Recommended music:
Today, from the Bond on Vinyl archives, we’re staying in 1967, and listening to music featured in You Only Live Twice!
When Nancy Sinatra was brought on to record the theme song to “You Only Live Twice” in the spring of 1967, ahead of the summer film, she was the first non-British songster of the Bond series. While she had several recent hits like ‘These Boots Are Made for Walkin’, the soundtrack appearance was definitely made to cash in on her stardom at the time, and not to find the best possible vocalist for John Barry’s composition or Leslie Bricusse’s lyrics. At least two other singers provided demos (which they thought were finished soundtrack recordings).
One artist who did not perform her version in the April 1967 recording session was Tamiko Jones.
Born Barbara Ferguson, she has part British, Cherokee, and Japanese descent, with her middle name, Tamiko, being of Japanese origin. She began her career performing current pop songs in a jazzy style, releasing her first record in 1961, and was credited simply as Timiko. By 1964, she changed record labels and released another album, being billed as Tamiko.
By 1968, she changed labels again, overcame polio, and co-produced fiancé Solomon Burke’s cover of Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Proud Mary”. While Burke’s version of the song was not promoted and only reached No. 15 on the Billboard R&B chart, he takes credit for passing the song on to Ike & Tina Turner for their memorable rendition.
Later that year, the album “Tamiko” was released with the artist rebranding herself again, finally as Tamiko Jones, which she maintained on recording music into the 1980s. When I hear this version (on the 7” single to promote Tamiko), I like to think of it as one of the actual Japanese characters from the film, such as Aki or Kissy, providing the vocals. While I don’t know if this version is superior to the Sinatra recording, it certainly fits the film better for me.
77. Tamiko Jones – You Only Live Twice / Don’t Let Me Lose This Dream
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