Other: Covers of Bond Music (1)

Title:

THE BEST OF BOND

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
CD - C-TBOB

Distributor: EMI Records Ltd

Tracks ...

  1. The James Bond Theme ( from Dr No )
  2. Diamonds Are Forever
  3. Thunderball
  4. Goldfinger
  5. Dawn Raid On Fort Knox ( from Goldfinger )
  6. A View To A Kill
  7. The Man With The Golden Gun
  8. Nobody Does It Better ( from The Spy Who Loved Me )
  9. From Russia With Love
  10. Licence To Kill
  11. For Your Eyes Only
  12. Ride To Atlantis ( from The Spy Who Loved Me )
  13. Live And Let Die
  14. You Only Live Twice
  15. You Know My Name ( from Casino Royale )
  16. Surrender ( from Tomorrow Never Dies )

NB. On the back CD listing track 11 is dated (1981) and not on the booklet listing with track 13 dated (1973) and not on the back !

Duration: 52 mins 40 secs.

CD Number: 50999 6 31087 2 9

Purchased online this selection of Bond music conducted by acclaimed conductor Carl Davis with his vocalists Mary Carewe & Simon Bowman. From the credits it seems that the album was recorded in 2008 but released in 2010 and comes with a 8 page info booklet - no 007 movie stills. Both singers aren't known to this listener but Ms Carewe appears to enjoy singing Bond Themes in concerts all over the world and Mr Bowman has a stage background singing in West End productions. Alas both aren't suited to every song they sing. Tracks 5 & 13 are Mr Davis' orchestral choices - sadly he didn't tackle OHMSS - and both use the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra's talents.

Some of the singing tracks work and some don't wishing for instrumental versions but at £3.99 you can't complain. This is a different type of musical listening ( perhaps theatrical ) with clearer diction from the singers giving a better understanding of the lyrics e.g. the final 2 tracks but not necessary better versions.

So still worth a listen !

Title:

LICENCE TO THRILL

The Big Movie Orchestra
CD - CLTT

Distributor: Crimson Productions

Tracks ...

  1. James Bond Theme
  2. From Russia With Love
  3. Goldfinger
  4. Thunderball
  5. You Only Live Twice
  6. On Her Majesty's Secret Service
  7. Diamonds Are Forever
  8. Live And Let Die
  9. The Man With The Golden Gun
  10. Nobody Does It Better
  11. Moonraker
  12. For Your Eyes Only
  13. All Time High
  14. A View To A Kill
  15. The Living Daylights
  16. Licence To Kill
  17. Goldeneye
  18. Tomorrow Never Dies
  19. The World Is Not Enough
  20. Die Another Day
  21. You Know My Name
  22. Another Way To Die

Duration: 74 mins 49 secs.

Distributor: Crimson Productions

Tracks ...

  1. James Bond Theme
  2. From Russia With Love
  3. Goldfinger
  4. Thunderball
  5. You Only Live Twice
  6. On Her Majesty's Secret Service
  7. We Have All The Time In The World
  8. Diamonds Are Forever
  9. Live And Let Die
  10. The Man With The Golden Gun
  11. Nobody Does It Better
  12. Moonraker
  13. For Your Eyes Only
  14. All Time High
  15. A View To Kill
  16. The Living Daylights
  17. Licence To Kill
  18. Goldeneye
  19. Tomorrow Never Dies
  20. The World Is Not Enough
  21. Die Another Day
  22. You Know My Name

Duration: 73 mins 34 secs.

NB. I haven't missed an 'A' out of track 15 - as stated on album back cover/booklet.

Distributor: Bianco Music and Entertainment

Tracks ...

  1. The World Is Not Enough
  2. Tomorrow Never Dies
  3. GoldenEye
  4. Licence To Kill
  5. The Living Daylights
  6. A View To A Kill
  7. All Time High
  8. For Your Eyes Only
  9. Moonraker
  10. Nobody Does It Better
  11. The Man With Golden Gun
  12. Live And Let Die
  13. Diamonds Are Forever
  14. We Have All The Time In The World
  15. Casino Royale
  16. You Only Live Twice
  17. Thunderball
  18. Goldfinger
  19. From Russia With Love
  20. James Bond Theme

Duration: 64 mins 14 secs.

CD Number: CRIMCD528

Made a rare Saturday afternoon visit to my local supermarket and picked this out of the sale bin for £2 but looked familiar. This cover version CD was released 2 years previous but this time with the same title ( minus The Music of .. ) and repackaged minus We Have All The Time In The World track but plus the latest 2008 movie Quantum Of Solace theme.

This time The Big Movie Orchestra is credited under the back track listings but still believe it's a talented organist with good instrumental effects for most tracks. Overall all 22 chronological musical tracks are recognizable, the new end track is passable but feels if on vinyl the needle is stuck at the end. Like before if you want the pre-cinema music effect in your home, this instrumental only CD is for you.

It reminds me that nowadays we don't get an instrumental version of the main song on Bond soundtracks like we used to get in the Barry days. At this bargain price it's worth adding to your Bond music collection.

CD Number: CRIMCD466

Another cover version CD for under £4 ( $7 ) and includes the latest 2006 movie Casino Royale theme. If you want the pre-cinema music effect in your home, this cheapo is for you. You know when you've gone to the cinema to see a new Bond movie and it pumps out this music while you're waiting or buying your drinks & snacks.

According to the booklet the music is performed by The Big Movie Orchestra which is probably a talented organist with good instrumental effects, perhaps they hired a guitarist for the final You Know My Name track ? Overall all 22 chronological musical tracks are recognisable with Die Another Day probably the weakest. Strange when you play the CD on your PC all tracks/artists aren't named correct and the album's called James Bond Film Themes.

Still this nice easy listening music may appeal to those fans who can't play air guitar and are better on the keyboard ( try track 9 ). Still worth adding to your Bond music collection.

CD Number: BIA 4135

Released in 2000, this is another of those cheapo cover CDs for around £2.00 ( $3 ) and has 20 tracks including the non EON Bond film Casino Royale. The sale price caught my attention and the name of the cover artists - Moneypenny Singers.

It's another case of session musicians & singers trying to reproduce the sound of the originals. Like The James Bond Themes CD released in '89, it's like Stars on 45 or tv's Stars in Their Eyes meets Bond. They all have a good stab at the tunes starting with TWINE and working backwards. The guy singing We Have All The Time .. sounds more like Joe Cocker than Louis Armstrong but the orchestrations are good and true to the originals. Tracks 15, 17, 19 & 20 are the instrumentals.

For such a low price it's well worth a purchase.

Title:

LICENCE TO THRILL - The Music of James Bond

The Big Movie Orchestra
CD - C LTT

Distributor: Crimson Productions

Tracks ...

  1. James Bond Theme
  2. From Russia With Love
  3. Goldfinger
  4. Thunderball
  5. You Only Live Twice
  6. On Her Majesty's Secret Service
  7. We Have All The Time In The World
  8. Diamonds Are Forever
  9. Live And Let Die
  10. The Man With The Golden Gun
  11. Nobody Does It Better
  12. Moonraker
  13. For Your Eyes Only
  14. All Time High
  15. A View To Kill
  16. The Living Daylights
  17. Licence To Kill
  18. Goldeneye
  19. Tomorrow Never Dies
  20. The World Is Not Enough
  21. Die Another Day
  22. You Know My Name

Duration: 73 mins 34 secs.

NB. I haven't missed an 'A' out of track 15 - as stated on album back cover/booklet.

CD Number: CRIMCD466

Another cover version CD for under £4 ( $7 ) and includes the latest 2006 movie Casino Royale theme. If you want the pre-cinema music effect in your home, this cheapo is for you. You know when you've gone to the cinema to see a new Bond movie and it pumps out this music while you're waiting or buying your drinks & snacks.

According to the booklet the music is performed by The Big Movie Orchestra which is probably a talented organist with good instrumental effects, perhaps they hired a guitarist for the final You Know My Name track ? Overall all 22 chronological musical tracks are recognisable with Die Another Day probably the weakest. Strange when you play the CD on your PC all tracks/artists aren't named correct and the album's called James Bond Film Themes.

Still this nice easy listening music may appeal to those fans who can't play air guitar and are better on the keyboard ( try track 9 ). Still worth adding to your Bond music collection.

Title:

Stirred Not Shaken

Moneypenny Singers
CD - C SNS

Distributor: Bianco Music and Entertainment

Tracks ...

  1. The World Is Not Enough
  2. Tomorrow Never Dies
  3. GoldenEye
  4. Licence To Kill
  5. The Living Daylights
  6. A View To A Kill
  7. All Time High
  8. For Your Eyes Only
  9. Moonraker
  10. Nobody Does It Better
  11. The Man With Golden Gun
  12. Live And Let Die
  13. Diamonds Are Forever
  14. We Have All The Time In The World
  15. Casino Royale
  16. You Only Live Twice
  17. Thunderball
  18. Goldfinger
  19. From Russia With Love
  20. James Bond Theme

Duration: 64 mins 14 secs.

CD Number: BIA 4135

Released in 2000, this is another of those cheapo cover CDs for around £2.00 ( $3 ) and has 20 tracks including the non EON Bond film Casino Royale. The sale price caught my attention and the name of the cover artists - Moneypenny Singers.

It's another case of session musicians & singers trying to reproduce the sound of the originals. Like The James Bond Themes CD released in '89, it's like Stars on 45 or tv's Stars in Their Eyes meets Bond. They all have a good stab at the tunes starting with TWINE and working backwards. The guy singing We Have All The Time .. sounds more like Joe Cocker than Louis Armstrong but the orchestrations are good and true to the originals. Tracks 15, 17, 19 & 20 are the instrumentals.

For such a low price it's well worth a purchase.