A TRULY 5-STAR CD OF THE 60'S SWINGING JAZZ
07/14/1998
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The movie THE KNACK--AND HOW TO GET IT was awarded best picture of the year 1965 at Caines Film Festival. An important reason for this award was the music score by John Barry. The movie almost serves like a music video or a format to present John Barry's score. Rykodisc accomplished a nearly unbelievable enhancement of the sound quality in this CD. It sounds like a recent recording made with the latest technology! As to the music itself, it captures a swinging jazz style very reflective of the 1960's in England. And the music is truly 5 stars! Everyone I have ever shared this music with absolutely loves it!Since John Barry is the original James Bond composer, there are elements of the music that are wonderfully reminiscent of the early Bond music. But John Barry is a master of a wide range of different types of music; therefore, the music is also quite unique. Every track on this CD is great! It is one of those "must buy" CDs."
Swinging!!!
M. C Coulson | 02/04/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This charming and uplifting soundtrack is fast becoming my favourite John Barry score and believe me there's a lot of contenders for that title!
Even without the visuals from the very individual movie which spawned this music, you can't help be transported to the popular image of 'Swinging' London in the 1960's.
As with many Barry scores most of the tracks are variations on the title theme, but each has its own identity. With Alan Haven's groovy jazz organ to the fore it's one of Barry's more overtly jazzy scores. There's some great arrangements with Barry's tradmark swooping strings, bold brass and that sexy muted trumpet used so effectively in his mid-Sixties output. In fact many of the musical styles he used for the Bond soundtracks like Thunderball are evident and there are times when you can almost visualise a tuxedo clad Connery prowling a casino.
If you want to hear well crafted melodies equisitely arranged and performed then look no further than The Knack."
One of Barry's best
James M. Shertzer | Winston-Salem NC | 07/23/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I haven't seen the film in 30 or more years (and suspect it's dated, as all Lester's 60s films have), but Barry's swinging score has often been on my mind. I bought the vinyl mono soundtrack when it was out and later was lucky enough to find a stereo version. It's just great - Lester's visual style freed Barry up and this is score is more sheer "fun" than anything he wrote before or since. It's hard to pigeonhole. I guess these days it would be categorized as "lounge music," but with its ultra-cool organ solos, it kinda sounds like roller-rink music for the ultra hip! The expanded CD seems to include dialogue from the film, which I'm not sure is a good idea. Too bad it appears to be out of print again ... grab a copy while you can find it."
Track Listings (15) - Disc #1![The Knack ... And How To Get It: Original MGM Motion Picture Soundtrack [Enhanced CD]](https://nationalbookswap.com/cd//l/05/6505/346505.jpg)