John Barry dies. James Bond Composer

[Life Saab Itch]

The BBC are reporting that John Barry has died aged 77 of a heart attack.

He won 5 Oscars in his career, but he is probably best known for composing the scores for most of the James Bond movies.

[singlecoil]

He hadn't been looking healthy for a long time.


Easily the best film composer of all time.

[Eric Mc]

Ironically, although he is the most prolific writer of Bond themes, he isn't credited with THE actual Bond theme - which has always been accredited to Monty Norman (although the final arrangement was by Barry).

[singlecoil]

Eric Mc said:

Ironically, although he is the most prolific writer of Bond themes, he isn't credited with THE actual Bond theme - which has always been accredited to Monty Norman (although the final arrangement was by Barry).

Not always, there had to be a court case to settle it. It wasn't brought by Barry, although he was a witness. Norman was suing a publication that claimed that Barry had written it.

[marctwo]

RIP

[Eric Mc]

Pedantic or what

Every album I've ever seen with the Bond theme on it has always had Norman down as the composer (I used to be a Bond nut in my younger days).

I saw Barry being interviewed about the original theme and his personal opinion is that he should really have been listed as a co-writer. It was Barry who came up with siganture guitar solo at the start. He also laughed that he had never received royalties on the the theme, only a one off £50 recording fee.

[singlecoil]

Eric Mc said:

Pedantic or what

Every album I've ever seen with the Bond theme on it has always had Norman down as the composer (I used to be a Bond nut in my younger days).

I saw Barry being interviewed about the original theme and his personal opinion is that he should really have been listed as a co-writer. It was Barry who came up with siganture guitar solo at the start. He also laughed that he had never received royalties on the the theme, only a one off £50 recording fee.

Sorry, wasn't trying to suggest that there had ever been any dispute as far as the film makers were concerned. But there was a court case about it, so that has always been some doubt. I've been a John Barry fan for a long time, and a Bond film fan (the Saltzman/Broccoli franchise) since they first came out.

The first Bond theme that really elevated him to a different plane altogether was You Only Live Twice, IMO, and if that wasn't enough, he then followed it with the astounding love song from OHMSS, We Have All the Time in the World.

[Parrot of Doom]

The John Dunbar theme from Dances with Wolves is one of the most evocative pieces of music I've ever heard. Just listening to it instantly evokes thoughts of the great open plains of the US.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHvKviaeulg

[singlecoil]

Parrot of Doom said:

The John Dunbar theme from Dances with Wolves is one of the most evocative pieces of music I've ever heard. Just listening to it instantly evokes thoughts of the great open plains of the US.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHvKviaeulg

Absolutely.

The part that I like the best from that film (easily the best Western of all time) is the end scene. it would still be good with ordinary music, but with John Barry's, then it is truly outstanding.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlSZd8MNayE

edited to replace link with a better clip

Edited by singlecoil on Monday 31st January 11:19

[Asterix]

Barry was a legend - RIP.

[Eric Mc]

Hwe also wrote the music for the 1960s/70s Sunsilk hair shampoo ads - usually referred to as "The Girl With the Sun in Her Hair".

And the theme music from "The Persuadors".

[Zaxxon]

He did the theme to Zulu, legendary status for that alone. But with all of his other work, 'Nobody does it Better'





Yes I know it isn't one of his, but still apt.

[Eric Mc]

My least favourite Bond song (although I like it as a piece of music - I just don't think it suited a Bond film).

Marvin Hamlish wrote that one.

[HOGEPH]

Whoever wrote it, one of the best cover versions is by the Brian Setzer Orchestra!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNvWdoDnYtE

[Eric Mc]

Not a Barry tune - really.

Midnight Cowboy is one of my favourite themes - although the intro is very like the intro to You Only Live Twice.

Composers often repeat passages they like.

[elster]

Amazing composer.

He also went to the same school as me and is possibly one of the 2 most famous people who went there.

The other being guy fawkes.

[Eric Mc]

elster said:

Amazing composer.

He also went to the same school as me and is possibly one of the 2 most famous people who went there.

The other being guy fawkes.

Were you all in the same year?

[elster]

Eric Mc said:

Were you all in the same year?

Indeed it has been a hard slog the past 430 years since we met at school.

[singlecoil]

Eric Mc said:

Midnight Cowboy is one of my favourite themes - although the intro is very like the intro to You Only Live Twice.

Composers often repeat passages they like.

You know, until you pointed that out, I had never noticed that. And that is despite being very familiar with both of them since they first came out! Not for lack of hearing them either, I have several different versions of each of them, and will ocassionaly strum the chords of YOLT on the guitar (never learned the Midnight Cowboy theme, seeing as it doesn't have words).

[Laurel Green]

Very sad. RIP, JB.