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Readers might like to know of a book just out with some links to John Barry. ‘The Session Man - the story of Bobby Graham’, is a fascinating and extremely frank account of the life and times of drummer Bobby Graham, who was one of Barry’s first signings to Ember Records and who led the John Barry Seven after Vic Flick departed for session work.

Graham soon followed Flick into session work and the pair worked on countless pop hits of the sixties, often doing the work on sessions that the group members themselves were not good enough to perform. Indeed, Bobby was Dave Clark on all the Dave Clark 5 hits - a fact which Clark sought to conceal for many years!

Thoroughly recommended and very reasonably priced, too, at £8.99 pounds including postage (to the UK).

You can order the book direct from the publishers via a link from Bob’s web-site - do it now and it might even arrive in time for Christmas!!

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In addition to the previously reviewed Platinum Corp and Aussie DVDs of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, there are now four more versions available. These new offerings were found on Amazon.com. Check out our Alice page.

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"Billy" to be released on CD on December 6. Through Dress Circle London. Source: Michael Crawford International Fan Association. Though HMV website also announces the release, for November 29.

Update!! "Dress Circle have got together with Sony to bring you this much sought after Musical Gem for a strictly limited period. This recording will not be available in any other store! "

Direct ordering link

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Ain't It Cool News interview with Brad Bird director of The Incredibles. Bird explains later on in the interview why JB wasn't involved in the end. Interesting read.

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Barry made-for-TV films Corn is Green and Love Among The Ruins (both starring Kate Hepburn) are being screened at the National Film Theatre in December as part of a George Cukor season. Rarely shown on TV in the UK, they might both be worth catching if you can.

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A spokesman for Geoff Leonard has said in a statement that the "John Barry - The Man With The Midas Touch" book won't be out this year now.

It's been one delay after another. Spring 2005 is the best guess at this stage."

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Sunday Night at the London Palladium (with the John Barry 7), was shown at the National Film Theatre on Tuesday, August 31 [ more... ]

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So now Elmer has died. What a sad year this is turning out to be for the legendary composers and their families and fans. He was such a friendly, warm person, too.

I suppose being in his 80s one shouldn't be totally surprised at the news but it doesn't lessen the blow and sense of loss. I didn't know him personally but felt I did, if you understand what I mean.

Popular amongst film music fans for many years, he recently received an upsurge in popularity amongst young English football fans when his theme for 'The Great Escape' was adopted as the theme for the National football side. Indeed, when he was honoured on 'This Is Your Life' a couple of years ago, a small band of supporters appeared, "playing" it. He was highly amused!

I saw him a few times in concert and never failed to be impressed by his energy, commitment, charm and humour. His films were many and varied and included the groundbreaking jazz score for 'The Man with the Golden Arm', 'The Ten Commandments', 'The Magnificent Seven', 'To Kill a Mockingbird, 'Far from Heaven' (which should have won an Oscar) and, of course, 'The Great Escape'. He will be sorely missed.

We must hope the rest of 2004 brings better news.

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Elaine Paige

Elaine Paige, the undisputed first lady of British musical theatre, will present a new show starting on Sunday 5 September, 1.00-2.30pm, featuring the finest music from stage and screen. Elaine introduces some favourite show stoppers in this celebration of the best of Broadway, Hollywood and London's West End. The programme also features a weekly competition, listener requests and Elaine in conversation with some of the people who have created and starred in the greatest musicals of all time.

Lulu

Lulu signs to Radio 2 for a new Sunday show starting on 5 September, 3.30-5.00pm, celebrating the art of songwriting. The iconic British singer's weekly show will feature the world's best loved songs, from the Fifties through to today.

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We regret to announce the death of Jerry Goldsmith, one of the finest film music composers of the modern era. In a career which in some ways mirrored that of John Barry, he began composing for TV and small films before rising rapidly to fame in the early to mid-sixties, with scores like 'Freud', 'A Patch of Blue' & 'The Sand Pebbles'. In fact, he received Oscar nominations for all three and another in the sixties for 'Planet of the Apes' From then onwards his career and reputation was secure and he scored an astonishing variety of films during the next 30 years or so, from 'Patton' to 'Star Trek: The Motion Picture' and from 'Chinatown' to 'The Boys From Brazil'.

He received 17 Oscar nominations but won only once, for 'The Omen' in 1977. He enjoyed giving concerts of his music and performed all over the world, notably in London, where he built up a strong relationship with The London Symphony Orchestra.

RIP Jerry. Your music lives on.