Recommended music:
Today, from the Bond on Vinyl archives, we’re listening to music featured in Dr. No, From Russia With Love, and Goldfinger!
Cheltenham, England, is a resort town popular for health and holidays. This popularity began with the finding of mineral springs there way back in 1716. The town also has a rich musical history. It includes the Cheltenham Music Festival, which has run every summer since 1945. There is also a Jazz Festival that started in the 1990s. Additionally, there is a ukulele festival, which is not as old. English composer Gustav Holst was born in Cheltenham in 1874. More recently, it was the birthplace of original Rolling Stones guitarist Brian Jones as well as Würzel from Motörhead.
Why am I bringing up Cheltenham, you ask? In 1964, a budget label called Wyncote Records began releasing compilation albums. These albums featured artists found on their sister label. They also included new albums of film soundtrack covers and generic easy-listening music. The label’s albums were mainly distributed in book, department, and drug stores, and nearly 400 records were released in just under four years of existence.
12 of these albums were credited to “The Cheltenham Orchestra And Chorus,” who have not put out a commercial release in the 57 years since. While the Cheltenham Symphony Orchestra started in 2016, and the Cheltenham Chamber Orchestra was founded in 1966, the Cheltenham Philharmonic Orchestra was established in 1895, and I believe it is this amateur orchestra we can credit for recording the easy listening 1964 album ‘Songs From Goldfinger And Other James Bond Favorites’ This record features lovely renditions of The James Bond Theme, From Russia With Love, and Goldfinger. Hearing these tracks, it’s like you went to the church of Bond and got to hear the hits from the first three soundtracks, all before the sermon. 😉
99. The Cheltenham Orchestra And Chorus – Songs From Goldfinger And Other James Bond Favorites
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