From the opening scenes of Dr. No, where the action is driven by the distinctive guitar beat that became the opening for all the films, to pop hits like Shirley Bassey's unforgettable "Goldfinger", the films have always featured many award-winning songs, written and performed by such established stars as Paul McCartney and Wings, Carly Simon, Sheena Easton, Duran Duran, Louis Armstrong, Tom Jones, and Gladys Knight (sans Pips).
To show the diversity of music associated with the Bond movies I'm providing samples of two different kinds of songs, both selected from the album The Best Of James Bond.
First is the familiar driving instrumental that opens all the movies, the "James Bond Theme". It's performed by the Monty Norman Orchestra from an arrangement by John Barry, who ended up writing a lot of the music for subsequent Bond movies. It's impossible to hear the familiar strumming of the electric guitar and not imagine James Bond in action.
The second sample (which is one of my favorite movie themes) was written by John Barry and is performed by Nancy Sinatra, who was a pretty big star at that time (1967). It's the title song for the Bond movie, You Only Live Twice.
Enjoy the music, and buy the album for the full experience of the music of James Bond!
Article comments
1 - Phillip Winn
I've always had *really* mixed feelings on Bond songs. I don't quite get why so many of them hit the charts, actually.
And sure enough, I find myself humming them, too. But I don't know why.
2 - Bliffle
Barry has said in interviews that he copied the style of Stan Kenton, the Big Band leader who became quite famous while quite young. Kenton even had a TV show about music for awhile. His characteristic sound was the big brassy crescendo, featuring trombones and trumpets.
An old jazz musician told me this story about Kenton. I repeat it for what it's worth, as it reflects the enormous ego that Kenton had. The young Kenton, who was already famous, was in New Orleans and wanted to hear Art Tatum play at a saloon, but he was underage, so the saloon owner told him "go and sit at that table with that old man and if anyone asks say he's your grandfather". After the set kenton turned to the old man and proudly introduced himself as the famous young band leader Stan Kenton, whereupon the old man said "I'm pleased to meet you, my name is Maurice Ravel".
3 - Mark Sahm
I found it amusing to see someone reviewing the Bond 30th. I bought this album about 10 years ago as an impulse buy that paid off. While there are a couple stinkers on here, it's hard to walk away without an appreciation for Shirley Bassey.
Of course, I'd be a liar if listening to it doesn't make me think of the silouhettes of naked woman bouncing on trampolines among pistols firing slow motion bullets. Classic stuff.
4 - Big Geez
You might see even older albums that this show up in my articles, Mark, because what I do is write about how a particular album's contents and artists resonate with me as a music-loving geezer, rather than a conventional review. (Not that there's anything wrong with CD reviews - in fact, I may do some of those too!)
5 - -E
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