Travis McClain

Enough discussion has taken place in recent threads that someone actually suggested an Album by Album thread here for the Bond soundtracks and I'm just bored enough to start it. We'll cover each of the official soundtracks, noting any bonus tracks added for the 2002/2003 re-issues. We'll also include the Casino Royale and Never Say Never Again albums. There've been numerous compilations of theme songs and countless albums of cover versions; those will all likely be excluded, though we may make an exception or two as we go. Ready to geek out?

For the sake of ease, I'll be linking to each soundtrack's post. Things won't stay contained between albums, I'm sure, but the idea is that these will be sort of like chapter breaks for this thread.

Dr. No
From Russia with Love
Goldfinger
Thunderball
You Only Live Twice
Casino Royale
On Her Majesty's Secret Service
Diamonds Are Forever
Live and Let Die

Travis McClain

Dr. No Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Music Composed by Monty Norman

1. "James Bond Theme" performed by The John Barry Orchestra
2. "Kingston Calypso" performed by Byron Lee and the Dragonaires
3. "Jamaican Rock"
4. "Jump Up" performed by Byron Lee and the Dragonaires
5. "Audio Bongo"
6. "Under the Mango Tree" sung by Diana Coupland
7. "Twisting with James"
8. "Jamaica Jazz"
9. "Under the Mango Tree" (Instrumental)
10. "Jump Up" performed by Byron Lee and the Dragonaires
11. "Dr. No's Fantasy"
12. "Kingston Calypso" (Reprise) sung by Diana Coupland
13. "The Island Speaks"
14. "Under the Mango Tree"
15. "The Boy's Chase"
16. "Dr. No's Theme"
17. "James Bond Theme"
18. "Love at Last"

gmanca

First off, thanks for doing this MinLShaw! It will be fun to see how the discussions take shape and where things have evolved as far as original impressions to now.

Not at all a fan of this soundtrack; sure it has the classic James Bond Theme and Audio Bongo is pretty interesting, but it's too much 60's hipster/Danger Man Theme music as opposed to the serious themes from later entries.

Travis McClain

I, too, look forward to seeing just how obsessive and insane our fellow DVD Talkers are willing to admit they are. I confess now that I'm hoping enough of you chime in that I feel better about my own crazy.

Dr. No is an odd one. I love the source material portions ("Jump Up," "Under the Mango Tree," etc.), but Norman's score is underwhelming. I'm more likely to get a hankerin' to play this as an album than most of the others. Barring some kind of miraculous discovery or advances in technology we'll never see an expanded release of this album since the rest of the masters are apparently lost. I'm not sure if more of Norman's score would appeal to me in any event (though, of course, I would dutifully buy such an expanded release).

rw2516

Never cared for this one. Only bought it finally to complete set of the remasters. I've always considered the definative/original version of The James Bond theme to be the recording over the opening credits of this film. Disappointed that the space sounds that just preceed the theme in gun barrel opening of film aren't on the cd. "Twisting With James" is decent track.

Spiderbite

I can find good things in all the soundtracks and this one is no exception, though it is probably the one of the least JB soundtracks I ever feel like listening to. You have the classic James Bond theme (though I agree with the other poster and wish it had the odd sounds right before as presented in the movie) and it is missing Sean's quick solo of Under The Mango Tree from the movie.

What are those sounds at the beginning anyway? I remember hearing an explanation several years ago but have since forgotten it. Jump Up, Under The Mango Tree, Kingston Calypso are all very catchy songs that can get in your head and have you humming them for days to come. The problems is they are all way too prominent on the soundtrack. Jamaica Jazz is just another rendition of Mango Tree. Hey, I liked the tune but do I really need 4 nearly identical versions on the soundtrack? And 2 versions of Jump Up? Dr. No's Theme is just a rendition of Kingston Calypso so that makes 3 versions of it. I'm not complaining that they are on the soundtrack but just that there is so little variety in the movie itself music-wise.

Audio Bongo & The Island Speaks is just plain noise and is a tough listen. No real structure and no melody, it is a shocking listen for someone used to John Barry's soon to come sweeping scores. It's hard to realize how quickly and drastically the music will change after just one movie. Twisting With James is a nice instrumental though it seems dated and out of place. Dr. No's Fantasy is just a slowed down version of TWJ. Another oddity is that there are two tracks named James Bond Theme but the 17th track of that name is a nice little ditty that has absolutely nothing to with the JB theme that every knows and loves.

So all in all, an odd soundtrack especially when considering what is to come. But as a JB fan, you have to pick it up.

My rating: *** out of *****

Travis McClain

From Russia with Love Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Music Composed, Arranged & Conducted by John Barry
Title Song by Lionel Bart

1. "Opening Titles: James Bond Is Back/From Russia with Love/James Bond Theme"
2. "Tania Meets Klebb"
3. "Meeting in St. Sophia"
4. "The Golden Horn"
5. "Girl Trouble"
6. "Bond Meets Tania"
7. "007"
8. "Gypsy Camp"
9. "Death of Grant"
10. "From Russia with Love" performed by Matt Monro
11. "Spectre Island"
12. "Guitar Lament"
13. "Man Overboard/SMERSH in Action"
14. "James Bond with Bongos"
15. "Stalking"
16. "Leija Dances"
17. "Death of Kerin"
18. "007 Takes the Lektor"

Travis McClain

I was thisclose to submitting nearly two paragraphs about From Russia with Love when one of the cats dashed across the keyboard and the whole thing is now lost forever in the Interwebs. (sigh) Here's what I remember:

Unlike Dr. No, From Russia with Love is a score and not an aggregate of mostly source material. Of the 18 tracks, only two appear "within" the movie: Matt Monro's vocal version of "From Russia with Love" is heard on a radio, and we're meant to believe that "Leija Dances" to music performed by the gypsy band. The other sixteen tracks are for our ears only and not those of the characters.

As an album I think it holds up fairly well. It's fairly short, at just over 36 minutes so each cue yields to the next in quick order. Also, the album isn't sequenced based on the film order and while I'm sure each of us could suggest a few alterations it's done in a way that keeps the ears engaged. I love "007" and was always happy whenever it would reappear in subsequent Bond scores. Barry's interpolations of the "James Bond Theme" work very well here, from the mournful guitar to the explosive brass variations. You can make an argument for re-scoring some of the Bond movies, but From Russia with Love isn't one of them. Christopher Lennertz was wise to keep his video game score close to the aesthetics of Barry's score when the time came in 2005.

The two spelling errors always bugged me ("Kerin" instead of "Kerim," and "Spectre" is spelled as a word and not an acronym). You'd think at some point over the years someone would have had the guts to fix those for a subsequent issue, but when the latest re-mastered version hit the market in 2002/2003, they were still misspelled.

As an aside, I always liked Monro's "From Russia with Love" though there's nothing terribly special about it. (I confess to favoring Natacha Atlas's cover from Shaken and Stirred: The David Arnold James Bond Project, but we'll get to that album once we reach the 1990s.)

gmanca

I think it's great that this was the building block for future films as opposed to the Dr. No style. It's successful in working the themes in with the the film's punctuated plot points but it never goes beyond it's serviceability. The fact that there's an equal blend of the suspenseful, ethnic, love, and action themes is a huge plus in From Russia With Love's favor.

I too like 007 and for me it's always connected to the Baja sequence in Diamonds are Forever.

Not really familiar with the Atlas cover in particular but perhaps we should discuss them at the time of the original's discussion?

Rocketdog2000

Pretty much how I feel about this soundtrack, too. Personally, I've always particularly liked the staccato intro in the "Opening Titles (Medley): James Bond Is Back/From Russia With Love/James Bond Theme". While I believe it's also been heard in other movies, this is the only soundtrack where you can find it, and I specifically bought it because of that.

Without meaning to jump ahead, either, I've always dug the Shaken and Stirred: The David Arnold James Bond Project album,as well. That same riff I was favoring is used on that album by the Propellerheads, however, on their take on "On Her Majesty's Secret Service", instead.

Travis McClain

I seem to have inadvertently opened the door for this. I suppose we can do it throughout the thread. I hated LTJ Bukem's cover of "James Bond Theme." The classic melody is unrecognizable, and the arrangement bores me. Running 7:00 only makes it worse because the monotony just...keeps...going...!

gmanca

I like the James Bond Theme but it lends itself to being overplayed as it's overtly repetitive in nature. It's fine in the usual small doses or when the song is tamed down in the mix.

the big train

I looked on Youtube and found this G4 commercial:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nypKUYZQ1iM

Is it the one you're talking about? I only ask because the richness of the sound isn't what would first come to mind when thinking about its most distinguishing characteristics.

Anyway, it's called Bond 77 and it's from The Spy Who Loved Me.

rw2516

The first of six consectutive bombshell scores by Barry. Although the next one would become the most imitated, this one sets the template. Not as flushed out as following ones. The James Bond theme is relied on more often than on subsequent scores. But the theme is cool. This is one of the scores that didn't adapt well to action scenes and Barry came up with a seperate action theme, 007, to serve that purpose. It works well in both the gypsy camp shoot out and stealing the Lektor scenes, but I absolutely dislike it's use in Thunderball and Diamonds Are Forever. It should have remained exclusive to this film. We get the first romantic theme adaptation with "Bond Mets Tania". "Tania Meets Klebb" and "Man Overboard" are the first of what I refer to as the 'travelogue' themes. Both scenes begin with a cinematic view of some location and Barry's sweeping intro. Girl Trouble, Death Of Grant, SPECTRE Island, Stalking and Death of Kerim are all trademark Barry incidental ques that cannot be mistaken by anyone but him and are quite similiar from film to film.

With this score Barry made the music a character in the film that is noticably
absent when another composer scores a Bond film.

Spiderbite

From Russia With Love is a great soundtrack. Several of the tracks are highly listenable on their own and aren't just "danger music" like so many other movies of this nature have. This soundtrack does have it's share of danger music but I think the soundtracks move even more away from this as the years go by (until the David Arnold years unfortunately).

A couple of stand out tracks for me are "The Golden Horn" and "Girl Trouble."

Barry weaves the main song into a few of the tracks perfectly as he always does. Even if you never like the main theme song, he can still take it and mold it into a beautiful interlude. Same with the James Bond Theme.

And of course there is "007." Damn I love this theme. I wish it was in every JB film and have missed it. Matt Munro is a great Sinatra/Martin type singer and his voice is strong for the great main song. When I was a kid, I just assumed it was Sinatra or Martin and never looked into Matt Munro. I looked him up on Wikipedia and he was a huge international star but never made it big in the U.S which is why I know nothing about him I guess. It's a shame as he has an excellent voice.

My rating: **** out of *****

Travis McClain

Goldfinger Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Music Composed, Arranged and Conducted by John Barry
Lyrics by Leslie Bricusse & Anthony Newley

1. "Main Title - Goldfinger" performed by Shirley Bassey
2. "Into Miami"
3. "Alpine Drive - Auric's Factory"
4. "Oddjob's Pressing Engagement"
5. "Bond Back in Action Again"
6. "Teasing the Korean"
7. "Gassing the Gansters"
8. "Goldfinger" (Instrumental Version)
9. "Dawn Raid on Fort Knox"
10. "The Arrival of the Bomb and Count Down"
11. "The Death of Goldfinger - End Titles"
12. "Golden Girl"*
13. "Death of Tilley"*
14. "The Laser Beam"*
15. "Pussy Galore's Flying Circus"*

*Originally included on the U.K. release; bonus tracks on the 2003 U.S. re-issue

rw2516

One of my least favorites of the Barry soundtracks. Alpine Drive, Oddjob's Pressing Engagement and Bond Is Back in Action are the standouts. Nice to get the JB theme from gun barrel logo intro to the pre-credits track. The instumental version of Goldfinger is great until it moves into the Fort Knox Raid theme. Never cared much for the Raid On Fort Knox theme.

Travis McClain

I think what hurts Goldfinger as an album is that it really relies almost exclusively on the three-note "Goldfinger" melody for its structure. I can't imagine the film without these cues, but on their own they're not quite as interesting as, say, From Russia with Love. Still, I've always enjoyed "Into Miami" and "Bond Back in Action Again," and the instrumental version of the title track (and, of course, the title track itself, which is a fun little song and Bassey's performance is commanding and captivating).

gmanca

Each song on it's own has some merit but on the whole, the constant repetition really does hurt the soundtrack a whole. Not something you could just pop in and listen from start to finish.

Travis McClain

Thunderball Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Music Composed, Arranged and Conducted by John Barry

1. "Thunderball - Main Title" performed by Tom Jones
2. "Chateau Fight"
3. "The Spa"
4. "Switching the Body"
5. "The Bomb"
6. "Cafe Martinique"
7. "Thunderball"
8. "Death of Fiona"
9. "Bond Below Disco Volante"
10. "Search for Vulcan"
11. "007"
12. "Mr. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang"
13. "Gunbarrel/Traction Table/Gassing the Plane/Car Chase"
14. "Bond Meets Domino/Shark Tank/Lights Out for Paula/For King and Country"
15. "Street Chase"
16. "Finding the Plane/Underwater Ballet/Bond with SPECTRE Frogmen/Leiter to the Rescue/Bond Joins Underwater Mayhem"
17. "Underwater Mayhem/Death of Largo/End Titles"
18. "Mr. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang" [mono]

Travis McClain

Thunderball the soundtrack album is a lot like the film. There are parts I really enjoy, but on the whole it's sluggish and bloated. I love "Mr. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang" as a tune; it gives some energy to "Street Chase." It's a shame that neither the Shirley Bassey or Diane Warwick vocal versions were included in the re-issue.

I'm also not a fan of the expanded material being presented in suites; it bogs down the soundtrack as an album, I feel. Those cues could easily have been sequenced one after the other for the same effect, while allowing listeners who prefer to shuffle or make playlists the opportunity to go to specific pieces.

The underwater motif is also nice; I just re-watched Never Say Never Again yesterday and found myself playing Barry's music in my mind to accompany the underwater sequence in the end. It's got more legs to stand on than Goldfinger drawing as it does from several strong pieces ("Mr. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang," underwater music, "James Bond Theme" and "007"). On the whole, it's not as captivating as From Russia with Love. It's more developed than Goldfinger, but not as focused. Still, a top shelf entry in the Barry Bond catalog.

gmanca

I have no strong opinion on this soundtrack; it does it's job but I can't say I was ever wowed by it. It's interesting to note that Barry did not have enough time to work on a fleshed out score as he went in using Mr. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang as the main focus but had to write new works to match the Thunderball theme.

Travis McClain

It was really a matter of "Thunderball" being chosen over "Mr. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang" at the eleventh hour that was the problem. MKKBB was the original theme, until it was decided that the title of the movie needed to be in the song. And, yes, the soundtrack album went into production before the score was finished being recorded (which is why most of the second half of the film's music was originally absent), but of course that's a different subject than whether or not Barry had sufficient time to develop the score.

Spiderbite

I'm behind and just listening to Goldfinger again. I have to side with several of you stating that this soundtrack as a whole isn't one of the best even though the title song is so strong (along with the instrumental version). A lot of "danger music" instead of sweeping, beautiful stand-alone tunes that would be present in later films. And as other have said, the repetitiveness of it's main theme does begin to grate after awhile. For better or worse, this soundtrack really starts the sometimes strange use of incorporating the main title of the film no matter how strange the title is or if it even lends itself to a song. Yeah, From Russia With Love was the true starter but that title at least makes sense. Having a main tune called "Goldfinger" is a little odd but they pull it off. Thunderball on the other hand...

I've always loved "Into Miami" and thought it was one of the strongest tunes that stands on its own. For shits and giggles, listen to the main theme sung by core composer Anthony Newley. It was included on the 2nd disc as a rarity on the Best of JB 30th Anniversary Limited Edition set. It's kinda dandy and creepy at the same time. Don't really know a better way to describe it.

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Spiderbite

Just wanted to say thanks for mentioning this cd. I had never heard of it and went ahead and picked it up used for a few bucks online. I thought I had seen most related JB musc cds but this one had completely passed me by.