The 25th James Bond film, No Time To Die, from EON Productions and Metro Goldwyn Mayer Studios (MGM) was released globally on September 30, 2021 in the UK through Universal Pictures International and scheduled in the US on October 8, 2021, from MGM via its United Artists Releasing banner.
The Best of Bond…James Bond will be available as a digital download and a 2CD set; on October 8, 3LP black vinyl, plus a limited-edition gold vinyl will be available exclusively via uDiscover Music and Sound of Vinyl.
Each compilation features celebrated theme songs from the longest-running film franchise and includes “No Time To Die” by Billie Eilish from No Time To Die, the 25th film in the series. Also now included will be Adele’s “Skyfall” from Skyfall, the highest-grossing Bond film to date, and Sam Smith’s Spectre theme, “Writing’s On the Wall,” – Oscar® winners for Best Song in 2013 and 2016, respectively.
In addition to Billie Eilish, Adele and Sam Smith, included is the signature instrumental “James Bond Theme” by The John Barry Orchestra, which remains one of the most recognizable themes from film. The collection also includes Dame Shirley Bassey (“Goldfinger,” “Diamonds Are Forever” and “Moonraker”). With “Goldfinger,” Bassey achieved her first Top 10 hit, reaching No. 8 on The Billboard Hot 100 and No. 2 on the Adult Contemporary charts.
Bassey made her Oscars® debut at the 85th Academy Awards®, where she performed a spectacular rendition of “Goldfinger” as part of the telecast’s James Bond 50th Anniversary tribute, which was celebrated by UMe with vinyl reissues of long-out-of-print soundtracks to Dr. No, Goldfinger and Live And Let Die.
Along with Louis Armstrong (“We Have All The Time In The World”), Nancy Sinatra (“You Only Live Twice”), Lulu (“The Man With The Golden Gun”), The Best Of Bond…James Bond also includes Paul McCartney & Wings (“Live And Let Die”). Written by Paul McCartney and Linda McCartney, performed by Paul McCartney & Wings and produced by former Beatles producer George Martin, the title theme song hit No. 2 on the chart, and it was nominated for both a GRAMMY® Award, for Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s) / Best Background Arrangement, and an Academy Award®, for Best Original Song. The single “Live And Let Die” became the first Bond theme song to win a GRAMMY® award (Best Pop Vocal Performance, 1973), and the song continues to be a highlight in McCartney’s live performances.
The Best Of Bond…James Bond also features Carly Simon (“Nobody Does It Better”), Tina Turner (“GoldenEye”), Duran Duran (“A View To A Kill”), Sheryl Crow (“Tomorrow Never Dies”), Madonna (“Die Another Day”), Garbage (“The World Is Not Enough”). With the release of “Skyfall,” Rolling Stone compiled its Top 10 James Bond Theme Songs, all 10 of which, of course, appear on this set, including Tom Jones (“Thunderball”) and Matt Monro (“From Russia With Love”).
All formats of The Best Of Bond…James Bond are available here: lnk.to/TheBestOfBondPR
Various Artists THE BEST OF BOND…JAMES BOND
DISC 1
- James Bond Theme – The John Barry Orchestra
- From Russia With Love – Matt Monro
- Goldfinger – Shirley Bassey
- Thunderball – Tom Jones
- You Only Live Twice – Nancy Sinatra
- On Her Majesty's Secret Service – The John Barry Orchestra
- We Have All The Time In The World – Louis Armstrong
- Diamonds Are Forever – Shirley Bassey
- Live And Let Die – Paul McCartney & Wings
- The Man With The Golden Gun – Lulu
- Nobody Does It Better – Carly Simon
- Moonraker – Shirley Bassey
- For Your Eyes Only – Sheena Easton
- All Time High – Rita Coolidge
DISC 2
- A View To A Kill – Duran Duran
- The Living Daylights – A-Ha
- License To Kill – Gladys Knight
- GoldenEye – Tina Turner
- Tomorrow Never Dies – Sheryl Crow
- The World Is Not Enough – Garbage
- Die Another Day – Madonna
- You Know My Name – Chris Cornell
- Another Way To Die – Jack White & Alicia Keys
- Skyfall – Adele
- Writing's On The Wall – Sam Smith
- No Time To Die – Billie Eilish
"The advent of the James Bond themes,” underscores author, deejay, university lecturer and the Rolling Stones record producer/manager 1963-1967, Andrew Loog Oldham, “was a big branding move forward, not only for the 007 franchise.
“Talents like arranger John Barry, songwriters Monty Norman and Don Black stepped out from late 50's TV pop shows, naff but successful movie themes and musicals into a hitherto inconceivable realm, suddenly we were world music and we all subliminally noted that fact. In so many ways just as Quant; Vidal Sassoon; Bailey, Donovan and Duffy preceded the Beatles as a pop brand in America and the world , so did the James Bond bag."
“It’s ironic that in the early 60s the Beatles couldn’t secure a record deal because label executives gave the lame excuse that “guitar groups were passé,” while one of them most recognizable guitar themes dominated the silver screens world-wide,” reinforced Jan Alan Henderson, author of Whispers from the Canyons of Mountain Laurel.
“The James Bond Theme, written by Monty Norman, opened the first Bond film, Dr. No, starring Sean Connery, released in 1962. The memorable guitar was played by Vic Flick, who was the resident six-string maestro with the John Barry Seven. From Russia With Love followed, with the title track written by Lionel Bart. Two more Bond classics followed, Goldfinger and Thunderball. By that time, Bond was a cultural icon. The proof of that was the influence on the Beatles’ second film, HELP!”
"It's far too easy to forget the upper reaches of any Billboard Top LP's chart throughout the sixties was always chockfull of various soundtrack and show-tune long-players," recalls double-O'd soul Gary Pig Gold.
"Along with, of course, a Herb Alpert 12-incher or two to help hold the fort against each and every upstart young British Invader.
"But to my ears at least, said Anglo-pop stage had already been steadily set many a month before 'I Want To Hold Your Hand' or even 'Love Me Do' via John Barry and his iconic, instantly recognizable all these years later, fully shaken 'n' stirred Bond scores.
“From Dr. No practically clear through The Living Daylights, his brazen big-brass cut-to sultry string arrangements provided the ideal accompaniment to Connery (or whomsoever)'s multitude of vivid widescreen capers. Including those of the between-skirmish horizontal nature, you know what I mean.
“Yes, 'Bond - James Bond' was that rare character whose appeal stretched completely from the seductive one moment clear to swashbuckling the next, with only a fully loaded composer of Barry's calibre worthy of keeping pace upon the sound track.
“True, as indelible as their opening themes were, and are, each film's remaining 90-minutes-or-so continue to reveal magical, if often sometimes cleverly subtle musical moments, each perfectly complimentary to what our eye is simultaneously beholding.
"And, should you for a moment doubt the impact said scores immediately had on, to begin with, the British film industry, check out the George Martin Orchestra's Academy Award-nominated Hard Day's Night work for starters: Recognize Martin's six-string-driven melodies to each Lennon-McCartney adaptation throughout? A tip of the ol' fretboard towards Barry's guitarist of choice, Vic Flick, absolutely! Lessons Sir George apparently learned so well, and so quickly, that he himself was chosen to produce Shirley Bassey's Goldfinger theme, then returned nearly a decade later to score Live and Let Die all upon his own.
"Then, to bring things almost fully up-to-date, I still can't help but hear John Barry's 'You Only Live Twice' whenever I turn the Beach Boys' 'That's Why God Made The Radio' on. Or so it seems..."
“I have played a handful of James Bond themes in my radio career,” proudly admits SiriusXM deejay, Rodney Bingenheimer. “I love Nancy Sinatra’s ‘You Only Live Twice’ and Shirley Bassey’s ‘Goldfinger.’ In September I programmed Lulu’s ‘The Man with the Golden Gun.’”
“When people actually went to theatres for same, from 1962 onward, James Bond films were the go-to movies for young dates,” suggests photographer and writer, Heather Harris.
“There always was enough sexy innuendo provocation for young hormones (even as young women shrugged off the ‘oh, please
“The guitar that Flick used for that original Bond theme recording session was a Clifford Essex Paragon De Luxe (not exactly a Fender Strat or Tele, like we all may have expected). It was originally an acoustic instrument, but Flick fitted it with a DeArmond pick-up, converting it to an electric.
“In 2008, Flick wrote an intimate and compelling autobiography Vic Flick Guitarman: From James Bond to The Beatles and Beyond, detailing his adventures as a member of the John Barry Seven — and also covering his extensive anecdotes as a first-call British recording musician. Tales of zooming up and down his native England in a packed van for his gigs with the John Barry Seven only add to his credibility — and provide us with the soul of a man who later would create that indelible sound for all Bond enthusiasts to revel in.
“Who wouldn’t want to pick up a guitar after hearing that stunning sound, welded to dramatic, angular horn stabs and cinematic Cold War spy adventures…? An adventure in music beckoned - and budding guitarists all heard the call of Flick’s magical riffs, loud and clear - shaken, stirred and inspired to say the least.”
“Perhaps my favorite James Bond theme song is ‘You Only Live Twice’ recorded by Nancy Sinatra,” volunteers multi-instrumentalist/songwriter and record producer Marvin Etzioni, formerly of Lone Justice, now in Thee Holy Brothers with Willie Aron.
Etzioni has penned tunes covered by Peter Case, Judy Collins, Lucinda Williams, Lisa Loeb, and the Williams Brothers.
Still can’t get enough James Bond audio delights?
May I tout two additional ‘You Only Live Twice’ renditions, courtesy of record producer Etzioni.
Due out on October 22nd on Etzioni’s Regional Records distributed digitally via Six Degrees is a forthcoming instrumental album Earthless from the Satellites Four.
This studio outfit includes multi-instrumentalist Doug Wiselman, who has played with Lou Reed and Yoko Ono, and is featured on “Sunday Morning” by Michael Stipe produced by Hal Wilner on the just issued tribute to Velvet Underground.
Drummer and percussionist Danny Frankel has backed Fiona Apple and Brian Eno, while guitarist/producer Casey Dolan has worked with Milo Binder and Three Day Wheely.
There’s also a cool groove audio vocal Etzioni-produced offering of “You Only Live Twice” from Grammy winning singer Grey Delisle on her upcoming album of covers, Borrowed.
Grey Delisle is the number one voice over actor in the US. She can be heard on Star Wars and The Simpsons. Grey overdubbed her vocal on the instrumental version of the Satellites Four.
Photos courtesy of MGM
Harvey Kubernik is the former west coast editor of the UK music weekly, Melody Maker. He is the author of 20 books, including Canyon Of Dreams: The Magic And The Music Of Laurel Canyon and Turn Up The Radio! Rock, Pop, and Roll In Los Angeles 1956-1972.
Sterling/Barnes and Noble in 2018 published Harvey and Kenneth Kubernik’s The Story Of The Band: From Big Pink To The Last Waltz.
For November 23, 2021 the duo has written Jimi Hendrix: Voodoo Child for the publisher. Otherworld Cottage Industries in 2020 published Harvey’s book, Docs That Rock, Music That Matters.
Kubernik’s writings are housed in book anthologies, most notably The Rolling Stone Book Of The Beats and Drinking With Bukowski. Harvey has written liner note booklets to the CD re-releases of Carole King’s Tapestry, Allen Ginsberg’s Kaddish, Elvis Presley The ’68 Comeback Special and the Ramones’ End of the Century.
During 2020 Harvey Kubernik served as a Consultant on the 2-part documentary television series Laurel Canyon: A Place in Time directed by Alison Ellwood.
