Customer Reviews

Zulu (1964 Film) (Includes Other John Barry Film Score Selections)

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

 

 

John Barry's music is always enjoyable, and this compilation is no exception. Production values seem excellent. Recording and performance are superb.

BUT...

If you are drawn to this disc with hopes of hearing any of the Zulu warriors singing as they gather for battle you will not find any such tracks here. It is a shame and I was disappointed as I consider their battle songs to be some of the most thrilling and awe inspiring uses of music that I can think of in any movie.

To be fair, since these are all new recordings, I admit I don't know how the sound of 4,000 Zulu warriors singing in unison could have been recreated, but I would have gladly traded some of this disc's sound quality if they could have included some of the original recordings.

I like this disc for what it is, but buyers should be aware of the missing material.

Zulu was one of the first films I saw as a kid where I noticed the music. Barry's score is a soaring, masculine affair, with a big-as-outdoors main theme and a timpani part to die for. Until now, this has only been out on a low-fi mono recording (also released by Silva and others). The new Zulu 2CD sets things right, starring an exciting 20+ minute stereo recording of the Zulu score--virtually all of the music-- which includes music not available before. Zulu 2CD also features Barry scores never heard on CD before: the Hammett and The Deep themes, as well as suites from My Sister's Keeper (no, you've never heard of it), The Tamarind Seed, Love Among The Ruins (a real gem) and an African-themed companion to Zulu, Mr. Moses (which alone makes the CD worth your money). These are all major pluses that any Barry fan can appreciate. Quibbles? Of course: a suite from The Specialist, for example. This is already well-represented on its own soundtrack as well as on one of Barry's own Moviola CDs. Maybe conductor/orchestrator Nic Raine couldn't resist it (after all, who needs another Mozart's 40th, yet someone keeps recording it). I'd rather have had longer suites from the films getting a first playing here like Mr. Moses, or an even longer suite from The Cotton Club (here with a smidge of new music), but oh well. As my summary says, this is Silva's (and Raine's) best effort so far. The first was rather a disappointment, including a sax solo in Body Heat which sounded like it was played by someone who couldn't or wouldn't swing and a selection from The Last Valley sans choir (this is rectified in this new Zulu 2CD, the addition of choir makes this music awesome). The second Silva/Raine attempt showed more confidence and arrangements truer to the originals. On this third entry, the Zulu 2CD, there's no quibbles about the jazz musicians and Raine seems to have a much bigger budget as, in addition to choir (even singing a traditional cover of the rousing "Men of Harlech"), he doesn't skip over synths and mandolins where required. For Barry fans, completists, or novices, this is a great package to get. Hey, buy two and give one as a gift to someone who thinks James Horner's Titanic is the only score ever written.

...the rest of ye will make do with Kenny G. on yer cd's, elevator music in yer brains, and a dull ringing in yer ears."

Whether you are stuck in traffic and running late for an important meeting, faced with cleaning out a garage full of junk that hasn't seen the light of day in decades, or just facing down a few thousand indigenous warriors, Barry's 'Zulu' score will keep your upper lip stiff no matter how great the odds.

I find I have a hard time not growling orders like Cpl. Allen every time I hear 'Rorke's Drift Threatened', or grinning demonically like Cpl. Schiess during 'First Zulu Appearance and Assault".

It is amazing that Barry could squeeze so much energy into a mere 20 minutes of music and still make it last the entire film (well diluted as it may be with Zulu chants)!

It is also interesting to note that the lyrics Barry wrote to the old Welsh paen of 'Men of Harlech' have become the national rugby cheer of Wales.

I think Pvt. Owen would like that.

Like other reviewers, I too bought this album for "Zulu," and I was not disappointed. The sound quality is beautiful, the arrangement is faithful to the original, and the musicianship of the orchestra is superb.

John Barry has a very distinctive sound and his scores do sort of all "sound the same," as some critics note. But "Zulu" is an early score and has a marvelous freshness and power that places it at the very top of Barry's work. This is not background music (although I recently watched the movie on DVD and the music is seamlessly interwoven with the action).

I highly recommend this CD. Many of the other selections are worthwhile (I found his unused "Cotton Club" suite to be a pleasure), but "Zulu" is the highlight of this two-disc set.

As amply demonstrated by this album and the 2 previous Silva John Barry compilation albums, there is perhaps no other composer of film music who has EVER demonstrated a greater range and variety of musical styles over his entire career than Mr. Barry. Just listening to this album, one realizes that there are more undiscovered "gems" of music in J.B.'s canon than virtually any other composer. Sure, everyone knows "Dances with Wolves", "Born Free", "Somewhere in Time", and "Out of Africa", but one need only to sample the selections here from "Frances", "King Kong", "Mister Moses", and "The Last Valley", to be bowled over by the scope of Mr. Barry's music and career over the last 35+ years. Maybe with the success of this album, we can hope for complete CD versions of "The Last Valley" (the bucolic theme not represented on this album is one of the most BEAUTIFUL tunes ever written by J.B.), "Frances", "King Kong", and "Raise the Titanic" (Sorry, James Horner fans; THIS is the best Titanic music ever composed). Thank you, Silva Screen and thank you, John Barry!

I was thrilled to see that the musical score was even released for sale. This is one of my favorite movies, and Barry's powerful score conveys the emotions of the soldiers almost as well as the superb acting. There are other tracks from other movies included on the CD, and some of them are OK. It's hard to listen to the Zulu tracks without wanting to commit acts of bravery.

This compilation is a "rare find" indeed...nothing can compare to the selections on this 1999 release from Silva Screen Records and James Fitzpatrick(all knowing and seeing), quality and excellence is their reputation...this my "film-score-buff" collectors is "keeper".

A master of themes, John Barry sends chills up and down the spine, over twenty minutes of a special treat we receive with "ZULU"(1964), featuring some of my favorite actors Michael Caine, Jack Hawkins, Stanley Baker and James Booth...being the avid "film-score" collector that I am, this is something that I've longed for on compact disc...and to have recorded on "HDCD" plus "DOLBY SURROUND", is an added bonus...not to mention the wonderful arrangements and orchestrations.

Any "film-score-buff" worth their salt would jump at the chance for any of the selections on this 2-CD-Set...but let's look at what else makes this gem so tasty..."THE GIRL WITH THE SUN IN HER HAIR"(1967)---"THE TAMARIND SEED"(1974)---"LOVE AMONG THE RUINS"(1975), great film cast with Katherine Hepburn and Sir Laurence Olivier, outstanding performances and score---"FRANCES"(1982), starring Jessica Lange and Kim Stanley, great performances by both actresses, but it was Barry's score that simply haunted you days later, couldn't lose the tone and mood his music combined---"MY SISTER'S KEEPER"(1986), unfamiliar with this score previously...but not that I've sampled it...will be up there with the rest of Barry's repertoire---"HAMMETT"(1982), good to hear some of Barry's blues arrangements, he is to versatile...this is part of his charm---"MR. MOSES"(1965), who else can interpret Barry's work...but our favorite arranger/conductor/composer himself, Nic Raine...this seven minute Suite, takes you back to the film that is not an epic, but being a Bob Mitchum fan, had to see it and not realizing how great the score was until now...gotta love it!

Silva Screen Records...James Fitzpatrick(producer)...Reynold Da Silva(executive producer)...Crouch End Festival Chorus(Choir Master:David Temple)...and of course our world renowned...The City Of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra...each with their own particular gift for our increasing habit of the CLASSIC FILM MUSIC OF JOHN BARRY.

Total Time: Disc One 49:56 on 14 Tracks...Disc Two 51:40 on 11 Tracks ~ Silva Screen Records SSD-1095 ~ (1999)

I too was disappointed that there was no Zulu war chants on this CD - It really is a misnomer to say that this is the original soundtrack when it is merely the recorded music of the film and not the soundtrack. I have tried everywhere for the Zulu chants but to no avail so it would seem that a spot of ripping is in order - I'm allowed, as I have bought the DVD and the CD and the CD does not do what it says on the tin. However if someone brings out the War Chants used on the soundtrack I shall have my money at the ready.

This was a hard hitting Soundtrack that personally touched the Welsh Blood in my veins as I thought of the great bravery the Mighty Soldiers of the South Wales Borderers, Welsh Men Who Would Not Yield! At the same time I have the greatest respect for the Warriors of the Great Zulu Nation who fought so Bravely. If your looking for music that will touch your very soul the ZULU Soundtrack is for you!

Devotees of this classic film will appreciate the excellent orchestra (city of Prague philharmonic). Better than the original sounds. The "men of Harlech march" is great, even though sung with a Hungarian accent.