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Article - Review
of the expanded OHMSS
Matt
Manning
7
February, 2003
I
shall now attempt, as far as I'm aware, something of an internet
scoop - a review of the expanded OHMSS. Just spent the whole night
listening and re-listening to it and I'll start by confidentally
proclaiming this CD to be one of THE greatest John Barry CD's
there has ever been!
As
you know, they've kept the original abum sequence followed by the
previoulsy unreleased cues. To my surprise, I discovered they have
expanded 4 of the tracks in the original album sequence - "This
Never Happened To The Other Fella" (which now begins with the gunbarrel
logo Bond music), "Ski Chase" (which extends to the music immediately
after the avalanche), "Over & Out" (which, instead of fading out,
goes the full distance to the brassy punchy end) and "Journey To
Blofeld's Hideaway" which is complete (the "We Have All The Time
In The World" march which cuts in half-way through on the original
album is now the second half of the new track "Journey To Draco's
Hideaway". Following me so far? Good!)
As
if the unreleased sections of score now appearing in clear, crisp
magnificent CD sound quality wasn't good enough, many of these bonus
tracks feature music we've never heard before EVER! "Bond Settles
In" (when Bond is being shown his room at Piz Gloria) extends far
longer than what we hear in the film (with echoy, tinkering piano
a la "The Last Deadfall"). "Dusk At Piz Gloria" is completely new
and "Bobsled Chase" is in its entirety. The brilliant "Gumbold's
Safe" also features a short moment never heard before (presumably
meant for when Bond steps out onto the balcony to collect the safecracker)
and it was worth staying alive this long to finally hear this superb
track on CD.
The
cable-car section of "Blofeld's Plot" sounds like it has been edited
down but all the musical ideas present in the film cue are here
(you'll hear what I mean). As far as I can tell, the only previously
unreleased cue NOT present is the ice-rink waltz (when Bond is chased
into the village and Tracey rescues him). I'd hazard a guess that
they decided not to include this 'source cue' so they could squeeze
ALL of the dramatic score onto the disc which, incidentally, runs
for 79 minutes and 48 seconds.
The
front covers are the same as the original albums but the CD case
spines are seethru and black (sporting the words "James Bond 007
remastered") and obviously the back covers are different now with
the new tracklistings.
Well
now you can set your minds at ease. This CD is as great as it should
be. It was worth the wait!!!
I'll
spend all of TOMORROW night going through "Diamonds Are Forever"!
Matt |
