FORGOTTEN MUSIC #31: THE BEST OF JAMES BOND 50TH ANNIVERSARY

From the day I first saw Goldfinger as a kid, I’ve been a Bond fan. I’ve seen all the movies. Loved most of the music. Here is a 2-CD collection of some of the best Bond music. AMAZON is selling this for $19.95, a bargain for two discs full of mostly great music. The early songs like “Goldfinger” (my nostalgic favorite) have been remastered and sound wonderful. What’s your favorite Bond song?
TRACK LIST:
DISC ONE:
1. James Bond Theme (From “Dr. No.”) John Barry Orchestra 1:47
2. From Russia With Love Matt Monro 2:33
3. Goldfinger Shirley Bassey 2:48
4. Thunderball Tom Jones 3:02
5. You Only Live Twice Nancy Sinatra 2:45
6. On Her Majesty’s Secret Service John Barry Orchestra 2:35
7. We Have All The Time In The World Louis Armstrong 3:13
8. Diamonds Are Forever Shirley Bassey 2:41
9. Live And Let Die Paul McCartney And Wings 3:13
10. The Man With the Golden Gun Lulu 2:34
11. Nobody Does It Better Carly Simon 3:28
12. Moonraker Shirley Bassey 3:08
13. For Your Eyes Only Sheena Easton 3:03
14. All Time High Rita Coolidge 3:02
15. A View to a Kill Duran Duran 3:34
16. The Living Daylights A-Ha 4:13
17. Licence to Kill Gladys Knight 4:11
18. Goldeneye Tina Turner 3:29
19. Tomorrow Never Dies Sheryl Crow 4:52
20. The World Is Not Enough Garbage 3:57
21. Die Another Day Madonna 4:36
22. You Know My Name Chris Cornell 4:01
23. Another Way to Die Jack White & Alicia Keys 4:23

DISC TWO:
1. Dr No’s Fantasy Monty Norman Orchestra 1:41
2. Under the Mango Tree Diana Coupland 2:23
3. 007 John Barry Orchestra 2:45
4. Opening Titles (Medley): James Bond Is Back/From Russia With Love/James Bond Theme John Barry Orchestra 2:28
5. Into Miami John Barry Orchestra 0:57
6. The Laser Beam John Barry Orchestra 2:53
7. Mr. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang Shirley Bassey 2:15
8. Switching the Body John Barry Orchestra 2:48
9. Capsule in Space John Barry Orchestra 2:40
10. Do You Know How Christmas Trees Are Grown Nina 3:21
11. Bond Smells a Rat John Barry Orchestra 1:53
12. Fillet of Soul-New Orleans/ Live and Let Die/ Fillet of Soul-Harlem (Medley) (feat. B.J. Arnau) George Martin Orchestra 3:21
13. Underground Lair John Barry Orchestra 4:17
14. Hip’s Trip John Barry Orchestra 3:19
15. The Pyramids Marvin Hamlisch 1:30
16. Cable Car and Snake Fight John Barry Orchestra 3:07
17. Make It Last All Night (feat. Rage) Bill Conti 3:30
18. The Chase Bomb Theme John Barry Orchestra 1:57
19. Snow Job John Barry Orchestra 2:29
20. Where Has Everybody Gone The Pretenders 3:36
21. If There Was a Man The Pretenders 2:50
22. The Experience of Love Eric Serra 5:54
23. James Bond Theme (Moby’s Re-version) Moby 3:23
24. Surrender K. D. Lang 3:56
25. Only Myself to Blame Scott Walker 3:37
26. Vesper David Arnold 1:45
27. Time to Get Out David Arnold 3:28

12 thoughts on “FORGOTTEN MUSIC #31: THE BEST OF JAMES BOND 50TH ANNIVERSARY

  1. Deb

    What–no Sean Connery singing “Under the Mango Tree”? The high point of “Dr. No” and it’s not there? Quelle dommage!

    Favorite Bond song (although not my favorite Bond movie) is A-ha’s “The Living Daylights”–it’s got that minor-key melancholy I just love.

    Reply
    1. george Post author

      Well, they only had room for 50 songs on this 2-CD collection, Deb. No room for “Under the Mango Tree.” I like A-ha’s “The Living Daylights,” too!

      Reply
  2. Drongo

    George, did you see Goldfinger in a theater when it originally came out? What a delight that must have been. It probably has the best JB title track, but the Sinatra tune is a pleasure, lush and romantic, with a hint of melancholy.

    Reply
    1. george Post author

      Yes, Drongo, I saw GOLDFINGER (my first Bond movie) as a kid in the movie theater. What a thrill! I’ll never forget the exchange between Bond and Goldfinger as that laser inched its way toward Bond’s private parts: Bond: “Do you expect me to talk?” Goldfinger: “No, Mr. Bond. I expect you to die!”

      Reply
  3. Richard R.

    At one point I lived near downtown Santa Ana (when it was still safe to walk on the street at night) and there was an old cheap multiple movie theater I could walk to. They had a huge Bond showing, every Bond film to that time (this was pre-Bosnian) on the biggish screen, uncut, decent sound/music and film quality. I went and for the price of a cheap ticket watched all of them twice over a few days. It was GREAT!

    Reply
  4. Jeff Meyerson

    I always liked the John Barry stuff and of course Shirley Bassey . i remember that exchange so well George.

    On the other hand I never liked Duran Duran , Bond or otherwise I like the Carly Simon even though it isn’t very Bond-like.

    Reply

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