Vol. 1-50 Years of the Music of Laurie Johnson [Import]

Laurie Johnson | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 30, 2006)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Edsel Records UK
• ASIN: B000UTOL42
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #188,509 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

2007 three CD anthology from one of the UK's finest composers. Laurie Johnson is responsible is for some of the best-loved TV themes ever: The Avengers, The Professionals, Animal Magic and This is Your Life (all featured here), to name but a few. But in his 60 year career he has also written many film themes, classical works and even works for military bands. These works have never previously been presented together in one set. This slipcased triple disc set has been compiled, annotated and mastered from the original mastertapes by Laurie Johnson himself, and packaged with photos and memorabilia from his own collection. Disc One contains seventy minutes' worth of music from sixteen different episodes of The Avengers, available on CD for the first time ever. Disc Two features Laurie's themes for The Professionals, Animal Magic, Whicker's World, This Is Your Life, Dr. Strangelove and many more. Disc Three collects some of his adventurous works for military bands, including a piece composed for the 2007 Falklands 25 remembrance. Edsel.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Long-awaited Avengers music, August 19, 2008

By 

Charles Hall (Raleigh, NC USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Vol. 1-50 Years of the Music of Laurie Johnson (Audio CD)

I got this disc as part of the 3-disc set of Laurie Johnson's music. I must say that the other two discs are not particularly interesting. Some of the other TV show themes are about all that stick in your mind.

BUT, the Avenger's tracks are excellent. I guess you have to remember the show to appreciate it, but if you do the music will really bring back satisfying memories. This music has simply been unavailable before. I believe perhaps a couple of episode's music found their way onto an older Avengers LP, but this CD is much more fulfilling. Really a must-have for Avengers fans, especially of the Emma Peel era.

One warning, even among the Avengers tracks, there are about 3 duds, mostly dance music for what must have been a slow-moving episode!

Nevertheless, I have enjoyed this CD immensely, and looked up many of the old shows to see how the music fitted in.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars All You Could Want... BUT, April 12, 2011

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Jason M Rosenberg - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Vol. 1-50 Years of the Music of Laurie Johnson (Audio CD)

I mainly bought this set for Disc 1... The music from THE AVENGERS. What makes it especially enticing to me was that it was music from the Diana Rigg era, mostly the color episodes, which I remember best.

While it has been noted before that the title music is NOT from the Emma Peel era, what has been left out of most reviews is that the TAG SCENE music also does not fit the profile of the majority of the episodes listed, and this is what I found especially upsetting.

For my money, the TAG SCENE music ranks right up there with what is listed as A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE TRAIN STATION as being the most memorable music from this time in the series. The included music from A FUNNY THING HAPPENED... was used a few times to great affect as "fight music" between Steed, Emma and the bad guys.

The TAG SCENE music which I was hoping for would be the light, airy music for when Mrs. Peel discovered a note that said that she was needed, or when Steed popped up to say the same. This same music was also used for the coda at the end of each episode. And yet, the TAG SCENE music here is certainly not that. I have been looking for a clean version of this music for years. And now, $20 poorer, it looks like I shall keep looking.

If that doesn't bother you, I highly recommend this purchase. Just know before you buy.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Laurie Johnson Fans Rejoice, January 12, 2009

By 

ce_4 (Brookfield, IL USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Vol. 1-50 Years of the Music of Laurie Johnson (Audio CD)

but everyone else, be careful. There are a few monaural selections, and a couple of tracks that can't be from the original sources. Most of the music is very well recorded and some is pristine. Laurie Johnson is an accomplished and versatile composer with a big band background. I enjoy this music, but some of it isn't to my taste. He included his popular commercial projects on one disc, rousing marches and military flavor on another disc.

Avengers fans will enjoy The Avengers disc... HOWEVER... note that the main titles are from the Linda Thorsen era, NOT the Mrs. Peel era. For that, the Internet is host to a stereo version recorded by Laurie Johnson in the sixties that is extremely faithful. He's recorded the Theme with other than the original orchestra, too.