Lifetime Achievement Sammy Award
John Barry Remembered
(1933 - 2011)
Some years ago, when I was a guest on a local television program, I was asked who I thought were the best film composers of our time. Of course the first two who came to mind were Jerry Goldsmith and John Williams. I also named three others: Elmer Bernstein, Henry Mancini, and John Barry. Now four of them are no longer living. I have named them for Lifetime Achievement Sammy Awards which I believe all four richly deserve.
In the case of John Barry it is especially sad because he was only 77, which isn't that old in this day of longer life spans.
I first became aware of John Barry, like so many other moviegoers, with his distinctive music for the James Bond films, especially GOLDFINGER, which I still consider the best of that long-running series. There were also the songs for the Bond films, like "Goldfinger" and "We Have All The Time In The World," sung so poignantly by Louis Armstrong -- his last recorded song.
Around the mid-1960s, I purchased a Columbia LP album (remember them?) titled "Great Movie Sounds of John Barry." It included themes from several James Bond films including the famous "James Bond Theme" and themes from FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE, GOLDFINGER, THUNDERBALL, and a few other non-Bond themes. I played this LP constantly and wondered if this composer could last very long. Well, I'm very pleased that he did indeed last a very long time and his music has been recorded and performed all over the world.
How does someone pick their favorite John Barry film scores? Naturally, the complete scores are best and here are 10 favorites of mine, listed alphabetically:
BODY HEAT
BORN FREE (Oscar winner for Best Score and Song)
DANCES WITH WOLVES
(Oscar winner for Best Score)
FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE
GOLDFINGER
THE KNACK AND HOW TO GET IT
THE LION IN WINTER (Oscar winner for Best Score)
MIDNIGHT COWBOY
OUT OF AFRICA (Oscar winner for Best Score)
SOMEWHERE IN TIME
All of these themes are included on these four CD compilations,
conducted by John Barry:
The first one is from 1988 and includes many 1960s themes:
The Film Music of John Barry (Columbia CD)
THE JAMES BOND THEME (from DR. NO)
BORN FREE
FUN CITY (from MIDNIGHT COWBOY)
THE LION IN WINTER
WE HAVE ALL THE TIME IN THE WORLD
(from ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE)
WEDNESDAY'S CHILD (from THE QUILLER
MEMORANDUM)
FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE
SPACE MARCH (from YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE)
THE WRONG BOX
THE IPCRESS FILE
THUNDERBALL
THE CHASE
THE KNACK AND HOW TO GET IT
THE WHISPERERS
KING RAT
NEXT TIME (from THE APPOINTMENT)
GOLDFINGER
Next are two volumes with many of John Barry's best known film scores:
MOVIOLA I (Sony CD)
OUT OF AFRICA
MIDNIGHT COWBOY
BORN FREE
SOMEWHERE IN TIME
MARY, QUEEN OF SCOTS
BORN FREE
DANCES WITH WOLVES
CHAPLIN
THE COTTON CLUB
WALKABOUT
FRANCES
WE HAVE ALL THE TIME IN THE WORLD
MOVIOLA
MOVIOLA II: Action and Adventure (Sony CD)
GOLDFINGER
FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE
THUNDERBALL
YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE
ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE
DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER
OCTOPUSSY
UNTIL SEPTEMBER
KING KONG
ZULU
DANCES WITH WOLVES
THE SPECIALIST
Then there is a non-film score CD which I believe is Barry's most personal recording and also his most sensitive collection of themes. This 1998 CD with Barry conducting the English Chamber orchestra is titled after a poetic line from his son,
The Beyondness of Things (London CD)
Many of the tracks on this CD are soothing. John Barry's use of orchestral
combinations on this CD -- strings, French horns, alto sax solos by David White, and harmonica solos by Tommy Morgan -- make this a superb listen for times of relaxation. "Nocturnal New York" reminds me of the nights long ago when I would walk by myself down the streets in New York and take in all the sights, sounds and smells of that great city. "The Day the Earth Fell Silent" with its comforting sounds has given me feelings of inner peace. Anyone wishing a CD for quiet times of reflection, for reading or thinking, should get this beautiful recording.
As with any great artist it is very sad to lose them, but we can be grateful for the music he left us to enjoy and celebrate in his honor.
RIP, John Barry,
Your music continues to shine brightly
-- Roger Hall
See the complete list of Sammy Awards for 2010 here
Do you have any thoughts you would like to share about John Barry's music? Send them to:
John Barry Remembered
Recommended book -
John Barry: The Man With The Midas Touch
by Geoff Leonard, Peter Walker, Gareth Bramley
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