Recommended music:
Today, from the Bond on Vinyl archives, we’re listening to music from the first eight EON Bond films as well as a Bond book!
Born in 1915 in London, England, Eric Winstone would later become a big band leader, composer, and conductor. In 1935, he started a band, playing piano during his spare time from working at the Westminster Gas & Coke Company (a British coal company). He also learned how to play the accordion, eventually founding a swing quartet, an accordion quintet, and an accordion school.
Like other British musicians of the era, Winstone enlisted during World War II and played with the Royal Air Force band, entertaining troops. Following the war, his stage show continued playing ballrooms, theaters, and military holiday camps for over two decades. At one of these performances in the 1950s, blonde bombshell Diana Dors was unable to make a scheduled guest appearance. This led Winstone to complain about her to the audience and file a lawsuit for breach of contract. Dors then filed a defamation suit against Winstone. The case judge thought both sides were silly about a show involving so little money and awarded a tiny amount to each side: £5 to Winstone, and 100 guineas (whatever that means) to Dors.
By 1959, Winstone’s work was taking a toll on his personal life as he was composing arrangements for three bands and five radio shows. A court ordered that an “iron curtain” be built in his home to split the rooms between himself, his wife, and his young daughter. In addition, he was ordered to stop playing his piano by 6 PM daily in order not to disturb his family. He also obtained a court order that banned his mother-in-law from staying at their home at the same time. Just four months later, his former fashion model wife filed for separation.
Anyways, on to the music. Winstone was not a well-known recording artist under his own name, but put out a compilation album of all Bond music in 1973 before he passed the following year. As The Man With The Golden Gun wasn’t released until December 1974, he made an original, unrelated song with the upcoming title. For On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, rather than perform John Barry’s theme or We Have All The Time In The World, he included Do You Know How Christmas Trees Grow. Interesting choice.
109. Eric Winstone – Eric Winstone Plays 007
Dale's Toys 