Q Branch Archive for posts tagged ‘Monty Norman’
John Barry and the Bond Music
Eleven of the James Bond Films, from EON Productions, had the illustrious John Barry to thank for the bond music.
As a young boy John Barry gained most of his musical influences after spending hours with his father who worked as a projectionist in cinemas all over York. He was a trumpet player in the army and after leaving became a music arranger for Jack Parnell and the Ted Heath Orchestras. He then spent many years composing music for organisations such as the BBC and EMI Columbia and, in 1962 the producers of Dr No approached him to write for the latest James Bond film, and with Monty Norman writing the theme, John Barry was the arranger of the one and only James Bond Theme. Unmistakable and unforgettable. The second this bond theme is heard every man in the room will start raising an eyebrow and putting on their best bond impression!
John Barry worked on the soundtracks for all the following James Bond films and his brassy and moody style can be heard in each and every one: 1962 Dr No – James Bond Theme with Monty Norman, 1963 From Russia with Love with Lionel Bart, 1964 Goldfinger with Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse, 1965 Thunderball with Don Black, 1967 You Only Live Twice with Leslie Bricusse, 1969 On Her Majesty’s Secret Service with Hal David, 1971 Diamonds Are Forever with Don Black, 1974 The Man With The Golden Gun with Don Black, 1979 Moonraker with Hal David, 1983 Octopussy with Tim Rice, 1985 A View To A Kill with Duran Duran, 1987 The Living Daylights with Paul Waaktaar-Savoy.
The Bond Tribute Band The Name is Band love playing the Bond music at events, parties and celebrations all over the UK and abroad. Each Bond theme is different but they all have fantastic orchestral scores and the challenge we face is replicating these amazing scores so that our live 10-piece band is as close and authentic to the original as possible.
From Russia With Love
From Russia With Love – starring Sean Connery as Agent 007 – Bond, James Bond. The book written by Ian Flemming was apparently one of the top ten books that President John F Kennedy loved to read don’t you know! Although John Barry had replaced Monty Norman as the soundtrack composer on this bond film, the bond theme was written by Lionel Bart. You may also recognise, and be able to sing along to, some of Lionel’s other songs from a famous film where a little boy asked for “More”- do you know what it is yet? Of course you do! It’s Oliver but he was also responsible for many more hits written for Shirley Bassey and Rod Stewart. Lionel Bart couldn’t actually read or write music – he used to hum the songs and, for the 21 Carry On films, his co-partner at the time – Eric Rogers, used to transcribe them for him.
Matt Munro, who was affectionately nicknamed “the singing bus driver”, sang this Bond theme and his phrasing in this number is amazing. The ease and sophistication in his vocals are like velvet. Well the Bond Tribute Band The Name is Band have their own “fabulous crooner” in Gavin Lazarus who also has the ability to beautifully phrase lyrics old stylie when needed! When we were thinking about what Bond Themes to record for the website Gavin’s phrasing ability was a deciding factor in choosing From Russia With Love.
We hope you enjoy this one – To you….. From the Bond Tribute Band With Love …. awwwwww!