Barry: Somewhere in Time > Reviews > Come track to me....

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Definitely a cut above the rest
Lyrics	Not applicable
Quality and consistency of tracks	Flawless
Value for Money	Satisfactory

Advantages:	Entire soundtrack !  sublime, romantic, wonderful
Disadvantages:	can make you cry  : '( (in a good way)

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

I grew up with the film 'Somewhere In Time', my grandparent sused to put it on on a Saturday afternoon to shut the grandkids up and we used to sit there, absolutely entranced, and although the film is, arguably, not for everyone, I feel that you cannot help but be moved by John Barry's hauntingly beautiful score.

Based on the novel 'Bid Time Return' by Richard matheson, starring the late, great Chris Reeve (Superman) and English beauty Jane Seymour, the tale describes the plight of a young playwrite who falls hopelessly in love with a woman after looking at her portrait. He later finds out that she lived several generations ago, and is already dead - If he ever wants to meet her, he must travel back in time, which he succeeds in doing...anyway, I'm not here to review the film (I may at a later date)...on with the music.

============================
THE COMPOSER
==================================

John Barry is one of the many, highly successful and accomplished film composers of all time, with credits such as 'Out of Africa', 'Goldfinger', 'Body Heat' and 'Chaplin' It is perhaps quite surprising that many people (including me)find that this soundtrack is THE definitive John Barry soundtrack!
*****************************==============================
THE MUSIC
====================================

Based around the main theme by Rachmoninov entitled 'Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini', John Barry has created a sublime, emotional soundscape that pushes all the right buttons. The film subject matter is incredibly sentimental and romantic - but I feel the music supersedes this, and the soundtrack goes on to become a classic in it's own right.

This version, however; does not feature Mr Barry but a man by the name of 'John Debney' who I,personally, have not heard of but perhaps I am grossly ignorant about composers and Mr Debney is, in fact, a genius, (!) the absence of Mr Barry was something I was a little disappointed by - the music itself is performed superbly and accurately by the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, and is the only version of the soundtrack which has the entire score present.
*****************************==============================
THE PRODUCT ITSELF
====================================

My boyf paid £9.99 for this in HMV, is a standard single CD, with a coverlet explaining the origins of this music, and with descriptions and the titles of each interlude on the back of the CD.

The cover has a lovely replica of the scene in the film when Chris Reeve and Jane Seymour first meet (sob).
*****************************================================
WHO WOULD LIKE THIS?
=======================================

Anyone who has seen the actual film - (The music is perhaps more memorable, for some people than the film itself!
And, of course any fan of Mr Barry - this is, for some, his quintessential score! I dont believ there is anyone who can deny the absolute beauty of this music and who therefore would not enjoy it!
*****************************===============================
MY VERDICT
=====================================

Barry's sountrack has, I believe, been the score to love affairs the world over (including my own with my boyfriend who found the film and bought it as a gift when we first started dating!) and I have locked myself in a room on many occasion to be self-indulgently melancholic whilst listening to this, thinking about lost loves, my lost youth, poor richard, richard?! Richhhhhhhhaaaaaaaaaaaaardddddddddddd?! Richarrrrrrrrrraaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrdddddddddddddddd?!
(you'd get that if you'd seen the film ;) sorry!

However, I feel that you do not necessarily have to know about the film to appreciate the music's perfect encapsulation of romantic love!
*****************************=================================
WHO WOULD LIKE THIS?
=======================================

Anyone who has seen the actual film - (The music is perhaps more memorable, for some people than the film itself!

R.I.P Christopher Reeve, and now indeed his wife, Dana Reeve.