Search - John Barry :: Zulu (1964 Film) (Includes Other John Barry Film Score Selections)

Very good -- up to a point

John Ginn | Corvallis, OR | 03/20/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"John Barry's music is always enjoyable, and this compilation is no exception. Production values seem excellent. Recording and performance are superb.BUT... If you are drawn to this disc with hopes of hearing any of the Zulu warriors singing as they gather for battle you will not find any such tracks here. It is a shame and I was disappointed as I consider their battle songs to be some of the most thrilling and awe inspiring uses of music that I can think of in any movie.To be fair, since these are all new recordings, I admit I don't know how the sound of 4,000 Zulu warriors singing in unison could have been recreated, but I would have gladly traded some of this disc's sound quality if they could have included some of the original recordings.I like this disc for what it is, but buyers should be aware of the missing material."

The best John Barry compilation from Silva yet.

John Ginn | 04/25/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Zulu was one of the first films I saw as a kid where I noticed the music. Barry's score is a soaring, masculine affair, with a big-as-outdoors main theme and a timpani part to die for. Until now, this has only been out on a low-fi mono recording (also released by Silva and others). The new Zulu 2CD sets things right, starring an exciting 20+ minute stereo recording of the Zulu score--virtually all of the music-- which includes music not available before. Zulu 2CD also features Barry scores never heard on CD before: the Hammett and The Deep themes, as well as suites from My Sister's Keeper (no, you've never heard of it), The Tamarind Seed, Love Among The Ruins (a real gem) and an African-themed companion to Zulu, Mr. Moses (which alone makes the CD worth your money). These are all major pluses that any Barry fan can appreciate. Quibbles? Of course: a suite from The Specialist, for example. This is already well-represented on its own soundtrack as well as on one of Barry's own Moviola CDs. Maybe conductor/orchestrator Nic Raine couldn't resist it (after all, who needs another Mozart's 40th, yet someone keeps recording it). I'd rather have had longer suites from the films getting a first playing here like Mr. Moses, or an even longer suite from The Cotton Club (here with a smidge of new music), but oh well. As my summary says, this is Silva's (and Raine's) best effort so far. The first was rather a disappointment, including a sax solo in Body Heat which sounded like it was played by someone who couldn't or wouldn't swing and a selection from The Last Valley sans choir (this is rectified in this new Zulu 2CD, the addition of choir makes this music awesome). The second Silva/Raine attempt showed more confidence and arrangements truer to the originals. On this third entry, the Zulu 2CD, there's no quibbles about the jazz musicians and Raine seems to have a much bigger budget as, in addition to choir (even singing a traditional cover of the rousing "Men of Harlech"), he doesn't skip over synths and mandolins where required. For Barry fans, completists, or novices, this is a great package to get. Hey, buy two and give one as a gift to someone who thinks James Horner's Titanic is the only score ever written."

"Barry is for heroes, Pvt. Hook...

A. Commentator | 03/03/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"...the rest of ye will make do with Kenny G. on yer cd's, elevator music in yer brains, and a dull ringing in yer ears."Whether you are stuck in traffic and running late for an important meeting, faced with cleaning out a garage full of junk that hasn't seen the light of day in decades, or just facing down a few thousand indigenous warriors, Barry's 'Zulu' score will keep your upper lip stiff no matter how great the odds.I find I have a hard time not growling orders like Cpl. Allen every time I hear 'Rorke's Drift Threatened', or grinning demonically like Cpl. Schiess during 'First Zulu Appearance and Assault". It is amazing that Barry could squeeze so much energy into a mere 20 minutes of music and still make it last the entire film (well diluted as it may be with Zulu chants)! It is also interesting to note that the lyrics Barry wrote to the old Welsh paen of 'Men of Harlech' have become the national rugby cheer of Wales.I think Pvt. Owen would like that."