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Congratulations to actor, producer, writer and director Bryan Forbes O.B.E., who celebrates his 80th birthday today.

Bryan and John collaborated on six films and developed a mutual admiration for each other's work.

Bafflingly, neither gentleman has yet received a deserved knighthood.

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We are very sorry to announce the death of legendary trombonist Don Lusher. In a career spanning more than 60 years, Don was a member of several famous bands, including Ted Heath, The Squadronaires, Jack Parnell and Geraldo.

In addition to this, he played on many recording sessions, including some by John Barry. In 1975 he was a member of the John Barry Orchestra that toured Japan under the management of Sid Margo. He willingly lent us his photo tour memento of this orchestra, which will be reproduced in our updated book.

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We at johnbarry.org.uk want to give you, the John Barry fans, the opportunity to share your spare CDs, vinyl, cassettes and maybe even DVDs with each other.

Don't worry, we are not advocating a great give-away! No, we are giving you the chance to buy or sell John Barry material at a reasonable price without the hassle of an eBay style auction.

So, anything and everything offered will be at a predetermined set price, and, in the event of a "one of a kind", will be sold on a first come first served basis.

Want to learn more? Go to our for sale / wanted page for all the details. You'll find a few items already up for sale. Don't hesitate to add your own, whether buying or selling!!

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Don Black has confirmed the news that he and John have written a number of songs which will be recorded by The Ten Tenors, an Australian ensemble.

The recording will begin on the 20th March as the Tenors take a break in the midst of their US tour.

Don said there would be both new songs and old ones written by the duo.

Apparently recording will be split between Air and Abbey Road Studios - both based in London. This is a tactic John Barry has employed previously.

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The Ipcress File showing at the NFT in London, starting Jan. 13 until Jan 26.

Michael Caine as Len Deighton's working-class spy Harry Palmer, in one of the classics of modern British cinema.
UK 1965
Dir Sidney J Furie

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"I had a good laugh over the comments on Dan Wallin's master of "BH". Who posts this nonsense on the internet? They should get their facts "straight" beforehand.

The "few year's ago" was over 20-years ago, when Dan Wallin, in fact, DID prepare a master tape under Barry's supervision. But, when he wanted way too much money from me for the transfers, I said to him, "thanks, but no thanks!". I then remixed the multi-tracks myself without Barry at hand, and released the Label X LP (and, later on, the CDs) from that. Barry objected most strongly to my mix, and refused to have anything further to do with the album. He has not spoken to me from that day forward.

Some years later I received a call from Keith Zajeck at Warner Bros. He asked me if I knew where the multi-tracks were, as they wanted to re-mix them for their DVD release. I informed him that they had long since been returned to the vaults at The Burbank Studios. Unfortunately, Warners could not find them (surprised?!).

I then suggested to Keith that he contact Dan Wallin, who would most surely have the stereo LP master which he originally prepared for me. Again, Wallin could not find the 2-track stereo master tapes.

So, you have the "true story" of "Body Heat" and the missing masters. "

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Lukas Kendal at FSM reports that stocks of Monte Walsh (and certain other items) are low. So if you don't already have this excellent CD, this might be your last opportunity to get it at a reasonable price.

See his announcement at Filmscoremonthly

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As many of you know, John Barry’s entry into the film music world came courtesy of his relationship with the fledgling pop singer, Adam Faith. It could also be that there are some fans of Adam out there, especially amongst the older ones of us!! In which case you might be interested in a visit to the new web-site currently being created by Barry web-master Ruud Rozemeyer from input by myself and Gareth “hoarder” Bramley.

If I do say it myself I believe this has the potential to be an excellent site. It’s looking rather good already, in fact, so why not have a glance or two at

http://www.adamfaith.org.uk/

and let us know what you think.

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Lukas Kendall of Filmscoremonthly has put a message in our forum. For those of you who do not read our forum, or may overlook the message, we repeat it here:

<quote>

Hi Folks,

I saw this thread about our new ALICE/PETULIA CD and wanted to explain a few things. The CD contains the LP masters (from the 1/4'' stereo master tapes) for each album, which was all that was available for license, and all that was available to us as far as masters.

While we would love to release other, never-before-available Barry scores, it's increasingly hard to get the rights to them -- and there are master-tape problems for many as well. The Barry scores we released in 2005 -- King Kong and Alice/Petulia -- we were able to get due to our relationship with Warner Music Group who control the album rights.

Personally, I love these two scores and find them very well represented by the LPs. (Years ago I had a home-made cassette that had Deadfall on one side and Petulia, and I am thrilled to have brought both to CD form.) I suppose it's a matter of taste, whether you like Barry's adventure scores or his epics or his more personal, offbeat works (like these two), but I happen to adore all of them. I'd be surprised if anyone reading this post -- a John Barry fan who frequents a forum about him -- bought this CD and was let down.

In any case, thanks for your interest and feedback.

Lukas Kendall

</quote>

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ALICE'S ADVENTURES IN WINDERLAND/PETULIA (FSM)

by John Barry

[quote]

Two Classic LPs on one CD -- Premiere Release.

This premiere John Barry CD features two Warner Bros. albums from a period of great creativity for the composer: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (1972) and Petulia (1968).

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland was a musical telling of Lewis Carroll's famous story, with a star-packed British cast including Peter Sellers, Dudley Moore, Michael Crawford and Ralph Richardson. John Barry collaborated with lyricist Don Black ("Born Free," "Diamonds Are Forever") on the delightful song-score.

Barry characterized the soundtrack as having "almost a Gilbert & Sullivan style, but with a contemporary feeling," but fans will recognize no musical identity except for Barry's own. The score, as wonderfully recorded for the soundtrack LP, includes three ballads, large symphonic pieces, and enjoyable settings of classic Caroll nonsense -- with Barry melodies through and through.

Petulia was Barry's second collaboration with director Richard Lester (following The Knack...and How to Get It), a serious, contemporary drama set in San Francisco starring Julie Christie, George C. Scott and Richard Chamberlain. It is regarded as one of the best films of the era, with a sophisticated flashback structure (and cinematography by Nicolas Roeg) anchored by Barry's melancholy and melodic score.

In addition to the haunting main theme, Petulia features a distinctive figure for saxophones anticipating Diamonds Are Forever, and several pieces of vintage Barry source music -- low-key jazz tunes that rank with the best instrumental music of the era, and echo some of the source cues of the James Bond films.

This holiday present for Barry fans comes with new liner notes by Jon Burlingame, and is remastered from the original 1/4" stereo album tapes.

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
Music Composed by John Barry, Lyrics by Don Black

1. Overture 4:29
2. Curiouser and Curiouser 2:16
Sung by Fiona Fullerton (Alice)
3. You've Got to Know When to Stop 2:09
Sung by Davy Kaye (Mouse)
4. The Royal Procession 1:44
5. The Last Word Is Mine 2:01
Sung by Michael Crawford (White Rabbit) and Fiona Fullerton
6. Dum and Dee Dance 3:08
Nursery Rhyme
Lyrics by Lewis Carroll
Sung by Fiona Fullerton
7. The Pun Song 3:03
Sung by Sir Robert Helpman (Mad Matter), Peter Sellers (March Hare) and Dudley Moore (Dormouse)
8. I've Never Been This Far Before 2:19
9. Curiouser and Curiouser 2:14
10. I've Never Been This Far Before 2:19
Sung by Fiona Fullerton
11. Medley: 4:15
Off With Their Heads
Sung by Dame Flora Robson (Queen of Hearts)
The Croquet Game
Off With Their Heads
The Moral Song
Sung by Peter Bull (the Duchess)
Off With Their Heads
12. The Me I Never Knew 2:39
13. The Lobster Quadrille 1:46
14. Will You Walk a Little Faster? 1:57
Lyrics by Lewis Carroll
Sung by Michael Hordern (Mock Turtle) and Spike Mulligan (Gryphon)
15. They Told Me 0:54
Lyrics by Lewis Carroll
Sung by Michael Crawford
16. The Me I Never Knew 4:10
Sung by Fiona Fullerton

Total Time: 42:06

Petulia
Music Composed and Conducted by John Barry

17. Main Title -- Petulia 1:57
18. Friends of the Evergreen 2:05
19. Highway 101 2:31
20. A Little Old-Fashioned Nostalgia 2:51
21. Motel 4:50
22. Petulia 3:01
23. Petulia 3:23
24. Comprehendo? 1:59
25. Border Gate at Tijuana 2:38
26. Once Having Been Lovers 3:06
27. Eat Topless 3:29
28. End Title -- Petulia 5:03

Total Time: 37:33
Total Disc Time: 79:48

ALICE'S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND - A star-studded cast highlights this musical adaptation of the classic fantasy tales of Lewis Carroll. One day young Alice (Fiona Fullerton) takes a nasty spill down the rabbit-hole and finds herself in the bizarre kingdom of Wonderland, where she encounters a number of strange and enchanted characters, including the playful White Rabbit (Michael Crawford), the manic March Hare (Peter Sellers), the mysterious Caterpillar (Ralph Richardson), the Dormouse (Dudley Moore), the imperious Queen of Hearts (Flora Robson), and the quizzical Mad Hatter (Robert Helpmann). The cast also includes Spike Milligan, Peter Bull, Roy Kinnear, and Michael Jayston as Lewis Carroll. "Alice's Adventures In Wonderland" won two prizes at the 1973 British Academy of Film and Theatre Awards - for Georfrey Unsworth's photography and Anthony Mendelson's costume design. 1972 PETULIA - Petulia is Richard Lester's ode to the Swinging Sixties: a time of psychedelic instability when neither those who were square, nor those who were hip, really had it right. George C. Scott is Archie Bollen, a divorced San Francisco doctor in the midst of "discovering himself." Julie Christie is Petulia Danner, a peculiar young beauty recently married into an established family. Archie's sterile apartment and detached, bemused manner exemplify his inability to emote. Petulia's forward nature and desperate tenderness betray her fear of her sullen, abusive, pretty-boy husband (Richard Chamberlain). The physician and the newlywed embark on a schizophrenic love affair amid Pepsi references, automated motels, roller derbies, and a cameo by Big Brother and the Holding Company - but they never achieve the daring to truly change their lives. 1968.