The most boring thing of all is someone who posts the same childish outburst three times in a row.
Stravinsky, I'm really sorry that people liking this score triggers you so much. There are people who can help you with that. If you don't like it, fine, say it once and then quit whining.
But one thing…When I go to Hollywood Bowl, or Disney Center to hear Live Orchestra Music and 99% of Barry’s Scores and Williams and Goldsmith’s …The Violins are All on the Left. This Tamarind Seed Channels have been switched. The Violins are on the Right Channel and Brass and what nots are on the Left Channel. Odd. I guess todays techno boys didn’t have the proper equipment to switch the channels back? I hope Apple has an App. Where I can Convert Back.
I guess Stephen or Geoff, Richard Moore, and Rick Clark didn’t notice that Glaring Error. Come On Guys! Let’s Give John Barry 100% Respect and Justice.
Is it so bad that “glaring error” deserves capital letters? If it makes you feel better about it, pretend you’re one of the players in the orchestra. That’s how they hear it all the time.
I'm a little surprised at that. Is it maybe they have just sold their initial print run and will get more in stock? Although in saying that Silva have been pushing digital releases in recent years, so maybe it wasn't to be available on CD for long.
Well you certainly get some 'idiots' in this forum don't you - but then I was warned a while back. This is the first thread I have followed for 20 odd years and will possibly be the last.
Silva Screen release one of John's finest scores from this period - long overdue on CD - and people complain right, left and centre. TS has been one of my favourite Barry scores since I first heard the end title played on Radio 2's 'Star Sound' by David Bellan in the late 70s. The song too is one of my favourites and I always thought Wilma's MD Barrie Guard did a splendid job on the arranging for the commercial single.
I've given it a couple of spins and can't really complain. We have the full score and alternates (including the complete end title theme - yes!!!) and all that lovely source music to include those charming holiday source cues.
People beef that it's not in stereo or that it's assembled in film order and is repetitive; that the violins are not on the left channel; and then some joker comes along and tells us that the song is boring! What next.
Hat's off to Silva for finally releasing this epic score. Pity we are missing a few source music cues but I'd have to re-familiarise myself with the missing ones anyway. Those holiday source cues are ter-ri-ffic, Tony.
I hope Silva can surprise us with something else in the near future. BTW - it's not showing as sold out or OOS so can still be ordered from them at only £8.99 plus postage.
I've had it on near constant play since I've received it. I also like the single version of the song (nice to have the other versions as well). Sound is actually better than I was expecting. Nice production by Silva in general.
I hope Silva can surprise us with something else in the near future.
Well, back in 1985, I'm pretty sure I was told (probably by James Fitzpatrick, but I'm not sure) that Silva Screen was in line to release My Sister's Keeper, and may have even had the tapes, but it didn't come to be.
That's one John Barry score I would still love to see. Maybe Silva can get us that one?
It's really nice to finally have this score on CD. Brings back lots of memories and the liner notes are very good, too. I don't think it has been mentioned yet that the main title is pitched up and runs too fast though. Probably a 44.1 vs. 48 kHz conversion error. Oh well, it's easily corrected if you have the right software. And it's actually not quite the full score. The opening 45 seconds of "Airport" are missing. They probably weren't available in acceptable sound quality. Musically it's just more of the suspense motif, so nothing major is missing. As for the stereo question, if you listen to the Main Title and "A Drive on the Island" for example, the violins are very much on the left where they belong. Interestingly most of the other strings seem to be there, too, including the basses which are usually on the right. In some later tracks the traditional stereo positions seem be switched, but since the basses were on the left to begin with, it doesn't seem like a glaring mistake, more like an unusual recording/mixing choice. Glad this has been released in the best possible sound quality available.
... this has been released in the best possible sound quality available.
I really doubt that this is the case here. If you would re-read what you just wrote, you would see that you contradict yourself.
The wrong speed of the main title (if that's what it is) should have been fixed by Silva.
And yes, more detailed liner notes about the tape sources would be nice to have as well, especially when the source situation seems to be quite complicated and not ideal.
The Tamarind Seed is a good film for adults - it shows the perverse people operating at many levels of the intelligence services, albeit filmed in glossy colours. It's a pity Edwards ended it with a phoney happy ending.
I also enjoyed the music by John Barry. His repetitive action music stands out very positively for me. But I get that not everyone can love that kind of music.
Die-hard Barry fans should be more relaxed when that kind of criticism comes up.
... this has been released in the best possible sound quality available.
I really doubt that this is the case here. If you would re-read what you just wrote, you would see that you contradict yourself.
The wrong speed of the main title (if that's what it is) should have been fixed by Silva.
I guess it depends on our definition of sound quality (the wrong speed can sound great, too), but yes, I agree, some things could/should have been fixed. I just didn't want to sound too negative. I am happy to have this release. I enjoy both the main theme and the suspense music immensely.
The speed difference between the main title on the film and the CD is about 5 seconds as far as I can tell, which is approximately the same difference you'd get comparing a PAL video to a film copy.
I wonder if this indicates the source of the main title was a PAL format video.
It's not a speed difference most people would notice and indeed I hadn't noticed it till pointed out.
I have now looked more closely into the soundtrack and listened to the music as it is officially available on YT (I do not have the CD).
Two criticisms that have been made so far seem to me to be entirely justified.
1) The sequencing of the pieces in chronological order, as they appear in the film, is problematic because there is far too little variety. To solve this to everyone's satisfaction would be difficult, however, especially with this kind of film music.
2) The sound quality of some pieces is, as others have complained, really not that good. The hissing and humming in some places simply cannot be ignored and detracts considerably from the listening pleasure. "Embassy Party Source Music" is perhaps the best and most regrettable example of this, as this source music would be the most interesting for my taste compared to the other source pieces. - On the other hand, the majority of the tracks sound quite good, I cannot find much wrong with them. - Still, I wonder if a technician with a better hand might not have been able to get a bit more out of the compromised parts than what we got now.
Conclusion: in an ideal world, this soundtrack would probably have been best presented in two separate programs. Firstly, in chronological order (including source tracks!) and secondly, an LP track program on which the real highlights of the music are arranged in a sequence that is varied and offers the best possible sound quality, which would mean omitting interesting tracks that are only available in low quality.
For this purpose, I have put together a mock-up of how such an LP could have been programmed at the time (ideally, it would actually have been a good idea to merge some pieces with crossfades - or even better to record them in a new and improved arrangement):
Face A 1 Play It Again 3:48 2 Judith Remembers 3:24 3 Holiday Source (Cue 3) 1:32 4 The Tamarind Seed Main Title 2:25 5 File 23 3:03 6 Radio Source Music 2:53
Face B 7 Airport 3:59 8 The End (Version 1) 3:19 9 Napalm Boat 2:38 10 The Tamarind Seed Main Theme (Alternate Version 2) 1:50 11 Plane Swap 1:36 12 She'll Recover 1:01 13 The Tamarind Seed End Title 2:13
