The Best Of The EMI Years showcases the endlessly inventive melodies John Barry scattered with fruitful abandon across arguably the most creative period of his career, the 1960s to early 70s. There are 25 tracks, from early John Barry Seven singles to TV and film themes and album cuts, including a good selection of the most famous: "The James Bond Theme", Goldfinger, Born Free, Midnight Cowboy andDiamonds Are Forever. Fortunately, given that there are numerous other collections available, including Themeology: The Best of John Barry, Moviola and The Classic John Barry, this set concentrates on lesser-known gems. Here is a sensuously jazzy "Human Jungle", late night "Satin Smooth", a groovy Beat Girl, kitsch yet haunting "Tears", and cues such as "Beat For Beatniks" and "The Challenge" which play like proto-007 suspense themes. Considering the age of the earliest tracks, the sound is exceptionally good, bringing to life every detail of Barry's eclectic fusion of jazz, rhythm and blues, MOR pop and orchestral scoring.
Tracklisting;
Hit & Miss (Juke Box Jury),
Beat Girl (Main Title),
Beat for Beatniks (film - Never Let Go),
The Challenge (album - Stringbeat),
The Aggressor,
Spinneree,
Satin Smooth,
The James Bond Theme (film - Dr. No),
Human Jungle (TV theme - alternative version),
Theme From The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone,
Tears,
The Party's Over (from the film of the same name),
Cutty Sark (TV theme - Dateline),
March of the Mandarins (single B side),
Onward Christian Spaceman (single B side),
Human Jungle (TV theme),
Goldfinger (title song - Shirley Bassey),
Qublie Ca (single B side),
Seven Faces,
Séance on a Wet Afternoon (alternative version of main theme to the film of the same name),
Mr Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (song fromThunderball - Shirley Bassey),
Born Free (title song - Matt Monro),
Midnight Cowboy,
Diamonds are Forever (title song - Shirley Bassey),
That Fatal Kiss (film -A View to a Kill)
