Gunbarrel/Traction Table/Gassing The Plane/Car Chase
Bond Meets Domino/Shark Tank/Lights Out For Paula/For King And Country
Street Chase
Finding The Plane/Underwater Ballet/Bond With Spectre Frogmen/Leiter To The Rescue/Bond Joins Underwater Battle
Underwater Mayhem/Death Of Largo/End Titles
Mr. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (Mono)
If Goldfinger proved that the James Bond franchise was box office dynamite, 1965's Thunderball cemented the British super-spy's international appeal--and further forged a set of pop culture cliches that both inspired and e... more »ndured even Mike Meyer's modern, multi-chaptered Austin Powers spoofing. While Goldfinger also marked composer John Barry stamping his enduring influence on the series' music, this fourth installment finds his big band and jazz-inspired arrangements pulsing with confidence, stripped down rhythmic tension and exotic elegance. Tom Jones follows up Shirley Bassey's previous larger-than-life title track performance with a worthy rival of his own, its dramatic, Barry-composed melody interpolated throughout the composer's masterful score. Songwriter Leslie Bricusse (who co-wrote "Goldfinger" with Barry) also returns, teaming with the composer on the emblematic "Café Martinique" and delightfully kitschy "Mr. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang" (originally intended as the film's Bassey-sung theme song, but abandoned and replaced by the film's producers). This new, digitally remastered and expanded edition notably doubles the running time of the original album with selections that bristle with Barry's haunting string and wind arrangements, including two suites comprising 20-plus minutes of the film's concluding underwater intrigue. It's one of Bond's--and Barry's--best. --Jerry McCulley« less
If Goldfinger proved that the James Bond franchise was box office dynamite, 1965's Thunderball cemented the British super-spy's international appeal--and further forged a set of pop culture cliches that both inspired and endured even Mike Meyer's modern, multi-chaptered Austin Powers spoofing. While Goldfinger also marked composer John Barry stamping his enduring influence on the series' music, this fourth installment finds his big band and jazz-inspired arrangements pulsing with confidence, stripped down rhythmic tension and exotic elegance. Tom Jones follows up Shirley Bassey's previous larger-than-life title track performance with a worthy rival of his own, its dramatic, Barry-composed melody interpolated throughout the composer's masterful score. Songwriter Leslie Bricusse (who co-wrote "Goldfinger" with Barry) also returns, teaming with the composer on the emblematic "Café Martinique" and delightfully kitschy "Mr. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang" (originally intended as the film's Bassey-sung theme song, but abandoned and replaced by the film's producers). This new, digitally remastered and expanded edition notably doubles the running time of the original album with selections that bristle with Barry's haunting string and wind arrangements, including two suites comprising 20-plus minutes of the film's concluding underwater intrigue. It's one of Bond's--and Barry's--best. --Jerry McCulley
CD Reviews
The Second Half of Barry's "Thunderball"
G M. Stathis | cedar city, utah USA | 03/06/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The Capital/EMI/MGM release of the "Remastered" and extended recording of John Barry's music for the James Bond epic "Thunderball" is part of their 40th Anniversary tribute to 007, and it is one of the best productions of this extensive effort. The long-standing problem with the original soundtrack recording for "Thunderball" (on LP) began with the use of the album as a promo for the release of the film. The soundtrack was scheduled for production before John Barry had finished his score. The result was a soundtrack that represented only a bit more than half the score. The current release goes a long way to rectify that old problem. The music added to this recording is outstanding. Most of the additional score does represent the second half of the film, especially the climatic underwater battle and the death of Largo and good stuff it is. With what is effectively a full recording of Barry's score, one can now really appreciate just how effective this music was. Without doubt, this is one of the three or four best scores in the entire series and this recording substantiates that conclusion. Very well recorded and packaged, with an incredible price, this is a soundtrack that should not be missed."
Bold, brassy score to the biggest Bond film of all.
James Luckard | Los Angeles, CA | 11/26/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Thunderball was the film that made Bond an international phenomenon. Adjusted for inflation, it's far and away the highest grossing in the series and it has all the requisite elements - a mad villain intent on killing millions with a stolen nuclear weapon, exotic locations, a lovely Bond Girl, an even more gorgeous and extremely lethal Bond Bad Girl - the first one indeed, and one of Barry's most aggressive, thematic Bond scores.If you want to put this CD in film order, rather than the total mess it is here, head over to johnbarry.org.uk where they have a page detailing the correct order. It takes a bit of work, because a number of tracks have to be cut apart and put between other tracks, but believe me, it's worth it. You get a coherent listening experience rather than the schizophrenic order the album had to have because they were contractually obilgated to present the original first twelve cues in the order Barry placed them in 1965."
Barry at his best!
Dimitri Peeters | Belgium | 05/15/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"There simply is no doubt about it! No-one, exept for John Barry, could have scored Thunderball as thrilling and spectacular as this. We've waited for almost 4 decades to get the FULL score released, and thanks to the remastered recordings our dream has come trough. With over 79 minutes (!) of the best music ever written for a Bond movie, this cd is just something you MUST have! It includes the previously unreleased gunbarrel, underwater climax, and all the rest missing on the original release. Its digital performance is perfect on your stereo. It's allmost as if the score tops the film. John Barry truly doesn't have the spectre of defeat..."
Super Bond!
W. Pender | Cathedral City, CA United States | 11/14/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"My thanks to EMI for the remastering and expansion of this outstanding film score. I was always disappointed that the original release omitted so many of the fine cues that played in the film. The expanded tracks including the chase through the Junkanoo festival, the expanded underwater combat scene, all seem to be restored and the sound is fabulous. I'm proud to add this to my extensive Barry collection."
Look Out! John Barry creates a fantastic score again!
Devin Zydel | New York | 03/02/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The score for Thunderball is a fantasic one by John Barry. Now it has been remastered and remixed and sounds better than ever, with new never-before released bonus tracks! John Barry returned after the terrific success of the Goldfinger score and title song to create another riveting James Bond score that would lead on to several more. The title song for Thunderball is performed with the gigantic power of Tom Jones and has the wonderous lyrics of Don Black. Ending the song with a huge finale, it is reported that Tom Jones fainted while singing the last note. The song was a terrific success and charted in the USA and UK at #25 and #35 respectively. However, the title song was originally going to be Mr. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. A song that was recorded by both Dionne Warwick and Shirley Bassey. Two instrumental versions of the song are on this CD, the vocals are on the 30th Anniversary 2-CD Set. The score is atmospheric and filled with mysterious and suspensful underwater music. Chateau Flight is an example of the suspensful action music. There are also the striking tracks The Bomb and Bond Below Disco Volante. A tension-filled atmosphere is in Search For Vulcan as 007 tries to stop the detonation of 2 warheads. The magic here, however is the majestic 007 theme. This time the "007" theme is played over the huge underwater battle. It is now regarded as one of the best versions of it ever used in a Bond film. The classic Gunbarrel music is here as well as the blasting Traction Table music all in one track with many others. The favorite Street Chase track is on the CD also as Fiona Volpe and Vargas hunt down 007. Track is 16 is monstrous in size, with five different cues from the movie. It contains the action music where Bond Joins Underwater Battle. Underwater Mayhem has the clasic "007" theme in it and the track also includes the powerful Death Of Largo. The CD concludes with a Mono version of Mr. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang."
Track Listings (18) - Disc #1![Thunderball [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack]](https://nationalbookswap.com/cd//l/02/4102/634102.jpg)