John Barry: The Collection [BOX SET] [SOUNDTRACK]

Jan Smolik (Performer), John Barry (Composer), Monty Norman (Composer), Nic Raine (Conductor), Milan Zelenka (Performer), Prague Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra), Jaraslava Eliasova (Performer), Noel Langley (Performer)

Product Details

• Performer: Jan Smolik, Milan Zelenka, Jaraslava Eliasova, Noel Langley
• Orchestra: Prague Philharmonic Orchestra
• Conductor: Nic Raine
• Composer: John Barry, Monty Norman
• Audio CD (May 22, 2001)
• Number of Discs: 4
• Format: Box set, Soundtrack
• Note on Boxed Sets: During shipping, discs in boxed sets occasionally become dislodged without damage. Please examine and play these discs. If you are not completely satisfied, we'll refund or replace your purchase.
• Label: Silva America
• ASIN: B00005BADD
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #16,837 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

43 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not the originals but nonetheless pretty good!, May 30, 2001

By	Tim G. Corcoran (Beaverton, OR USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

If it's heft you're after... this collection of 56 classic John Barry scores on 4 CD's is a dream. Arranged in chronological order starting with ZULU (1963) and continuing to Mercury Rising (1998), the collection covers all his major works (14 James Bond themes, Dances with Wolves, Body Heat, Out of Africa etc.) and many lesser known but memorable ones (Walkabout, Chaplin, Robin and Marian).

If there's one disappointment, it's that the performances are gathered from a series of previous releases on the same label. All tracks feature the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra and conducted/arranged not by the composer but by Nic Raine, described as John Barry's "orchestrator of choice". To be fair, arrangements are true to the originals though I feel they sound just a little thin next to the real thing (e.g. JB's own Moviola albums). Still, if you're a John Barry fan, there's plenty to entice you here, particularly you lucky Brits.... Why it's more expensive Stateside is anyone's guess.

Sonic quality is good. I detect a little hiss but can't determine from the box whether the recordings are full digital or not. It's certainly not too distracting anyway.

I own everything by John Barry I can find on CD and I don't begrudge shelf-space to this collection. If you like the price you can't go wrong.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Variety Of Classics!, December 5, 2005

By	Martin A Hogan "Marty From SF" (San Francisco, CA. (Hercules)) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

John Barry has been composing film scores for over forty years and this is only scratching the surface of his productions. Never mind that the entire set is recorded by the Prague Philharmonic; it's pure to Barry's themes. While John Williams compositions ("Star Wars", etc.) are wild and flamboyant and Jerry Goldsmith's (Hoosier's, etc.) are mood pieces, John Barry crosses over all barriers and is amazingly diverse. Barry has recorded most of the exciting James Bond themes, melodramatic classics like "The Lion In Winter' and moody theme hits like "Midnight Cowboy". He also tugs at the heartstrings with compositions from, "Somewhere In Time", "Frances" and "Out Of Africa". He varies his themes for all types of films and few composers capture it so well.

There is over four hours of music in this set with a colorful and informative booklet.

12 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars " one of cinema's greatest composers...John Barry", July 5, 2001

By	J. Lovins "Mr. Jim" (Missouri-USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This collection of four compact discs...are worth their weight in GOLD! Barry creates visual moods for each film he scores...romantic, sentimental, action, adventure, suspense and mystery...the list could go on. Strings, brass and lush-velvet arrangements overlay each cue in his distinctive style of legendary scoring...we have ~ "John Barry:The Collection", Silva Screen's release traces 40 years of film music, featuring "The City Of Prague Philarmonic Orchestra" ~ conducted by Mr. Nic Raine (outstanding)..."Crouch End Festival Chorus" ~ David Temple, Choir Master...perform 56 selections, over four hours of symphonic suites with a full orchestra sound...all individually wrapped-up into one neat package...just the way "film-score-buffs" like 'em!

Must ask the following to take a bow ~ James Fitzpatrick (compilation producer), always in their pitching, Reynold da Silva (executive producer), Nic Raine (conductor, arranger, orchestrator & associate producer), a tremen!dous asset to every project he undertakes...and the man who made it all possible...a legendary icon always leading the way in film scoring ~ JOHN BARRY!

Total Time: 258:76 on 56 Tracks ~ SSD-1128 ~ (2001)

You might try other albums from Silva Screen, all worthy of a good listen ~ "The Essential James Bond" (SSD-1034)..."Bond:Back In Action" (SSD-1100)..."Bond:Back In Action 2" (SSD-1119)..."Zulu" (SSD-1095)..."Raise The Titanic" (SSD-1102)..."Walkabout" (SSD-1120)...check out my reviews on amazon.com/music.