The James Bond Collection

The music for John Barry films has always been a defining feature of the James Bond series and has been reproduced by many artists in a variety of different forms, some remaining largely faithful to the original soundtrack - my favourite was always Geoff Love's of the mid-1970s - whilst some have been more radical, such as David Arnold's `Shaken & Stirred' album of the 1990s.The collection reviewed here falls in the former camp and is a good cheap alternative for those unable or unwilling to purchase each and every soundtrack. But, of course, there are none of the songs; this is strictly the work of an orchestra with additional guitars, keyboards, and percussion. The notes to this set state that most of the "score reconstruction, arrangements and orchestrations" are by Nic Raine. Raine also conducts the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra throughout.This box-set of four CDs contains excerpts from all the official Bond movies from `Dr No' to `The World Is Not Enough'; issued to celebrate forty years of James Bond films, it does not include any music from the last of Pierce Brosnan movie (`Die Another Day') nor any of those with the excellent Daniel Craig. Some of the films have just one extract on this CD set, some have up to six. Some of the extracts are suites. There is a total of 203 minutes of music here. The one notable omission is the theme to `On Her Majesty's Secret Service', ironically the one James Bond movie theme that is purely instrumental. Instead we have the theme enclosed in a `Ski Chase' version.The sound is generally good and the tracks are more or less authentic reproductions of the originals, but that phrase `more or less' is loaded where the purist is concerned. For example, some of the John Barry interpretations on this set are not as warm and full-bodied as the originals. Strangely, the original version of the James Bond theme that opens the set is quite weak. Some of the tracks are segued, so if, for example, you wanted to hear the famed `Capsule in Space' theme from `You Only Live Twice', you have first to listen to `The Wedding'.The sleevenotes give brief details of the plot of each film, a list of stars, and the names of the director and composer. I was expecting a booklet accompanying the box, but none is provided.

For all those for which bond is a must this music will not dissapoint. The 4 disc set is well worth buying and the music quality is excellent. How can anyone resist the style of these tracks-Goldeneye, Thunderball, The Spy Who Loved Me played by the Prague Philharmonic Orchestra and the original James Bond Theme. Every time heard will give the listener time to enjoy. The CD commemorating 40 years of James Bond cannot be missed, the brilliance of the Bond music is remembered.

exelent

I bought this collection to go with other james bond CDs when I saw it was recorded by Martin Hamish who I admire from the recordings he did with Barbra Streisand.

sorry feedback has taken so long i thought i had already posted it thank you it was much apprecieated

I was looking for the James Bond music, and there are plenty here. But none of the theme songs !

This is a fabulous boxed set which has recreated many of the forgotten musical pieces from the Bond films, as well and some of the most popular. I had forgotten many of these pieces as they had blended into the background during the films. The fact that they have been given a classical tinge, in my view, improves many of the tracks. Some pieces have been slowed down to dramatic effect and it is like listening to them in a totally different context. Much better than the standard Bond collections available where the title tunes are just replayed – this collection focuses on a wider selection of tunes and adapts them appropriately to the classical style.This set would be a worthy addition to anyone’s CD collection – put them in your multi-changer, sit back and enjoy.

An excellent boxed set of the best bond tunes played by the fantastic city of prague philharmonic, these Cds combine tunes with a classical edge (the symphonic 'From Russia with Love' is a masterpeice) with the fantasticly modern 'World is not Enough' soundtrack. What it adds up to is a very exciting set of music which could almost be a single peice since the tracks seem to flow into one another seemlessly. Buy this CD but listen to all of it at once, it'll take take you a couple of hours but its a couple of hours of reliving the best bond moments in your armchair without getting square eyes!!!!