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Quartet Records, in collaboration with Universal Music Enterprises, presents a 3-CD box set consisting of the three legendary albums that John Barry recorded for Polydor Records between 1972 and 1976, as well as some singles and curiosities. These beautifully designed albums contain some of the composer's best-known themes, newly arranged and performed, and—in the case of AMERICANS—an original musical work for jazz soloists and orchestra.
Ahead of his first public appearance conducting a symphony concert in October 1972, John Barry prepared a series of suites from some of his most successful triumphs, in a lavish and new symphonic orchestration, specially arranged to be performed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra under his baton. An extensive James Bond suite, a delightful suite from ALICE'S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND, the themes from MIDNIGHT COWBOY and MARY, QUEEN OF SCOTS, the theme from the TV series THE ADVENTURER, and two suites from his two Oscar-winning scores of the 1960s: BORN FREE and THE LION IN WINTER. For reasons still unknown, the suite from THE LION IN WINTER was omitted from the original LP, but since it was recorded and included on the master tape, we happily premiere it on this CD.
John Barry's next album, PLAY IT AGAIN, was recorded during several sessions over the course of an entire year beginning in July 1973. Most of these would be recorded with a smaller orchestra and many would be newly conceived arrangements. Barry took the chance to revisit some pieces that were originally conceived as songs, featuring new instrumental arrangements: THE DOVE, THE TAMARIND SEED, MONTE WALSH, as well as songs from his stage musicals LOLITA, MY LOVE and BILLY. He also provided new arrangements of major works such as WALKABOUT, BOOM!, and previously unreleased themes from TV films such as LOVE AMONG THE RUINS and THE GLASS MENAGERIE, as well as the theme from the TV series ORSON WELLES' GREAT MYSTERIES. During the same period, Barry recorded other similar arrangements for Polydor, which were either released as singles or included on later compilations and reissues of PLAY IT AGAIN, such as A DOLL'S HOUSE, THE WHISPERERS, FOLLOW ME, and different arrangements of his iconic themes for DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER and THE ADVENTURER.
The last album in this collection is perhaps the most special: his first concept album. AMERICANS, released in 1976, was a 36-minute compilation of impressions of the sights and sounds of America, written for orchestra and top jazz musicians. It was an ambitious work rooted in the composer's love of jazz, American movies and the country itself. Barry recruited seven outstanding West Coast jazz soloists: Tony Terran, trumpet; Dick Nash, trombone; Ronnie Lang, alto sax; Jerome Richardson, tenor sax; Artie Kane, keyboards; Mike Rubin, bass; and John Guerin, drums. Israel Baker was concertmaster of the 42-piece orchestra, which was recorded over three days at Glen Glenn Sound on the Paramount Pictures lot. With little promotion and almost no reviews, Americans disappeared quickly from record bins and became a sought-after rarity. But for John Barry, who many years later called it "a thrilling experience," it was an important artistic achievement—and one of the finest orchestral jazz albums of the era. He would employ alto sax player Ronnie Lang frequently thereafter, especially on jazz-based 1980s scores, and in the late 1990s, Barry would revisit the concept-album idea with his albums The Beyondness of Things and Eternal Echoes.
The collection has been painstakingly produced and mastered by Chris Malone from original master tapes. The albums come in three separate jewel cases, housed—along with a separate 24-page booklet—in a handsome hardcover slipcase. Film music journalist and writer, and major Barry connoisseur, Jon Burlingame, provides exclusive, in-depth liner notes.
- Quartet Records
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