Best of Bond... James Bond

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Editorial Reviews

All Music Guide - William Ruhlmann
One of the signature aspects of a James Bond movie is its theme song, and, as demonstrated on this collection of those songs, there is a remarkable consistency to them. The first Bond film, 1962's Dr. No, featured Monty Norman's "James Bond Theme," a distinctive instrumental piece that has figured in every Bond picture since and that leads off the disc. But with the second entry in the series, 1963's From Russia with Love, there was a specially written title song sung by a contemporary pop artist during the opening credits. And as of the third entry, 1964's Goldfinger, that song, as often as not, would become a hit. Shirley Bassey's melodramatic performance of ...
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Editorial Reviews

All Music Guide - William Ruhlmann
One of the signature aspects of a James Bond movie is its theme song, and, as demonstrated on this collection of those songs, there is a remarkable consistency to them. The first Bond film, 1962's Dr. No, featured Monty Norman's "James Bond Theme," a distinctive instrumental piece that has figured in every Bond picture since and that leads off the disc. But with the second entry in the series, 1963's From Russia with Love, there was a specially written title song sung by a contemporary pop artist during the opening credits. And as of the third entry, 1964's Goldfinger, that song, as often as not, would become a hit. Shirley Bassey's melodramatic performance of "Goldfinger" remains a standard for Bond themes, but, just as the films have been subtly updated through the years, so the theme songs have reflected changes in pop music. Echoes and approximations of Norman's theme turn up over and over as a basis for the songs, even though they make room for individual interpretation. For example, Gladys Knight's "License to Kill" from 1989 may be an '80s power ballad complete with synthesizer accompaniment, but it still uses familiar orchestral elements. And some of the least characteristic songs are also some of the most successful. Carly Simon's "Nobody Does It Better" doesn't even use a film title, yet it is one of the better remembered theme songs. Many of the artists who sing the songs are pop footnotes (a-ha, Sheena Easton), but they were hot when they were asked to participate, and their performances hold up. [Originally released in 1999, the album was reissued in a 40th anniversary edition in 2002 containing three additional tracks, including Garbage's theme song for The World Is Not Enough and Moby's electronica-styled reconstruction of the original theme. It was reissued again in 2012 with Madonna's contribution to 2002's Die Another Day, Soundgarden/Audioslave frontman Chris Cornell's "You Know My Name" from 2006's Casino Royale, and Jack White and Alicia Keys' "Another Way to Die" from 2008's Quantum of Solace.]
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Product Details

  • Release Date: 10/9/2012
  • Label: Capitol
  • EAN: 5099923281721
  • Catalog Number: 32817
  • Sales rank: 777

Album Credits

Performance Credits
Shirley Bassey Vocals
a-ha Group
Rita Coolidge Vocals
Duran Duran Group
Sheena Easton Vocals
Gladys Knight Vocals
Paul McCartney Vocals
Carly Simon Vocals
Tina Turner Vocals
Tom Jones Vocals
Nancy Sinatra Vocals
Lulu Vocals
Matt Monro Vocals
Sheryl Crow Vocals
Louis Armstrong Vocals
Madonna Vocals
Chris Cornell Vocals
Wings Group
Garbage Group
Alicia Keys Vocals
Jack White Vocals
John Barry Orchestra Performing Ensemble
Technical Credits
Duran Duran Composer
Paul McCartney Composer
Michael Kamen Composer
Carole Bayer Sager Songwriter
Andy Taylor Songwriter
Sheryl Crow Composer
Marvin Hamlisch Composer
Lionel Bart Composer
Bill Conti Composer
The Edge Composer
John Barry Songwriter, Composer
David Arnold Songwriter, Composer
Don Black Songwriter
Bono Composer
Leslie Bricusse Songwriter
Madonna Composer
Michel Colombier Composer
Chris Cornell Composer
Hal David Songwriter
Mitchell Froom Composer
Simon LeBon Songwriter
Mick Leeson Songwriter
Linda McCartney Songwriter
Narada Michael Walden Composer
Anthony Newley Songwriter
Monty Norman Composer
Nick Rhodes Songwriter
John Taylor Songwriter
Tim Rice Songwriter
Walter Afanasieff Composer
Alicia Keys Composer
Jack White Composer
Mirwais Ahmadzaï Composer
Susan Lavoie Art Direction
Roger Taylor Songwriter
Paul David Hewson Songwriter
Jeffrey Cohen Composer
Abraham Rivera Cover Design
David Howell Evans Songwriter
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