Search - John Barry :: Best of

Bond and beyond on an excellent career retrospective.

Christopher Derer | Blue Bell, PA USA | 08/25/1998

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Imitation is often considered the greatest form of flattery. John Barry's oeuvre has been sampled by dozens of contemporary musical artists, and he is often credited as being the godfather of "trip hop" (check recent albums by Portishead and Mono to hear the Barry influence). The Academy-award winning composer has been producing music for over forty years, but this collection focuses on the artist's most commercially successful period, the 1960's. The instantly recognizable and inimitable Barry style is well documented throughout 23 varied compositions. Selections range from classic to obscure, and include all the title tracks from the early James Bond soundtracks. Barry's film and television music is the defining sound of that era - lush orchestrations, cool jazzy riffs, pure excitement. "Themeology" is an excellent starting point for the novice collector and equally attractive for the long-time admirer."