Thunderball [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack] [Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered, Soundtrack]

Various Artists (Artist), John Barry (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 25, 2003)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered, Soundtrack
• Label: Capitol
• ASIN: B00008BL8W
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #14,564 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

If Goldfinger proved that the James Bond franchise was box office dynamite, 1965's Thunderball cemented the British super-spy's international appeal--and further forged a set of pop culture cliches that both inspired and endured even Mike Meyer's modern, multi-chaptered Austin Powers spoofing. While Goldfinger also marked composer John Barry stamping his enduring influence on the series' music, this fourth installment finds his big band and jazz-inspired arrangements pulsing with confidence, stripped down rhythmic tension and exotic elegance. Tom Jones follows up Shirley Bassey's previous larger-than-life title track performance with a worthy rival of his own, its dramatic, Barry-composed melody interpolated throughout the composer's masterful score. Songwriter Leslie Bricusse (who co-wrote "Goldfinger" with Barry) also returns, teaming with the composer on the emblematic "Café Martinique" and delightfully kitschy "Mr. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang" (originally intended as the film's Bassey-sung theme song, but abandoned and replaced by the film's producers). This new, digitally remastered and expanded edition notably doubles the running time of the original album with selections that bristle with Barry's haunting string and wind arrangements, including two suites comprising 20-plus minutes of the film's concluding underwater intrigue. It's one of Bond's--and Barry's--best. --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Second Half of Barry's "Thunderball", March 6, 2003

By 

G M. Stathis (cedar city, utah USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Thunderball [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack] (Audio CD)

The Capital/EMI/MGM release of the "Remastered" and extended recording of John Barry's music for the James Bond epic "Thunderball" is part of their 40th Anniversary tribute to 007, and it is one of the best productions of this extensive effort. The long-standing problem with the original soundtrack recording for "Thunderball" (on LP) began with the use of the album as a promo for the release of the film. The soundtrack was scheduled for production before John Barry had finished his score. The result was a soundtrack that represented only a bit more than half the score. The current release goes a long way to rectify that old problem. The music added to this recording is outstanding. Most of the additional score does represent the second half of the film, especially the climatic underwater battle and the death of Largo and good stuff it is. With what is effectively a full recording of Barry's score, one can now really appreciate just how effective this music was. Without doubt, this is one of the three or four best scores in the entire series and this recording substantiates that conclusion. Very well recorded and packaged, with an incredible price, this is a soundtrack that should not be missed.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bold, brassy score to the biggest Bond film of all., November 25, 2003

By 

James Luckard (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Thunderball [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack] (Audio CD)

Thunderball was the film that made Bond an international phenomenon. Adjusted for inflation, it's far and away the highest grossing in the series and it has all the requisite elements - a mad villain intent on killing millions with a stolen nuclear weapon, exotic locations, a lovely Bond Girl, an even more gorgeous and extremely lethal Bond Bad Girl - the first one indeed, and one of Barry's most aggressive, thematic Bond scores.

If you want to put this CD in film order, rather than the total mess it is here, head over to johnbarry.org.uk where they have a page detailing the correct order. It takes a bit of work, because a number of tracks have to be cut apart and put between other tracks, but believe me, it's worth it. You get a coherent listening experience rather than the schizophrenic order the album had to have because they were contractually obilgated to present the original first twelve cues in the order Barry placed them in 1965.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Barry at his best!, May 14, 2003

By 

Dimitri Peeters (Belgium) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Thunderball [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack] (Audio CD)

There simply is no doubt about it! No-one, exept for John Barry, could have scored Thunderball as thrilling and spectacular as this. We've waited for almost 4 decades to get the FULL score released, and thanks to the remastered recordings our dream has come trough. With over 79 minutes (!) of the best music ever written for a Bond movie, this cd is just something you MUST have! It includes the previously unreleased gunbarrel, underwater climax, and all the rest missing on the original release. Its digital performance is perfect on your stereo. It's allmost as if the score tops the film. John Barry truly doesn't have the spectre of defeat...