Dr. No's Soundtrack

Absolutely_CartAbsolutely_Cart NJ/NYC, United StatesPosts: 1,740MI6 Agent
edited June 2015 in James Bond Music
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOBkh1zlIwg

It invented the iconic James Bond theme, which alone makes this soundtrack memorable. As far as the rest of the soundtrack goes, it's a not a conventional soundtrack like we're used to in more modern movies, and this soundtrack probably wouldn't get much play on iPod, but in context of the movie, it added a lot of gentle relaxing island atmosphere. I like it!

Your thoughts?

Comments

  • BarbelBarbel ScotlandPosts: 37,854Chief of Staff

    It invented the iconic 007 theme

    This may sound like a nitpick, Cart, but it's really not, especially if you're intending to go through the soundtracks. The "007" theme originated in FRWL, not DN.

    JAMES BOND THEME- the one everyone knows, as heard during gunbarrel and introduced in DN.

    007 - Gypsy camp fight in FRWL, underwater battle in TB, Little Nellie takes off in YOLT, oil rig battle in DAF, boat chase in MR... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9j0DE8akL1c

    There's also a tune called "The James Bond Theme" (note the subtle difference) on the OST, but like most of that album it's not in the film. This uses the same melody as a few other tracks on the album (eg "Twisting With James") and Monty Norman has stated that it was titled by the publisher, not him. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Riry9oZPeio (wrongly titled)

    Very little of the music in the film is on the album, and vice versa. This would happen again with TSWLM, 15 years later.

    Some of the orchestral pieces heard in the film, which don't appear on the album, were covered by the City Of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra. These were "Death Of The Tarantula", "Killing The Guard", and "Death Of Dr No". Run together as a suite, they're on several releases on the Silva Screen label.

    An unofficial CD on the Harkit label a couple of years ago has a few selections which aren't on the OST, but this is a grey area release taking advantage of loopholes in the copyright law (the 50-year rule, which applies only in certain places)- it was followed by a FRWL release, though I haven't noticed a GF one as yet. This album has variable sound quality.

    These threads may be of interest in this context:

    http://www.ajb007.co.uk/topic/30626/dr-no/
    http://www.ajb007.co.uk/topic/29138/song-missing-from-dr-no-soundtrack/
    http://www.ajb007.co.uk/topic/26526/james-bond-theme/
    http://www.ajb007.co.uk/topic/13548/who-thinks-the-007-theme-should-have-stayed-in-the-connery-era/

    I'd be happy to go into more detail if required.
  • Absolutely_CartAbsolutely_Cart NJ/NYC, United StatesPosts: 1,740MI6 Agent
    James Bond Theme = DN
    007 Theme = FRWL

    Got it. Correction made. Thanks.
  • Napoleon PluralNapoleon Plural LondonPosts: 10,467MI6 Agent
    Do wish someone would cobble together the actual credits piece, where the Bond theme merges into Kingston Calypson, a bit like the Pulp Fiction credits some 30 years later! -{
    "This is where we leave you Mr Bond."

    Roger Moore 1927-2017
  • BarbelBarbel ScotlandPosts: 37,854Chief of Staff
    That's on the Harkit release I mentioned above.
  • Golrush007Golrush007 South AfricaPosts: 3,421Quartermasters
    What are the extra selections on the Harkit release? Anything particularly worthwhile?
  • Matt SMatt S Oh Cult Voodoo ShopPosts: 6,610MI6 Agent
    James Bond Theme = DN
    007 Theme = FRWL

    Got it. Correction made. Thanks.

    It's actually just called "007". There's nothing called the "007 Theme". It is an alternate theme for James Bond that John Barry wrote so he could use music he wrote himself, but it is never titled as a "Theme".
    Visit my blog, Bond Suits
  • BarbelBarbel ScotlandPosts: 37,854Chief of Staff
    True, although it is incorrectly called "007 Theme" on some releases.


    Golrush007 wrote:
    What are the extra selections on the Harkit release? Anything particularly worthwhile?

    They include:
    Main Title Sequence
    James Bond Returns Home (under 30 seconds)
    Tarantula (just over a minute)
    Dr No Visits James Bond's Bedroom (under a minute)

    For more details: http://www.harkitrecords.com/dr_no.html

    Please, don't take this as a recommendation. This album is only for nutters like me who collect every scrap of Bond and/or Barry music.
  • Matt SMatt S Oh Cult Voodoo ShopPosts: 6,610MI6 Agent
    Barbel wrote:
    They include:
    Main Title Sequence
    James Bond Returns Home (under 30 seconds)
    Tarantula (just over a minute)
    Dr No Visits James Bond's Bedroom (under a minute)

    For more details: http://www.harkitrecords.com/dr_no.html

    Please, don't take this as a recommendation. This album is only for nutters like me who collect every scrap of Bond and/or Barry music.

    What exactly was Barry involved in for Dr. No beyond the Bond theme?
    Visit my blog, Bond Suits
  • BarbelBarbel ScotlandPosts: 37,854Chief of Staff
    I'll send you a PM, Matt.
  • Golrush007Golrush007 South AfricaPosts: 3,421Quartermasters
    I listened to the samples on the Harkit website, just straight rips out of the film. Certainly not something I would spend good money on.
  • BarbelBarbel ScotlandPosts: 37,854Chief of Staff
    Yup, that's what they are which is why I didn't recommend it. Sending you a PM.
  • DR NO-ahDR NO-ah AustraliaPosts: 104MI6 Agent
    UNDERNEATH THE MANGO TREE! I actually wish there was more music adapting to the settings in Bond to be honest.
    "Mango, banana and tangerine. Sugar and ackee and cocoa bean!"
  • Mr SnowMr Snow Station "J" JamaicaPosts: 1,736MI6 Agent
    Dr. No/Come Fly with Lee (Me)? - A quick review.

    Initially I was never going to buy this soundtrack because there were only 3 tracks I liked (Kingston Calypso (Three Blind Mice), Underneath the Mango Tree and to a lesser extent Jump Up). The 50th anniversary of Dr. No (Harkit or something) came out but I still wasn’t convinced. Anyway, an album by Byron Lee and the Dragonnaires were added so I decided to give it a go.

    I like it, but I like Calypso/Ska but (as expected) it is not what you’d call a classic Bond soundtrack in the same vein as say a TB (my all time favourite soundtrack), OHMSS, DAF or YOLT so I knew what I was getting (to a point). I think this is just the Harkit release plus Byron Lee. Unfortunately the opening credits with the bongos leading in to Kingston Calypso isn’t here so a bit of a disappointment but not a big deal. Anyway, this is my least favourite (but I still think it’s good) Bond soundtrack but the four I previously mentioned (that’s all I own) I all rate either 9 or 10 out of 10 so a hard act to follow.

    Overall it’s an easy album to listen to and has some nice tracks and you get 3 versions of UTMT and a couple of KC (TBM).

    In the next week or so I should receive TLD that I am looking forward to – John Barry’s last Bond score? I’ll throw in my two cents worth when I’ve listened to it a couple of times. CR, AVTAK and LALD I doubt won’t be far away. The soundtracks that are remastered with extra tracks are an absolute godsend.

    Finally, if anyone is still reading, can someone explain why the title tracks (SF, CR, SP etc) aren’t on the soundtrack albums these days? The answer is probably on ajb007 somewhere but I couldn’t be bothered going back through all the pages?
    "Everyone knows rock n' roll attained perfection in 1974; It's a scientific fact". - Homer J Simpson
  • Golrush007Golrush007 South AfricaPosts: 3,421Quartermasters
    I don't know the nitty-gritty specifics, but as I understand it, the recording artists involved (ie Adele, Chris Cornell, Sam Smith) belong to music labels which don't allow their recordings to be released by another label.
  • BarbelBarbel ScotlandPosts: 37,854Chief of Staff
    OGG007 wrote:
    Finally, if anyone is still reading, can someone explain why the title tracks (SF, CR, SP etc) aren’t on the soundtrack albums these days? The answer is probably on ajb007 somewhere but I couldn’t be bothered going back through all the pages?

    This may be of interest: http://www.ajb007.co.uk/topic/36215/casino-royale-cd-without-you-know-my-name/
  • Mr SnowMr Snow Station "J" JamaicaPosts: 1,736MI6 Agent
    Golrush007 wrote:
    I don't know the nitty-gritty specifics, but as I understand it, the recording artists involved (ie Adele, Chris Cornell, Sam Smith) belong to music labels which don't allow their recordings to be released by another label.
    Barbel wrote:
    OGG007 wrote:
    Finally, if anyone is still reading, can someone explain why the title tracks (SF, CR, SP etc) aren’t on the soundtrack albums these days? The answer is probably on ajb007 somewhere but I couldn’t be bothered going back through all the pages?

    This may be of interest: http://www.ajb007.co.uk/topic/36215/casino-royale-cd-without-you-know-my-name/

    Thank you Golrush007 and Barbel - that explains it -{
    "Everyone knows rock n' roll attained perfection in 1974; It's a scientific fact". - Homer J Simpson
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