Category: James Bond

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Today, from the Bond on Vinyl archives, we’re listening to the next James Bond film, Octopussy!

Continue reading “From the Archives: Octopussy (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)”

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Today, from the Bond on Vinyl archives, we’re listening to the next James Bond film, For Your Eyes Only!

After editing earlier Bond films, John Glen got his first shot at directing 007 in this return to the more traditional Ian Fleming spy story of everyone vs. the KGB. Besides a cake-in-the-face stunt/blooper that our family has dissected & watched a dozen times over, the film also boasts a cast of a villainous Julian Glover, a charming Chaim Topol, a fierce Bond Girl in Carole Bouquet, and a fun talking parrot. Beautiful scenery in Greece and Italy helps make for a memorable film.

The soundtrack is also memorable as Sheena Easton appears on screen for the opening title sequence (the only time this has happened). Her Academy Award-nominated track beat out another version performed by Blondie (which is actually pretty good too) as it was written by Bill Conti, who does an excellent job composing the entire soundtrack while filling in for John Barry, while Barry was a tax exile from the UK at the time.

The soundtrack was recorded in the spring of 1981, ahead of the film’s June release. My 1981 US vinyl is all right, but I’m ready for an expanded version on vinyl that includes at least the six additional tracks that have already been on CD for the past 25 years. 😄

13. For Your Eyes Only (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

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Today, from the Bond on Vinyl archives, we’re listening to the next James Bond film, Moonraker!

With the success of Star Wars and science fiction at the box office, it was decided that Bond in Space was a thing that needed to happen next. This campy Moore adventure (I’m looking at you double-talking pigeon) wasn’t critically well received, but audiences loved it enough that it was the highest-grossing Bond film into the 1990s.

While other artists ultimately passed on performing the main theme, Shirley Bassey returned to record her final Bond song just weeks before the film’s release. Following its debut, Bassey never promoted the track and seldom performs it live. The score itself was a departure from the typical John Barry fare as the jazzy brass of earlier Bond films gave way to slow strings.

The soundtrack was recorded in April 1979, ahead of the film’s June release. My 1979 US pressing is all right, but I’m ready for an expanded version on vinyl to match up with the 45th anniversary version that contains previously unreleased music.

12. Moonraker (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

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Today, from the Bond on Vinyl archives, we’re listening to the next James Bond film, The Spy Who Loved Me!

My favorite Roger Moore film was released in July of 1977. This was just six weeks after the debut of another of my favorite films, Star Wars. This film boasts excellent locations in Egypt, Italy, and the Bahamas. It features amazing characters like Jaws and Barbara Bach’s Major Amasova. Moreover, a car that can go underwater helps make this an overall wonderful film!

The theme song “Nobody Does It Better,” performed by Carly Simon, was nominated for Best Original Song and is woven into the score (which was also nominated for Best Original Score). Another track that cements this soundtrack as one of my faves is “Bond 77,” which puts a disco beat on the familiar Bond theme.

The soundtrack was recorded in April 1977, a few months ahead of the film’s July release. My 1977 US pressing is all right, but I’m ready for an expanded version on vinyl to cover unreleased tracks like the film version of the main theme, “Anya”, and other unreleased music.

11. The Spy Who Loved Me (Original Motion Picture Score)

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Today, from the Bond on Vinyl archives, we’re listening to the next James Bond film, The Man With The Golden Gun!

This film has held up for me despite being pretty much panned by critics as the worst in the series up to that point. I do enjoy the foreign locations, the stunts, Christopher Lee’s Scaramanga, Maud Adams, Hervé Villechaize as Nick Nack, and more! The biggest drawbacks for me include Britt Ekland as Mary Goodnight, and a poorly placed slide whistle sound effect. 😄

The title theme by Lulu is catchy (with some pretty questionable lyrics), but it is the only Bond main theme to never appear on the charts. The rest of the score is pretty boring outside of the tracks at Scaramanga’s island.

The soundtrack was recorded in late 1974, just ahead of the film’s December release. My 1974 US pressing is all right, but I’m ready for an upgrade on vinyl following La-La Land Records expanded score CD released for the 50th anniversary of the film.

10. The Man With The Golden Gun (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

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Today, from the Bond on Vinyl archives, we’re listening to the next James Bond film, Live And Let Die!

Roger Moore’s debut was probably my favorite Bond movie when I was 10 years old. The plot is way more convoluted than it needed to be, but it’s still a fun flick today.

The title track by Paul McCartney & Wings certainly has more radio play than any other Bond song over the years, and deservedly so. I’ve included a picture of the album gatefold, which features some screenshots and also some fun promo shots that really don’t fit in with the final plot.

The soundtrack was recorded between 1972 and 1973, and released July 2nd of 1972. This was just after the film’s US release, and just ahead of the film’s UK release. My 1973 US pressing sounds fine, but I’m ready for an upgrade.

9. Live And Let Die (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

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Today, from the Bond on Vinyl archives, we’re listening to the next James Bond film, Diamonds Are Forever!

Sean Connery came back (for a then-record salary) to officially phone it in last time as Bond. While Connery may not have been the best, I always enjoyed the film for other reasons, like seeing 1970s Las Vegas, Charles Gray as Blofeld, and Lana Wood as Plenty O’Toole (and wish she had a bigger role than Jill St. John’s Tiffany Case).

Shirley Bassey is also back and shines for the main title. However, the soundtrack is largely stuck in the late 1960s / early 1970s after that.

The soundtrack was recorded in October of 1971, just ahead of the film and soundtrack’s December releases. My 1971 US copy is showing some wear and features some great John Barry music.

8. Diamonds Are Forever (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)