JAMES BOND
FACT FILES

‘The James Bond Theme’
The John Barry Seven and Orchestra
Columbia Records DB 4898

‘Jamaica Jump Up’
Lord Creator with The Byron Lee Orchestra
Island Records JU-503

‘007 - From Russia With Love’
The John Barry Seven and Orchestra
Ember Records EMB S 181

Released October 1963. Highest UK chart position #39.
John Barry's re-recording of the Lionel Bart title track
‘From Russia With Love’ on the B-side.

Recorded at CTS Studios on August 20, 1964 Shirley Bassey's iconic rendition of the title track for Goldfinger was actually performed several times during the sessions. For the Columbia single release an alternate take was used to the one featured on the original soundtrack album. The single version was produced by George Martin, who would later compose the soundtrack for Roger Moore's debut as James Bond in Live And Let Die (1973). Shirley Bassey performed the song at the lavish after-show party at the Astor Hotel following the New York Premiere of Goldfinger on December 21, 1964 which had been held at the DeMille Theatre on Broadway. The single sold over one-million copies in the USA and reached number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Despite the record-breaking success of the film Goldfinger on its original release, Shirley Bassey's title song only reached number 21 in the UK charts in 1964. The soundtrack album featuring John Barry's orchestral score, which opened with Shirley Bassey's alternate take of the title song heard in the film, was released in the USA on December 12, 1965 reaching number one on March 20, 1965. Although 8-minutes shorter than the UK version, the Goldfinger soundtrack was the most popular album in the US chart for three weeks, and awarded a gold disc signifying over $1-million in sales.

‘Goldfinger’
Shirley Bassey
Columbia Records DB 7360

‘Goldfinger’
[Instrumental missing from original UK soundtrack album]
John Barry and his Orchestra
United Artists Records UP 1068

‘The Look of Love’
Dusty Springfield
Philips Records BF 1577 [B-side]

‘Bond Street’
Burt Bacharach
A&M Records AMS 702

‘You Only Live Twice’
Nancy Sinatra
Reprise Records RS 20595

ABOVE: The single version of ‘You Only Live Twice’ issued worldwide in 1967 is not the same version which featured on the original soundtrack album. The version heard in the film, and on the soundtrack album, was recorded at CTS Studios on May 2, 1967 with a 60-piece orchestra conducted by composer John Barry. American singer Nancy Sinatra [pictured above at the recording session with John Barry] was very nervous at the recording, and intimidated by the number of photographers and reporters present at the studio. The album recording was actually made up from around 25 different takes combined by producer John Barry into one seamless vocal track. The single release, produced by Lee Hazlewood and arranged by session guitarist Billy Strange, was less vocally demanding and used backing singers, a rock guitar and double-tracking of Nancy Sinatra's voice. Nevertheless, the Reprise Records single version of ‘You Only Live Twice’ was a big hit in the UK, peaking at number 11, and the highest charting James Bond single to date.
BELOW: John Barry's ‘007’ was also issued by Ember Records in June 1967 and the label stated ‘as featured in the new James Bond film You Only Live Twice’. The version of ‘007’ on the single was identical to the one last released by Ember in 1964. The sleeve also curiously recycled the From Russia With Love artwork used on the 1963/64 singles. The sleeve also acknowledged John Barry's recent 1967 Academy Award^© Winner status. Barry's first Oscar was awarded for his score for the 1966 film Born Free. A second single featuring John Barry's instrumental recording of ‘You Only Live Twice’ was released on June 16, 1967 with ‘The Girl With The Sun In Her Hair’ (then enjoying popularity due to its use in a Sunsilk hair shampoo commercial) as its B-side.

‘You Only Live Twice’
John Barry
CBS Records 2825

‘On Her Majesty's Secret Service’
John Barry
CBS Records 4680

Released 21 November 1969
Paper sleeve only in UK
B-side ‘We Have All the Time In The World’

‘WE HAVE ALL THE TIME IN THE WORLD’ - Take Two!
In 1994 EMI re-released Louis Armstrong's recording of ‘We Have All The Time In The World’ as a 7" vinyl single (EM 357). The song had been used in a popular Guinness television commercial and the re-released single reached number 3 in the UK chart, whereas the 1969 release did not chart at all. The B-side to the vinyl release was John Barry's main theme to On Her Majesty's Secret Service. The CD edition (CDEM 357) added Louis Armstrong's popular 1967 hit ‘What A Wonderful World’. The re-release also served as a taster for EMI's forthcoming compilation album ‘We Have All The Time In The World - The Pure Genius Of Louis Armstrong’ which featured the majority of Armstrong's vocal hits.

It is ironic that it took a TV commercial to kick-start the renewed interest in the then neglected 1969 James Bond film On Her Majesty's Secret Service, which starred George Lazenby in his only 007 outing. The same year saw George Lazenby appear at ‘The James Bond 007 Fan Club On Her Majesty’s Secret Service Christmas Lunch’, held at Pinewood Studios on December 11th. The event was organised by 007 MAGAZINE Editor & Publisher Graham Rye, and Lazenby's appearance was something of a major coup at the time.