The Living Daylights: Original MGM Motion Picture Soundtrack [Enhanced CD] [ENHANCED] [SOUNDTRACK]

James Bond Films (Related Recordings), John Barry

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 9, 1998)
• Original Release Date: July 31, 1987
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Enhanced, Soundtrack
• Label: United Artists
• ASIN: B000007O7B
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (48 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #151,442 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
The Living Daylights was the first of the Timothy Dalton Bond portrayals but the last of the John Barry scores. Though the film marked the 25th anniversary of Bond's cinematic prowess, listeners can detect Barry's slumping enthusiasm for the '80s 007 incarnation. The assortment of recording artists accompanying Barry, such as a-ha and the Pretenders, may date the release, but the '80s synth pop sounds a bit refreshing in the face of today's heavier beats. Barry himself even uses several synthesized rhythm tracks. This disc includes almost a half hour of previously unreleased tracks of incidental music from the film, including a typically exciting Bond pre-credits teaser theme. --Joseph Lanza

From the Label
The Living Daylights was John Barry's eleventh complete score for the Bond series, and the instantly recognizable Bond/Barry sound was given a contemporary twist through the use of synthesized rhythm tracks. The CD also includes tracks by the Pretenders and a-ha.Back on CD! Includes additional music!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars JOHN BARRY at his BONDISH best., October 16, 1999

By A Customer

Barry. John Barry.

If you see the film, listen to the soundtrack album, or even read this series of reviews, you'll discover that John Barry's apparent final Bond score is among the very best.

Five out of five stars go to Barry's original music -- and there really isn't a single dud in the lot. Among my personal favourites are the various instrumental incarnations of "Where Has Every Body Gone?," as well as "Ice Chase" (not a creative title, but the fun of the music more than makes up for it), oh hell...the entire score is great.

This is what film music should be. It paints an emotional picture using sounds; and Barry is truly an artist who's in his element when he scores James Bond.

An especially exceptional job was done on the re-issue -- thanks to Lukas Kendall, whose production efforts show that he knows what film soundtracks are all about. The many extra bonus tracks make this release even more pleasurable listening for which we are grateful.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A New James Bond. The last of John Barry., November 26, 2002

By	Devin Zydel (New York) - See all my reviews

For his final time, the man who has created the music for many of the James Bond films, John Barry gives it all for his last, and one of the best soundtracks in the series! A-ha performs the title song, The Living Daylights and it was well recieved by fans, obviously because of the easy route given to them for the previous rock group, Duran Duran. John Barry then delivers some of his best work for the last time. Ice Chase, Hercules Takes Off and Final Confrontation are favorites because of their exciting upbeat tempo.
Another piece that adds to this glorious soundtrack is the additional songs If There Was A Man and Where Has Everybody Gone performed by The Pretenders. Since this CD was rereleased, there are several bonus tracks on here as well. John Barry makes his cameo (and only) appearance in the film The Living Daylights as the conductor of the symphony at the end of the film. John Barry has given us fabulous title songs by many respected artists and additional music that would make us flip! He is the true man that deserves all the credit for the music and this soundtracks is a perfect way to end his magnificent career! A 5 star soundtrack! Hats off to John Barry!

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Barry and Bond Return With "The Living Daylights", February 11, 2000

By	michael g. stathis (Cedar City, Utah) - See all my reviews

007 fans were delighted to hear that, indeed, James Bond was back in "The Liviving Daylights" (1988). The series had disappeared with the last Roger Moore entry ("A View to a Kill"), but had bounded back with the first of two films with Timothy Dalton. John Barry also returned with a solid hit song performed by Aa-ha and an impressive score. Barry produced an extensive instrumental score that included a number of secondary themes, "Necros Attacks," "Kara's Theme," and what has become a new tradition, a second vocal, "If There Was a Man," performed by the Pretenders (actually there was a third vocal in the film and on the album, also performed by the Pretenders, "Where Has Everybody Gone?"). The film included another treat for John Barry fans. If you look closely, Barry can be seen conducting a symphony orchestra. The soundtrack was re-released in 1998 by MGM and Rykodisc in a "Deluxe Edition" that included nine bonus tracks and some action footage for PCs. It is an impressive product, and as it turns out, a worthy tribute to John Barry's work on the Bond projects. Overall, Barry's music for "The Living Daylights" ranks among the best of the Bond soundtracks (and with the bonus tracks, this is one of the most complete Bond soundtracks). The title song provided Barry with a flexible theme that appears in several variations and combinations such as "Hercules Takes Off" and "Assassin." And again, there is a knockout piece for the pre-title sequence, but on this recording (bonus track #13, "Exercise At Gibraltar") almost all of the music for the scene is included. However, one of the best selections here, and perhaps in all of Barry's Bond music, is another one of the bonus tracks, "Final Confrontation," a dramatic and fitting climax to the film, and a worthy coda for Barry and Bond. The disc is handsomely produced, and is something of a must for Barry and Bond fans, especially since, to date, "The Living Daylights" was John Barry's final entry in the Bond series. Barry had been approached to do "License to Kill," but was replaced by Michael Kamen. Since that time, Barry has turned to other interests, and David Arnold has appeared in the recording studio. Given the bonus tracks and the overall production, "The Living Daylights" is what Bond and Barry fans would love to see with every soundtrack.