Bond Cover Version Albums

IanFryerIanFryer Posts: 327MI6 Agent
After a successful day at the charity shops, I thought I'd post details of two Bond-related LPs I bought today.

On the Marble Arch label from 1965, 007 James Bond Thrillers by The Zero Zero Seven Band.



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And on Decca from 1967, Hollywood by Mantovani and his Orchestra with covers of Goldfinger and You Only Live Twice. Dig that groovy cover art!


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  • IanFryerIanFryer Posts: 327MI6 Agent
    Also a CD of The Essential Sergio Mendes, featuring his cover of The Look of Love from the 1967 Casino Royale.


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    Anyone else got CD/LP finds to share?
  • IanFryerIanFryer Posts: 327MI6 Agent
    Listened to both albums while cooking tonight's meal, and much to my surprise, given his (possibly unfair) reputation for syrupy strings, the Mantovani album is a real cracker. It's beautifully orchestrated and recorded: here's his version of Goldfinger
    https://youtu.be/uLs39_UQJ7o

    And here's You Only Live Twice (only upload I could find, but it'll give you a feel for it)

    https://youtu.be/5IfNNvVRTf4

    Much as I love the Roland Shaw recordings from the same period, these have a much lighter touch and a really lush feel to them.
  • IanFryerIanFryer Posts: 327MI6 Agent
    The James Bond thrillers LP is somewhat less good. The ten tracks contain exactly three which are actually tunes from James Bond movies, the others being big band, or even trad jazz tunes given Bondian titles such as 'M Joins the Hunt'. The Bond covers, From Russia With Love, Goldfinger, and Death of Goldfinger, aren't bad - it's always interesting to hear different takes on the material contemporary to the originals.
  • ChriscoopChriscoop Belize Posts: 10,449MI6 Agent
    Have you come accross " shaken and stirred " by David Arnold? It features remakes with contemporary artists such as Pulp, propeller heads, Martin fry etc. It's a cracking listen, but don't play the ohmss track while driving or you'll soon rack up speeding tickets.

    https://play.google.com/music/m/Bftze2x2ex57zawmy77fygqe56a?t=Shaken_And_Stirred_-_David_Arnold
    It was either that.....or the priesthood
  • IanFryerIanFryer Posts: 327MI6 Agent
    Chriscoop wrote:
    Have you come accross " shaken and stirred " by David Arnold? It features remakes with contemporary artists such as Pulp, propeller heads, Martin fry etc. It's a cracking listen, but don't play the ohmss track while driving or you'll soon rack up speeding tickets.

    https://play.google.com/music/m/Bftze2x2ex57zawmy77fygqe56a?t=Shaken_And_Stirred_-_David_Arnold

    Oh yes, I love that album. Except the version of The James Bond Theme, which as I recall bears no relation to the original whatsoever.
  • HigginsHiggins GermanyPosts: 16,618MI6 Agent
    Many moons ago, I've bought this (see how desperately a James Bond fan I was) and enjoy his version of LALD.
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    President of the 'Misty Eyes Club'.

    Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
  • IanFryerIanFryer Posts: 327MI6 Agent
    Higgins wrote:
    Many moons ago, I've bought this (see how desperately a James Bond fan I was) and enjoy his version of LALD.
    1.jpg

    Ooh, I actually have a copy of that and clean forgot. I like some of Pourcel's stuff - he recorded over such a long period that his style changed a fair bit. He does a nice cover of Casino Royale, a tune which is, to be fair, absolutely bulletproof.

    https://youtu.be/m3qCdKUkor0
  • IanFryerIanFryer Posts: 327MI6 Agent
    Bought a bunch of soundtrack CDs today from a friend who's downsizing, including John Barry's Deadfall and The Last Valley soundtracks, and the City of Prague Philharmonics' Bond Back in Action.
    Bond_Back_in_Action.jpg
  • Charmed & DangerousCharmed & Dangerous Posts: 7,358MI6 Agent
    IanFryer wrote:
    Higgins wrote:
    Many moons ago, I've bought this (see how desperately a James Bond fan I was) and enjoy his version of LALD.
    1.jpg

    Ooh, I actually have a copy of that and clean forgot. I like some of Pourcel's stuff - he recorded over such a long period that his style changed a fair bit. He does a nice cover of Casino Royale, a tune which is, to be fair, absolutely bulletproof.

    https://youtu.be/m3qCdKUkor0

    I love this album, play it all the time. I had it on cassette on 1973, played it until it was worn out, and I've now downloaded it on iTunes.
    "How was your lamb?" "Skewered. One sympathises."
  • BarbelBarbel ScotlandPosts: 36,053Chief of Staff
    I borrowed it from the local library back then, taped it ( :o ) then lost it at some point.
  • Colonel SmithersColonel Smithers Posts: 21MI6 Agent
    I love the Bond soundtracks, but I especially have a sweet tooth for Bond covers and ‘60’s spy music albums. Here are some of my recent finds.......

    Roland Shaw And His Orchestra - The Return Of James Bond In Diamonds Are Forever And Other Secret Agent Themes. 2 LP set from 1971. This, along with Shaw’s other Bond related LPs, have been released on CD by Cherry Red’s Poker label.

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  • Colonel SmithersColonel Smithers Posts: 21MI6 Agent
    A must have for any swinging spy pad is Hugo Montenegro And His Orchestra’s “Come Spy With Me”. Three great Bond covers (Thunderball, Goldfinger, James Bond Theme) along with other great ‘60’s spy themes. Plus, the album cover alone is worth the price of admission.

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  • Colonel SmithersColonel Smithers Posts: 21MI6 Agent
    IanFryer wrote:
    After a successful day at the charity shops, I thought I'd post details of two Bond-related LPs I bought today.

    On the Marble Arch label from 1965, 007 James Bond Thrillers by The Zero Zero Seven Band.



    hqdefault.jpg

    And on Decca from 1967, Hollywood by Mantovani and his Orchestra with covers of Goldfinger and You Only Live Twice. Dig that groovy cover art!


    R-2668834-1340739548-8467.jpeg.jpg


    Here’s the US cover of The Zero Zero Seven Band’s 1965 “James Bond Thrillers” LP on the Somerset label.

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  • Dirty PunkerDirty Punker ...Your Eyes Only, darling."Posts: 2,587MI6 Agent
    Is there some sort of remix thread?
    Several good ones I've found over the years.
    Most notable one for me has to be Grantby - Timber which is a remix of 007 And Counting as it gives a totally different feel from the original.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwlHguZWHGI
    a reasonable rate of return
  • BarbelBarbel ScotlandPosts: 36,053Chief of Staff
    There are specific threads but I don't think there's a general one.
  • Golrush007Golrush007 South AfricaPosts: 3,418Quartermasters
    A must have for any swinging spy pad is Hugo Montenegro And His Orchestra’s “Come Spy With Me”. Three great Bond covers (Thunderball, Goldfinger, James Bond Theme) along with other great ‘60’s spy themes. Plus, the album cover alone is worth the price of admission.

    61wqtp0Mf1L._SY355_.jpg

    I like the look of that album.

    I have Hugo Montenegro's album of covers from Sergio Leone's Dollars Trilogy, so I really ought to have the spy album to go with it. I've just found the album on Apple Music so will give it a listen.
  • BarbelBarbel ScotlandPosts: 36,053Chief of Staff
    It's this one I have:
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  • Colonel SmithersColonel Smithers Posts: 21MI6 Agent
    Golrush007 wrote:
    A must have for any swinging spy pad is Hugo Montenegro And His Orchestra’s “Come Spy With Me”. Three great Bond covers (Thunderball, Goldfinger, James Bond Theme) along with other great ‘60’s spy themes. Plus, the album cover alone is worth the price of admission.

    61wqtp0Mf1L._SY355_.jpg

    I like the look of that album.

    I have Hugo Montenegro's album of covers from Sergio Leone's Dollars Trilogy, so I really ought to have the spy album to go with it. I've just found the album on Apple Music so will give it a listen.
    Barbel wrote:

    Here’s another good CD with Hugo’s various movie themes. Has all the tracks from ‘Come Spy With Me’ as well as several of his Spaghetti Westerns themes. Out of print, but inexpensive on Amazon.com or Discogs.

    Hugo Montenegro And His Orchestra – All-Time Greatest Movie Themes & Schemes
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  • Colonel SmithersColonel Smithers Posts: 21MI6 Agent
    ‘Come Spy With Us’ on Ace Records is also a very good collection of various ‘60’s spy film music.
    https://www.discogs.com/Various-Come-Spy-With-Us/release/5711717

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    -{
  • BarbelBarbel ScotlandPosts: 36,053Chief of Staff
    aa_old_man_4.jpg

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrp9qey2Zc4 Geoff Love & his orchestra

    (After a complaint from Eon, the cover was changed to this...

    AA_OLD_MAN_5.jpg

    ...though the music stayed the same.)



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    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPmjN4NfprA Various
  • IanFryerIanFryer Posts: 327MI6 Agent
    Barbel wrote:
    aa_old_man_4.jpg

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrp9qey2Zc4 Geoff Love & his orchestra

    (After a complaint from Eon, the cover was changed to this...

    AA_OLD_MAN_5.jpg

    ...though the music stayed the same.)



    AA_OLD_MAN_3.jpg
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPmjN4NfprA Various
    Always amused the heck out of me - I have both versions just for the hell of it. some of those Geoff Love albums are great, though he went the disco route from his Star Wars album onwards. Meco's version of the Star Wars theme had been a huge hit and Disco was just everywhere in 1978.

    Just to go off-topic, it does contain this absolute gem - a version of Barry Gray's UFO theme which sounds very Bondian.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=811SCXJ2fKY

    Also, trivia fans, the sleeve image contains a painting of the actor and model David Warbeck, well-known to fans of Hammer films and Italian horror and adventure movies.



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  • Colonel SmithersColonel Smithers Posts: 21MI6 Agent
    Just found this album from 1992. No spy music, but it does feature an outtake cover photo from Hugo Montenegro‘ 1966 ‘Come Spy With Me’ LP.

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    https://www.discogs.com/Hugo-Montenegro-The-GoodBad-And-The-Ugly/master/502717
  • Matt SMatt S Oh Cult Voodoo ShopPosts: 6,596MI6 Agent
    Just found this album from 1992. No spy music, but it does feature an outtake cover photo from Hugo Montenegro‘ 1966 ‘Come Spy With Me’ LP.

    R-4121082-1355974505-5538.jpeg.jpg
    https://www.discogs.com/Hugo-Montenegro-The-GoodBad-And-The-Ugly/master/502717

    I did not know about anything he did besides write the theme to I Dream of Jeannie. This is really interesting!
    Visit my blog, Bond Suits
  • Quentin QuigleyQuentin Quigley Terminal One, Hamburg AirportPosts: 1,150MI6 Agent
    I have two cover compilations, which I listened to every night back in the late 90s:

    Shaken Not Stirred - performed by The Hollywood Studio Orchestra
    James Bond Themes - performed by The London Theatre Orchestra


    I remember the latter featured very close vocal covers, although a couple of tracks including FRWL were instrumentals.

    49602721653_54edc94dee_o.png
    Always have an escape plan. Mine is watching James Bond films.
  • JoshuaJoshua Posts: 1,138MI6 Agent
    I think this is the best place to post.

    An interesting version of the NTTD theme.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgRoucrBIgI
  • Napoleon PluralNapoleon Plural LondonPosts: 10,238MI6 Agent
    There are some fun rip-off cover albums on eBay. The versions may be lacklustre or good but there'll be some odd jazz tracks with titles you won't recall. It will then say 'An Original Composition by the author' like they're giving you a treat! Of course, it's basically the composer cashing in on the Bond thing but chucking in his own songs for the royalties!

    One early. 70s Bond cover album had a version of The Man With The Golden Gun before the film had come out! It was what the author figured it might sound like! It's almost kind of wistful, like he felt it might get picked up by the producers.

    Didn't Count Basie Do Bond at some point?

    All this stuff used to be the rage when there were loads of LPs with 'songs in the style of' rather than the originals. It was a bit like the band on Strictly doing their versions of big hits. The Top of the Pops albums were all covers, not the originals.
    "This is where we leave you Mr Bond."

    Roger Moore 1927-2017
  • BarbelBarbel ScotlandPosts: 36,053Chief of Staff
    Count Basie did indeed record a Bond album-

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    It's enjoyable enough.

    The "fake" TMWTGG still occasionally turns up on cover albums to this day.
  • caractacus pottscaractacus potts Orbital communicator, level 10Posts: 3,906MI6 Agent
    Barbel wrote:
    Count Basie did indeed record a Bond album-
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    It's enjoyable enough.
    I wanna get this one, when I start going into record stores again I'm going to look for it.
    I like Basie round this period, and I've heard tracks played from the album on my local jazz station.

    Actually my local jazz station plays a lot of jazz covers of the vintage Bond toons. There's a version of From Russia with Love I've heard a lot, and an instrumental version of Goldfinger. Don't remember who did them, I need to start making notes when I hear them and will post here if folks are interested.
    (I do always crank up the radio when such Bond covers come on, so my neighbours down the street can enjoy the music also!)


    related, Diana Krall has made The Look of Love something of a signature toon, but that's just one song and not a Barry Bond toon.
  • BarbelBarbel ScotlandPosts: 36,053Chief of Staff
    Yes, please post whoever is doing those. And how kind of you to allow your neighbours to appreciate the music!
  • caractacus pottscaractacus potts Orbital communicator, level 10Posts: 3,906MI6 Agent
    Today my local jazz station played an instrumental version of Goldfinger and I remembered to make a note!
    Turns out it was by a contemporary saxophonist and bandleader named Harry Allen.

    I presume its from this 2010 album called 007 Songs
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    I can't find his version of Goldfinger on youtube, but here is:
    The James Bond Theme
    Thunderball
    Surrender

    Album cover itself is a bit weak, especially compared to those vintage 60s LPs upthread. I guess this sort of a graphic is designed as a thumbnail to be viewed on a phone or Windows Media Player, rather than a nice LP jacket...
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