Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #57037 in Music
• Released on: 2007-10-22
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Box set
• Dimensions: .68 pounds

Customer Reviews

Massive disappointment
I am a fan of the series (but not a die-hard fanboy) and particularly like the music of Laurie Johnson, but this CD is a massive disappointment and not worth buying unless you are a huge fan-boy and want to hear the incidential music from particular episodes. Disc 2 is okay but can be found on most compilation CDs and the 3rd disc is totally unconnected with the Avengers which is why I presume you would be buying the CD.

My main gripes are that common incidental music used in most episodes (e.g the jaunty little ditty used invariably at the start of and end of an episode at the end of/before the main title music is missing. Instead you get obscure and frankly uninteresting incidental music from specific episodes. I was hoping for a collection of the most commonly used themes and leitmotifs. But no. My other gripe is that before some music there is the sound engineer speaking. For die-hard audiophiles this might be of interest, but to me it is just another major problem. Why have some monotone snippet instead of something from Steed or Mrs Peel? Dreadful.

By far the best OST of this era is The Ipcress File - it features all the music from the film and, to round it off, each piece is preceded with a classic line from the film. I was hoping this would be as good. It isn't. I doubt I will ever take the CDs from their cases.

A landmark TV / Film music release
Laurie Johnson is undoubtedly one of the most talented Composer / Arrangers this country has ever produced, and a man comfortable writing in any musical environment. Happily this quite frankly superb 3 disc release demonstrates such in spades. Arguably most famous for his gargantuan musical contribution to 'The Avengers' TV series, this is indeed the main driving force behind the release. In fact it's almost inconceivable to imagine that nearly 30 years after the series finished, this is the first genuine offering of Johnson's original recordings.

To disc one, and with Johnson heavily involved with the project it's not surprising that the music presented here is well selected, varied and amounts to a very pleasurable experience for the listener. The recordings, not surprisingly mono, have been remastered and sound excellent. Johnson has always engaged the very best musicians, and unlike most TV scores which are rushed and low budget, the performances and sound clarity are terrific. Also included are the Main and End title music from the Tara King series, each preceded with the Sound Engineer's take announcements. All in all an excellent disc, and very possibly this year's most important TV / Film music release.

Disc two brings us some of his most celebrated TV and Film themes. As previously mentioned, a great number are rerecordings, but it has to be pointed out rerecordings overseen by Johnson himself - possibly because he preferred his commercial offerings to be stereo, plus it also afforded him the opportunity to develop these short main title theme burst into more substantial and complete compositions. One also wonders if his original New Avengers and Professionals music is being held back for headline presentation in future volumes..... well, that's my hope, and I expect the same for a great many others.

The disc finishes with Johnson's 'Synthesis' a Symphony for Orchestra and Big Band in five movements which is best described as a fusion of classical and jazz styles. It's a significant composition without parallel, and one which Johnson pulls off with consummate ease. If you haven't heard or own this remarkable piece of work, this release is worth purchasing for it alone.

Disc three is very well summed up by it's description of 'Military Spectaculars'. A number of these compositions have been commissioned by the Armed Forces, and see Johnson nodding to Elgar, Walton and Bliss in some spectacularly composed and arranged Marches and Dances. Admitted, this isn't going to appeal to everyone, but in terms of writing, musicianship and execution it's truly stand-out in its genre.

So, in summary. It's a landmark release. It's an excellent introduction to Laurie Johnson for the unfamiliar. It's beautifully packaged with exclusive photos and liner notes from Johnson. It's embarrassingly good value for money. But, above all else, it ably demonstrates the stellar musical talent that is Laurie Johnson.

must have CD!
It is great to have the music from episodes of The Avengers on CD for the first time. Laurie Johnson's music is such an essential part of the TV series and it is gratifying to have his music recognised in its own right. CD1 has these tracks. There are standouts such as those from the episode "the Joker" with its haunting themes and others from the episodes "dead man's treasure", "what the butler saw" "A funny thing happened on the way to the station" and more. Upon hearing these the visuals from the series immediately spring to mind. Other tracks are of course "mood music" which were used in scenes to convey tension etc and are perhaps not ideally suited to be heard in isolation. But that is the nature of such soundtracks and it is still great to hear them. The only minor niggle is the use of the Patrick Macnee/Linda Thorson credit-title themes in place of the classic Macnee/Diana Rigg themes but i presume this was a personal choice of Laurie Johnson as, apparently, he chose the selected tracks himself. So a second volume perhaps...? Disc 2 contains other tv and film themes by Jonnson such as "the new Avengers" (which might have been better placed as the last track on disc 1 for continuity) Disc 3 is Johnson's music for military bands. But disc 1 is the one most will buy this for and if you are a fan of The Avengers this CD set is a must have.