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Thursday (April 16):
Today we (3 filmmusic-nerds from The Danish Filmmusic Society), will travel to London,
Primarely to watch one of our biggest composer-idols: Mr. John Barry.
Well, we flew at high noon from Denmark via Brussells to Heathrow Airport. I had never
been in England before, so I tried to keep up with the other 2 as good as I could.
We checked in to our hotel at Earls Court, left our bags, and went into a very large
record store: Tower Records. They had many rare records, but not exactly very cheap.
After eating a duck-dinner, we went and saw a brilliant performance of "The Phantom of
The Opera" in Her Majesty's Theater. Afterwards we was in Tower Records...again.
Friday:
This was gonna be the toughest day (physically). We started off walking at 9 a.m. towards
The Royal Albert Hall (We didn't stopped walking, until around 6 p.m.). On our way to
the hall, we tried to locate the address of composer John Scott, but without any luck.
At The Royal Albert Hall, we tried to get into the rehearsals, or something. As I saw
it, this was impossible. Our society's chairman insisted though, but I was right.
Then we gave up, and walked further into town, visting several record stores: Virgin,
HMV, Tower Records and Rare Discs (Soundtrack-specialists). We bought several scores.
In HMV, we reserved a copy of Barrys new "The Beyondness Of Things" and another score
to get signed and be send to homeaddress, as we were not there, when Barry would be,
on April 23. I bought "The Knack..." there to be signed as well.
On Friday afternoon, we met Richard Kraft and Lyn Benjamin in "Rare Discs" in central
London. I gave them my Golden CD of DWW, and they would try to get John Barry to Sign
it. we also got the address of his hotel, to pick it up the next day at his hotel.
They also said, that Basil Poledouris would see the show. They told us, where he was
seated. We were VERY overwhelmed by this day, and couldn't believe it. None of us had
a Poledouris-cd with us, so we HAD to get out and buy one. I got "Under Siege 2: Dark
Territory". Others got "Wind" and "Starship Troopers".
(from left) Nick Redman, Richard Kraft and Lyn Benjamin.
Saturday (Concert-day):
Again we went 9 a.m. (by underground, as I had a bad foot) to The Royal Albert Hall,
to see if we could buy a concert-poster. No luck, but we could try at the concert.
Then we did the ultimately last buys of wanted soundtracks, and ate a solid lunch, as
we knew, we wouldn't have time to eat much for dinner. Then we walked (again) to
Barry's hotel (BARRY'S HOTEL??? YES!!!), to pick up our scores, that we put in the
hands of his agency the day before. And we succeded. My disc now says: "Best Wishes.
John Barry" on top of the of the outside cover. YES!!!
Then we went back to "Rare Disc", where I found an LP of Petulia, that I bought.
and Kenneth bought a rare promo-LP of Robin And Marian.
The Concert:
We found the seats for Mr. Poledouris, and waited.
We had to make up stories, as the personal at The
Hall was very strict and told us frases like "Can
I help you" and "This area is closed". Then he showed
up with his wife and Kraft/Benjamin. "Mr. Poledouris,
can we...ehh...please get some autographs or so...".
He was very gentle and was amazed, that we came all
the way from Denmark, just to watch John Barry.
Then he mentioned his fond collaboration with danish
director Bille August, on the new movie-version of
"Les Miserables", which we knew about, of course.
Then we got signatures. My copy of "Under Siege 2"
is now signed with "To Henrik. Best wishes. Basil
Poledouris".
I had be wondering if not Michael Caine would attend the concert, since he and Barry are
long-time friends, working together on several occations. And there he was, presenting his
old friend, John Barry. Full of typically English humor, he told us the old story, about
a night in 1963, where Caine was homeless, and found a warm place on couch in Barry's
residence at that time. He couldn't get any sleep however, because of some piano cues going
over the same theme again and again. Caine didn't know, he was the first besides Barry to
hear the famous Goldfinger-theme come to live. And that started the concert:
First section:
GOLDFINGER
WE HAVE ALL THE TIME IN THE WORLD (version from Moviola I)
ZULU (Exceptional version with the exact power the theme needs)
SOMEWHERE IN TIME (Moviola I version. My neckhairs raise to this theme, brilliant)
MOVIOLA (Barry after: "Barbra Streisand didn't liked it". Theme originally written for
"Prince in Tides".)
THE PERSUADERS (Powerful version, waaay above Nic Raine's disappointing orchestral version)
MARY, QUEEN OF SCOTS (Moviola I version)
MIDNIGHT COWBOY (Great harmonica touch by Tommy Morgan)
AMY FOSTER / SWEPT FROM THE SEA - Suite (This has made me more fond of my cd-version)
- TO AMERICA
- NIGHT MEETING
- YANKO ASKS AMY OUT
DANCES WITH WOLVES - SUITE
- THE JOHN DUNBAR THEME
- DAWN ATTACK - PART I AND II
- KICKING BIRD'S GIFT
- JOURNEY TO FORT SEDGEWICK (I always loved the sad intro here, excellent live)
- TWO SOCKS - THE WOLF THEME
- FAREWELL and FINALE (Continue...please continue...I could go on and on with this)
Second section:
BORN FREE (My favorite score. Brilliant performance of the Moviola I-version.)
ALL TIME HIGH (Theme from Octopussy)
OUT OF AFRICA (Theme)
BODY HEAT (Excellent altosax solo by David White)
CHAPLIN (Theme - including "Smile" by Charles Chaplin")
SPACE MARCH (From "You only live twice". Very powerful and strong performance.)
THE IPCRESS FILE (Very powerful and jazzy as it should be performed)
THE KNACK (Equally powerful.)
THE BEYONDNESS OF THINGS - SUITE (Premiere performance. Fortunately I heard some of it in HMV
- THE BEYONDNESS OF THINGS I KNOW, I'm gonna like this cd, when I get it.)
- KISSABLY CLOSE
- A CHILDHOOD MEMORY
- GIVE ME A SMILE
JAMES BOND - SUITE (From Moviola II. Excellent suite...play it again...please do.)
- THE JAMES BOND THEME
- FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE
- THUNDERBALL
- 007
- YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE
- ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE
- DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER
Extra bonus (outside scheduled program):
THE GIRL WITH THE SUN IN HER HAIR (lovely to hear this live, as I only have noisy versions)
Now, the tracks, I haven't commented was NOT bad performances. I just haven't got any
suitable comments for it, that's all.
Sunday:
After the concert, we got a late night-dinner, completely exhausted, none of us could sleep
all that much. Also because we had to get a bus to the airport at 5 am, sunday morning.
but we VERY VERY tired on our 7 ours long trip home, again via Brussels to Copenhagen.
Monday:
I just came to myself again, after my hard but excellent London-trip, i had, writing this.
my foot is healing up again, since I've been so hard to it. But it has all be worth it.
I didn't actually meet with John Barry, but I met Basil Poledouris, and came as close to
Barry as I could. I'm not the same person as before I went to London, thats for sure.
Henrik.
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