Customer Reviews

Vol. 1-50 Years of the Music of Laurie Johnson

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

 

 

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.

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.

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.

For those of us old enough to remember The Avengers in its original run this set by Laurie Johnson is most satisfying. For me it was a joy to hear cues from some of my favorite episodes. Unfortunately there are two CDs of music that can only be decribed as easy listening. Not bad of its type but not up the standard of the Avenger cues.
The graphics are superior as is the backround material on Mr. Johnson's long career.

Before my purchase of Volume 1 I recognized only two pieces by Laurie Johnson, the theme song for The Avengers and his adaptation of "When Johnny Comes Marching Home" for Stanley Kubrick's Doctor Strangelove. That was enough to make me curious to hear more...

Disc 1 is music from The Avengers, a television series I never quite caught onto, in fairness because I'd a very limited opportunity to view though I full well acknowledged Diana Rigg. The theme is ubiquitous, but the variety of musical styles impressive, and the occasional fondness for the lower registers reminds of Bernard Herrmann. The music is easy to listen to but not easy to play, and as Johnson himself admits he had very talented musicians on hand. Listen to these tracks in "mono."

The Disc 2 Television Themes and Singles are listenable. The theme for The New Avengers, a television series I'd not seen at all, starts with its predecessor, then gets "fun-kay." Petula Clark surprises with a Gershwin tune. The Film Themes show range, half are evocative, and two become extended suites in Volume 2.

But the genuine surprise on Disc 2 is Johnson's symphony "Synthesis," scored for orchestra and "jazz group." Its five movements readily compare with Duke Ellington's similar forays, with just a hint of one of Villa-Lobos's Bachianas Brasileiras, and rare indeed is a recording that makes me want to see and hear the piece performed live.

Disc 3 provides yet another surprise and ample proof that Johnson knows precisely what to do with a concert band and martial tempo. The Royal Tour Suite and To The Few (commissioned for the fiftieth anniversary of The Battle of Britain) are my picks from among the Royal Military Spectacular. Concert and symphonic bands Stateside should take note of Johnson's repertoire.

On the whole, an effective introduction to the works of a multifaceted talent that prompted me to purchase Volume 2, which I've also reviewed...

Yes, The Avengers Music is awesome, but I have to disagree with other reviewers who say the other music is lacking in value. I haven't listened to the military disk yet, but had to say the second disk has some stunning cuts, simply stunning... There are many gems most notably tracks 19-23 which make up a concert hall work "Symphony (Synthesis)." if you love big band and the sound of 60's swing swirled with flavors of Debussy, this is totally, totally incredible. I'm enjoying it MORE than the Avengers cues. It really feels like this was Laurie Johnson's baby. I've rarely had the chance to hear something so rich, full, sexy, romantic and powerful except maybe from Stan Kenton. Just had to say it...

The first disc is excellent! The other two I couldn't care less about. Minus 1 star for making me spend the extra money.

Nice collection, but would have been nice to have included the stereo recording of the original Avengers theme on the set.