Search - John Barry :: Robin and Marian (New Digital Recording of the Complete Score)

Can someone else please try doing these Barry re-recordings?

P. Greenhill | 11/23/2001

(2 out of 5 stars)

"I don't know what it is with Nic Raine. I keep thinking he'll get better at this, but he doesn't. It's always, to quote a John Barry song, hit and miss. Unlike the other reviewers here, I do own a recording of the LP (not the bootleg made from laser disk, but the actual LP). Why does Raine change those two, long dissonant chords at the end of The Fight Must Go On? They capture musically the cutting and slicing seen in the movie. Instead, they're replaced by short, non dissonant lines. There are also a number of places where the interval is a full step off from the original (not through poor playing, just arranging). Raine did this with the timpani flourish at the end of Zulu and The Human Torpedo from You Only Live Twice. It drives me NUTS! Also, the LP contained a version of the love theme with lyrics (no credit was given) and I sure would have liked to have heard this reprised (it was not used in the movie). This is still the only Robin and Marion we have right now and while the CofPP often (yes, often) comes in sloppily on a downbeat, Raine manages to keep them together for the most part and the conducting and recording usually has a nice balance among the instrument sections and solos. Engineering is crisp. Even though it's not Barry's original (and not all the notes are right, sigh), as usual, it's not bad, just not all it could be. If Raine was Barry's occasional orchestrator, my question, why can't he use the original scores?"

One of Barry's best scores given a stunning re-recording.

P. Greenhill | London, -- England | 02/14/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"'Robin and Marian' was released in UK in early 1976 and had the dream team of actors, Sean Connery and Audrey Hepburn supported by John Barry's score. The film was initially much underrated but has started to win appreciation in recent years.Barry was brought in at a late stage following the rejection of a soundtrack composed by Michel Legrand. In just a few weeks, Barry created a fantastic score which works wonderfully for the film. Haunting romantic music is complemented by exciting action cues. The music from 'Robin and Marian' has not been available on CD apart from an awful sounding bootleg taken from the DVD. The original tapes are said to have been lost but Silva have done a wonderful job of recreating the whole score including alternate cues.'Robin and Marian' is one of John Barry's finest scores and this CD is highly recommended."

As Good As John Barry Can Be

J. Lovins | 11/13/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"True John Barry fans will absolutely "love" this soundtrack. I have enjoyed the Robin and Marian music since I first saw the movie but could only enjoy the theme on the "Films of Audrey Hepburn" CD with "John Bursts In/The End" and Nic Raine's "Out of Africa" compilation. This new "Robin and Marian" score mixes what I believe is one of his best love themes with action pieces and happy go lucky fare. Just listen to "The Ride to Sherwood/Ride to Nottingham" (both film & original versions) and not say "WOW!" The love theme is highlighted in 10 of the 15 tracks and it is right up there with "Somewhere In Time" and "Out of Africa." Any John Barry fan purchasing this CD will NOT be disappointed and I'm glad Nic Raine has brought John Barry's music to the forefront over the years."