to 5 unforgettable themes here, and while its impossible to listen to the soundtrack without thinking of the scene it accompanies in the film, it affords a wonderful listening experience on its own. I choked up just listening to the closing theme!

Its a pity this, one of the truly great film scores, is seemingly out of print. If you can find it for a decent price from a re-seller, go for it. Sound quality is good, and there is a decent booklet with plenty of informative liner notes.

I have been a Music Lover all my life and I owned this soundtrack on vinyl. I have been waiting years to hear it again, as I no longer have the album and once my CD arrived, it was truly a dream come true. The music is lovely and if you are a fan of movie soundtracks, this one is worthy of adding to your collection. It was worth the wait!

I was thrilled when King Kong was remade by Peter Jackson a couple of years back, not because I loved that film any more than the original, but because it also rekindled interest in the other Kong remake from 1976. Of all the Kong films, the production from 1976 remains my favorite, and I think a large part of this assessment comes from the film's music. John Barry's score is nothing short of spectacular. And after reading the notes, it's incredible that Barry was able to score such beautiful music under such time constraints. The music is powerful and meancing at times, but also romantic and soothing. I've always enjoyed Barry's scores, particularly his work with the early Bond films, but this remains one of my favorites. My only wish is that there was an extended version of this soundtrack. Still, this is something that I've waited many years to find, and I glad to finally call it my own.

This soundtrack is nothing short of haunting, and at times, as menacing as the great ape himself and the destruction he brings with him. I still have the original vinyl recording, as well as this CD, which sadly, went out-of-print just as quickly as it became available upon Peter Jackson's 2005 release.

The memories of this film and it's impact on my childhood grow thicker ever since September 11, 2001. Definately one of John Barry's best film scores!