Customer Reviews

Thunderball: Original Motion Picture Sound Track

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

 

 

Ever since "Thunderball" was issued on CD it has contained a defect. I have purchased 3 copies through the years and they all contain the same defect.

On Track 5 titled "The Bomb" at exactly 2:40 and 2:41 minutes the sound goes dead and then skips a note as it returns. This is one of John Barry's best tracks on this album and it just ruins it, for me at least. I purchased my third copy just this last summer thinking the problem would have been corrected after all these years. It has not.

As an interesting note, when this album was issued on Liberty audiocassette it did not contain this defect. When Liberty reissued the audiocassette simultaneously with the "Thunderball" CD it too contained the same defect. If you own these on audiocassette you will note that the serial numbers for both audiocassettes are different.

Definately, one of my favorite John Barry scores for the 007 series. Even more than GOLDFINGER, the previous James Bond adventure, THUNDERBALL perfectly captures the essense of Bond and his world.

In fact, you could say that the 007 music fully evolved with this film. Unlike the sparse sounding music of the first three films, THUNDERBALL has a fully orchestrated sound filled with exciting musical motifs.

My personal favorite is the pre-title music "Chateau Fight," which fully captures the intensity of the moment where 007 confronts a cross-dressing SPECTRE agent which results in a rather nasty fight, which climaxes when 007 dons a crash helmet and a jet pack.

My only dissapointment is that this score is from the first half of the film. The second half which features the climatic underwater battle can be heard in the 30th Anniversary album. It's a shame that MGM hasn't combined the halves into one.

But, that quibbling aside, this is definately one of the best early scores.

I believe some else of the reviewers of this soundtrack mentioned the word "underrated". That's true. I would say that this soundtrack is a little TO dark and mysterious to be the best Bond-soundtrack, but I rate it very high on my list. To start with, the dark songs on this soundtrack really is great, and those are what you associate this soundtrack with. The following songs are of this type: Track nr 3: "The Spa", Track nr 4 "Switching the Body" and Track nr 5 "The Bomb"(should be named "The Bombs", I think!). The best of those songs are "The Spa", but "The Bomb"-theme is also good. And just how marvellous isn't the beginning of "The Bomb"? The soundtrack is also filled with instrumental versions of the songs "Thunderball " and "Mr. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang"(which is instrumental on the soundrtack as well, but there exist vocale versions of this song, in one sings Shirley Bassey and in the other Dionne Warvick). The beatufil "Cape Martinique" is a version of "Mr Kiss...", and so is "Death of Fiona". Instrumentals of "Thunderball" are Tracks nr 7 (of course) and nr 9 "Bond below Disco Volante". (in an action-version) The action-song "Chateau Flight", from the beginning of the film, is superb and a great and cool version of the Bond-theme. The classic "007"-theme returns, here in the strangest way it ever appeard. The version is quite cool, but I can't compare it with the original, cause it is in a total different way. But I am missing the action-music from the end of the film, when they are fighting at Disco Volante. (this theme is also played shortly when Bond runs away from Fiona during the Junkanoo) It's one of Barry's absolute best action-themes, and to have that song on the soundtrack that would have made it incredible. But as usual we Bond-fans doesn't get all we want. The three best songs: Track nr 2: "Chateau Flight" Track nr 3: "The Spa" and Track nr 8: "Death of Fiona"

The top three James Bond scores were all the work of John Barry: "On Her Majesty's Secret Service," "Goldfinger," and "Thunderball." Barry's music for "Thunderball" is often underrated, however. The score is outstanding and Tom Jones' rendition of the title song is both powerful and representative of what most people expect a Bond title to be. In fact, there was another vocal, "Mr. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang," that was recorded by both Shirley Bassey and Dionne Warwick and it too is really quite impressive. This song is included instrumentally on the soundtrack and both vocals are found on the double disc, anniversary "The Best of Bond." Vocal songs aside, Barry's score for "Thunderball" is dynamic; it is dramatic, powerful, and menacing to be sure, but also laid back in places as with "Mr. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang." Again, Barry's music for the pre-title sequence is stunning and can stand as almost a mini-soundtrack all by itself. Sadly, as with other early Barry scores, there is music that is not included on the original soudtrack and cd, but the good news is that the anniversary album includes a wonderful Barry conducted suite replete with music absent from the soundtrack recordings. Given the material that is readily available, an expanded album (with both songs and the suite) is possible and would be a welcome offering. The current recordings are a must for any Bond fan, or the many students of John Barry's work.

This is one of the best james Bond soundtracks by John Barry. The Tom Jones' vocal has real power. A spectacular and haunting score. It really has that 'Bond Sound.' Highly recommended!

Sassy, brassy, exciting and fun. Sometimes dark and deadly. Not only is this a description of Bond, but of the soundtrack to "Thunderball," one of Barry's better efforts. This movie had Bond escaping death so many times, and it's reflected in pieces like "Chateau Flight" and "Death of Fiona." "Mr. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang" and "007" are classic Bond pieces, although "007" appears in a different arrangement on the "From Russia, With Love" soundtrack. And then there is Tom Jones doing a memorable job with the main theme. The soundtrack misses five stars because of the plodding pace on a couple of the pieces like "Finding the Body" and "The Bomb" as well as the omission of Fiona's theme. Otherwise, a great soundtrack.

The 4th James Bond movie. Tom Jones creates a true masterpiece with his title song that is played in many versions throughout the movie. With a powerful voice, inspired lyrics and slam-bang ending to the song Thunderball is a James Bond theme of the highest order! What is also interesting, is that this soundtrack also includes a alternate title song in it's instrumental version- Mr. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. Previously recorded by Dionne Warwick and Shirley Bassey, it was decided that Thunderball should be the title song, but this song was put in the movie, where 007 dances with femme fatale, Fiona Volpe. Fantastic music. Two stunning songs. Look Out! John Barry has done it again!

In view of the fact that the title song almost didn't got written, this soundtrack is really good. It's one of those soundtracks that you like, but you don't know why.
The music for the underwater scenes is really great and it's also interesting to hear the alternate title song "Mr. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang".

This soundtrack is a very good soundtrack. THUNDERBALL is a pretty good title song, and is one of the better one's because of its good lyrics. It is sung very well by Tom Jones, and the orchestra is just superb. Tracks 3 and 4 include haunting music that is played for the scenes at the health spa, and 5 and 9 include the music for the underwater sequences which perfectly captured the underwater feel.

Highlights of this soundtrack are:
"Chateau Flight" which is an extremely fast-paced song starting out with calm music as the "widow" arrives at "her" house to find James Bond sitting in a chair. Then James Bond punches
"her" and the fast-paced fight music starts. "The Bomb" which starts out with exciting music and then goes into tense music, which perfectly captures the mood of the underwater theme in Thunderball. "Cafe Martinique" is a beautiful orchestral version of the Thunderball theme, and is played primarily by strings. "Search For Vulcan" is a tense and exciting song, perfectly capturing the mood of the scenes where Bond and Leiter search for the lost Vulcan. Then of course "007" which is an updated version of the "007 Takes The Lektor" theme from From Russia With Love. It was played during the underwater battle scene, but for some odd reason I think it leaves out a few parts.

The other highlights of this soundtrack are the missing tracks. Some of the underwater battle music was missing, the fight on the Disco Volante music was omitted, the break-in at Palmyra, and other songs from the movie. But the music is so good that the soundtrack is redeemed from the obvious absence of some music from the movie, and only loses half a star.

The music is very good, and fortunately some of the best songs are not missing like "Chateau Flight" and "Bond Below Disco Volante". A must buy for Bond music fans, and one to consider for people who like good movie soundtracks.

This soundtrack is a very good soundtrack. THUNDERBALL is a pretty good title song, track 2 is a very exciting track, and ones like track 3 and track 10 are very mysterious and sneaky. A very good soundtrack, complete with mysterious tracks, action tracks, sneaky tracks, and mellow tracks. If you like those qualities that I just named in music, then definitely get this soundtrack.