Raise the Titanic

Don't know how many years they cried, but it took on long enough. Long enough to realize that only the re release would shut them up. And the fans received their performance of John Barry's Raise the Titanic. This is a re recording (because there frankly wasn't a recording available). However people shouldn't panic, this performance of Nic Raine and the City of Prague Philharmonic is excellent and fans will never raise a voice over its performance on disc. Now, considering that Raise the Titanic was so asked for, I was of course curious to find which masterpiece was long forgotten. And frankly, Raise the Titanic is nice but not that special. It is like this score was another Dances with Wolves and so I'm more disappointed then happy about this release. Of course, not one moment is this music bad but the expectations disappoint me, and I'm afraid only Barry admirers will really love this score. Others who perhaps find just like me "heard one Barry score, heard them all" will see not a lot of supreme light in this recording of one of the many tales considering the Titanic.

I have no doubt that Raise the Titanic as a movie looked stunning, mostly because of the score of Barry who gave the surface its elegance and pride but I'm having more problems with accepting old scores once you've heard so much good about it. Then you think about the recent efforts of the composer in question and then you realize it isn't all that. Of course, Barry didn't change much of style and musically this is also the thing I dislike about him the most. It is gorgeous music but it doesn't really bring much surprises when you've run through some of the staples of collectible scores. Raise the Titanic is just that, the main theme which caught my attention on one of Silva Screen's compilations is gorgeous but doesn't receive a lot of attention during the score. The begin and end sure, during the middle only slight and few variations are heard during track 2 and 11. During this part, I was facing the most problems, the music turned sometimes a bit tense or gracefully beautiful but mostly I was discovering that the tracks leaned very closely together. Some things to notice though, 'The Sicilian Project / Dog Attack' is just typically Barry, not a harsh moment in sight (considering this might be a hard moment during the movie), it does however portray tense brass and 'To Cornwall / "All That's Left" (Memories of the Titanic)' opens with a very light tune (just like John Williams' Jaws, when the tourists are arriving in town).

But most of the time the music barely shifts from musical style, tracks 7, 8 and 9 almost cover at times the exact thing, making the score at those points forgettable. Also many of the tracks are good background stuff but not that excellent like it is yet another Dances with Wolves. Only the end is really good, especially considering that the style of sound shifts and the theme resurfaces, just like the titanic itself. 'Raise the Titanic / Deep Quest Saved' is good stuff, 'Memories of the Titanic' is noted because of the saxophone and use of piano and the last two tracks are the best, with wonderful, strong versions of the main theme. John Barry remains John Barry and the fans will love it, those not that keen and waiting for the true classic shouldn't really spend money on this release. It is a solid listen, at times a good and strong score but it hell ain't another die hard classic. And if people are embracing this score so much, they are giving other people hope so that people like me will be disappointed, no matter if the score is good. I will describe it like this, Raise the Titanic is good for those wanting several moments of the better John Barry staple.

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Tracks

Single Disc

1. Prelude (1.56)

2. Main Title / The Mine Shaft (3.15)

3. The Sicilian Project / Dog Attack (2.32)

4. The Sicilian Defense / Southby / "The Mountain Comes To Us" (3.05)

5. "We're In Business" (1.45)

6. To Cornwall / "All That's Left" (Memories Of The Titanic) (2.26)

7. Deep Quest / Flood! (5.25)

8. Finding The Cornet / Spy On Board / The Smoke Stack (4.52)

9. The Titanic Uncovered (3.58)

10. Gene Explores The Titanic / Deep Quest Trapped (3.43)

11. Rescue Attempt / Blowing The Tanks (3.49)

12. Raise The Titanic / Deep Quest Saved (3.31)

13. Memories Of The Titanic (2.10)

14. Russian Threat / The Titanic Enters New York Harbor (2.57) E. Track

15. "Thank God For Southby" / In The Graveyard / End Titles (4.46) E. Track

Total Length: 50.21

The use of artwork or photos is posted for non profitable reasons

=== Link to Composer Site: John Barry ===