Silva Screen has long been an archive for the genius of John Barry, hunting down missing cues and scores from his 100 plus film compositions that have never previously appeared on CD. This 6 CD set greatly expands that repertoire with 119 tracks from 68 film and TV productions ranging from Juke Box Jury in 1959 to his swansong Enigma in 2001. John Barry's career spans over half-a-century featuring some of the greatest scores ever written. Barry has won Oscars for Born Free, The Lion In Winter, Out of Africa and Dances with Wolves and has also written scores for 11 of the legendary James Bond movies as well as countless other epic themes such as Zulu, The Ipcress File and Midnight Cowboy...

The Music of John Barry: The Definitive Collection is a celebration of the work of composer John Barry. The album contains 7 hr, 12 min of music spread over 6 CDs. A similar album to this was released back in 2007. The John Barry Themependium box set included four CDs and I was expecting most of the tracks from there to be repeated here. While some are, they are very different arrangements, the majority of tracks are different themes. So if you own that collection you won't be doubling up by buying this release too.

As a huge fan of Barry's work over the years I was very much looking forward to listening to this mammoth collection of his work. There are quite a few of his back catalogue that I don't own and quite a few I do but hardly listen to. In general I'm a fan of his work for the Bond movies and films like Chaplin, Raise the Titanic, Somewhere in Time and Out of Africa. I was never a big fan of his work on The Lion in Winter, Zulu or Midnight Cowboy (apart from the beautiful theme that is reproduced on this collection).

This collection chronologically runs through the great man's work and give us a sample of the odd forgotten gem as well as providing a large collection of tracks for some movies that wouldn't normally be allocated on a normal compilation album. Here we have quite a large chunk of his scores for Zulu, The Lion in Winter, The Last Valley, Walkabout, Mary Queen of Scots, Robin and Marian and Raise the Titanic.

I own a great deal of the original recordings and you'd be hard pressed to tell the difference between those and these tracks performed by The City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra and London Music Works. Well, apart from 'The Buffalo Hunt' from Dances With Wolves, which is almost unrecognisable.

Highlights for me (and full album's I'll be looking out for - if they even exist - in the future) include Barry's work on The Girl with the Sun in Her Hair; Deadfall; The Appointment; The Last Valley; Monte Walsh; Walkabout; King Kong; Frances; Moviola; The Specialist; Cry the Beloved Country; and The Scarlet Letter.

It was interesting listening to this collection spotting very similar themes between scores that were so close together. For example his work on King Kong focuses on instruments and little flurries that would be repeated in The Deep.

This is a beautiful collection and one that all soundtrack lovers should immediately purchase.

Track listing:

CD 1 (1959-1965)

01 - 'Hit and Miss' (From Juke Box Jury)
02 - 'Beat Girl' (From Beat Girl)
03 - 'Never Let Go' (From Never Let Go)
04 - Beat for Beatniks
05 - The Girl With The Sun In Her Hair
06 - 'The James Bond Theme' (From Dr. No)
07 - '007' (From From Russia With Love)
08 - 'Goldfinger' (From Goldfinger)
09 - 'Dawn Raid At Fort Knox' (From Goldfinger)
10 - 'Theme' / 'Isandhlwana' (From Zulu)
11 - 'Titles' / 'News of the Massacre' / 'Rorke's Drift Threatened' (From Zulu)
12 - 'Bromhead's Safari' / 'Wagons Over' (From Zulu)
13 - '"You're All Going To Die"' (From Zulu)
14 - 'First Zulu Appearance and Assault' (From Zulu)
15 - 'Durnford's Horses Arrive and Depart' / 'The Third Assault' (From Zulu)
16 - 'Zulu's Final Appearance and Salute' (From Zulu)
17 - '"Men of Harlech"' / 'End Title' (From Zulu)
18 - 'Main Title' / 'The Kidnap' / 'The Ransom' / 'End Title' (From Séance On A Wet Afternoon)
19 - 'Thunderball' (From Thunderball)
20 - 'Fight On The Disco Volante' / 'Finale' (From Thunderball)
21 - 'A Man Alone' (From The Ipcress File)
22 - The Knack…..And How To Get It

CD 2 (1965-1969)

01 - 'King Rat' (From King Rat)
02 - 'Main Title' / 'Moses in the River' / 'An Elephant called Emily' / 'The Dam' / '"What Would I Do For laughs"' (From Mister Moses)
03 - 'Born Free' (From Born Free)
04 - 'The Wrong Box' (From The Wrong Box)
05 - 'The Chase' (From The Chase)
06 - 'Wednesday's Child' (From The Quiller Memorandum)
07 - 'You Only Live Twice' (From You Only Live Twice)
08 - 'The Wedding' / 'James Bond Averts WW3' / 'Capsule In Space' (From You Only Live Twice)
09 - 'The Lion In Winter' (From The Lion In Winter)
10 - 'Allons Gai Gai' (From The Lion In Winter)
11 - 'Richard's Joust' / 'Geoffrey's Battle' (From The Lion In Winter)
12 - 'Chinon' / 'Eleanor's Arrival' (From The Lion In Winter)
13 - 'Fanfare for Philip' / 'The Great Hall Feast' (From The Lion In Winter)
14 - 'We're All Jungle Creatures' (From The Lion In Winter)
15 - 'Romance for Guitar and Orchestra' (From Deadfall)
16 - 'Escape From Piz Gloria' / 'The Ski Chase' (From On Her Majesty's Secret Service)
17 - 'We Have All The Time In The World' (From On Her Majesty's Secret Service)

CD 3 (1969-1971)

01 - 'Midnight Cowboy' (From Midnight Cowboy)
02 - 'The Appointment' (From The Appointment)
03 - 'The Last Valley - Main Titles - Part 1' (From The Last Valley)
04 - 'Entry into The Last Valley' (From The Last Valley)
05 - 'An Evening Song' (From The Last Valley)
06 - 'Vogel's Dream' / 'The Last Valley' (From The Last Valley)
07 - 'A Christmas Song' (From The Last Valley)
08 - 'Death Of Captain' / 'End Title' (From The Last Valley)
09 - 'The Last Valley - Main Titles - Part 2' (From The Last Valley)
10 - 'The Good Times are Comin'' / 'Sit Him High' / 'Death of Martine' (From Monte Walsh)
11 - 'Diamonds Are Forever' (From Diamonds Are Forever)
12 - 'Mr. Kidd And Mr. Wint' / 'Moon Buggy Ride' (From Diamonds Are Forever)
13 - 'Walkabout' (From Walkabout)
14 - 'The Children' (From Walkabout)
15 - 'Stranded' (From Walkabout)
16 - 'Night in the Outback' (From Walkabout)
17 - 'Survival Test' / 'The Journey' (From Walkabout)
18 - 'The Three of Us' (From Walkabout)
19 - 'Together at Sunrise' (From Walkabout)
20 - 'The Deserted Settlement' / 'The Final Dance' (From Walkabout)
21 - 'Back to Nature' (From Walkabout)

CD 4 (1971-1977)

01 - 'Vivre Et Mourir' (From Mary, Queen Of Scots)
02 - 'Elizabeth's Ride' (From Mary, Queen Of Scots)
03 - 'Main Theme' (From Mary, Queen Of Scots)
04 - 'Not Through My Realm' (From Mary, Queen Of Scots)
05 - 'Mary And Darnley' (From Mary, Queen Of Scots)
06 - 'This Way Mary - Mary’s Theme' (From Mary, Queen Of Scots)
07 - The Persuaders
08 - 'Main Title' / 'The Game's Afoot' (From They Might Be Giants)
09 - 'Alice's Adventures In Wonderland' (From Alice's Adventures In Wonderland)
10 - 'The Man With The Golden Gun' (From The Man With The Golden Gun)
11 - 'Slow Boat From China' / 'Nick Nack' / 'The Man With The Golden Gun' (From The Man With The Golden Gun)
12 - 'Main Theme' / 'Hitchhike to Darwin' / 'Sail the Summer Winds' (From The Dove)
13 - 'Play It Again' (From The Tamarind Seed)
14 - 'Love Among The Ruins' (From Love Among The Ruins)
15 - 'Robin And Marian' (From Robin And Marian)
16 - 'The Ride to Sherwood' / 'The Ride to Nottingham' (From Robin And Marian) [Film Version]
17 - 'First Love Theme' (From Robin And Marian)
18 - 'Second Love Theme' (From Robin And Marian")
19 - 'John Bursts In' / 'The End' (From Robin And Marian)
20 - 'Prelude and Love Theme' (From King Kong)
21 - 'Eleanor And Franklin' (From Eleanor And Franklin)
22 - 'The Deep' (From The Deep)

CD 5 (1978-1983)

01 - 'Main Title' / 'Love Theme' (From The Betsy)
02 - 'Moonraker' (From Moonraker)
03 - 'Flight Into Space' (From Moonraker)
04 - 'The Black Hole' (From The Black Hole)
05 - 'Hanover Street' (From Hanover Street)
06 - 'The Corn Is Green' (From The Corn Is Green)
07 - 'Raise The Titanic Prelude' (From Raise The Titanic)
08 - 'Main Title' / 'The Mine Shaft' (From Raise The Titanic)
09 - 'To Cornwall' / 'All That's Left (Memories Of The Titanic)' (From Raise The Titanic)
10 - 'The Titanic Uncovered' (From Raise The Titanic)
11 - 'Raise The Titanic' / 'Deep Quest Saved' (From Raise The Titanic)
12 - 'Memories Of The Titanic' (From Raise The Titanic)
13 - 'Somewhere in Time' (From Somewhere In Time)
14 - 'Body Heat' (From Body Heat)
15 - 'Frances' (From Frances)
16 - 'Hammett' (From Hammett)
17 - 'All Time High' (From Octopussy)
18 - 'Bond Meets Octopussy' / 'Bond Lookalike' / 'The Palace Fight' (From Octopussy)

CD 6 (1983-2001)

01 - 'Love Theme and End Title' (From High Road To China)
02 - 'The Cotton Club' (From The Cotton Club)
03 - 'Until September' (From Until September)
04 - 'Wine With Stacey' / 'Fanfare' / 'Snow Job' (From A View To A Kill)
05 - 'Out of Africa' (From Out Of Africa)
06 - 'Suite' (From My Sister's Keeper)
07 - 'End Title' (From The Living Daylights)
08 - 'Air Bond' / 'Necros Attacks' (From The Living Daylights)
09 - 'The John Dunbar Theme' (From Dances With Wolves)
10 - 'Two Socks Theme' (From Dances With Wolves)
11 - 'The Buffalo Hunt' (From Dances With Wolves)
12 - 'Chaplin' (From Chaplin)
13 - 'Indecent Proposal' (From Indecent Proposal)
14 - 'Moviola'
15 - 'Main Title' / 'Bogota 1984' / '"Did You Call Me?"' (From The Specialist)
16 - 'Cry The Beloved Country' (From Cry The Beloved Country)
17 - 'Love Theme' (From The Scarlet Letter)
18 - 'The Story Ends' (From Mercury Rising)
19 - 'Enigma Theme' (From Enigma)

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Darren Rea