Dr. No (soundtrack)
Encyclopedia
Dr. No is the original soundtrack for the first James Bond film of the same name
.
Composer Monty Norman
was selected by producer Albert R. Broccoli
after Broccoli backed a musical of Norman's Belle or The Ballad of Dr. Crippen written by Wolf Mankowitz
a frequent collaborator with Norman and an original screenwriter for Dr. No. Norman accompanied the producers and film crew to Jamaica.
The original James Bond Theme
was written by Monty Norman. John Barry
, who would later go on to compose the music for eleven Bond films, arranged the Bond theme, but was uncredited - except for the credit of his orchestra playing the final piece. It has occasionally been suggested that Barry, not Norman, composed the "James Bond Theme
". This argument has been the subject of two court cases, the most recent in 2001. Some portions of the theme are, however, based on music Norman composed for a stage musical several years previously.
The soundtrack album of Dr. No was not originally issued to coincide with the film's initial release in October 1962. However, in addition to his fee for orchestrating The James Bond Theme, Barry was allowed to perform a different orchestration of the theme on Columbia Records
. This became a top ten hit in the UK. The soundtrack album came out after the American release of Dr. No in June 1963 with American single recordings of The James Bond Theme by Al Caiola
and Leroy Holmes
on United Artists Records
and Si Zentner
on Liberty Records
. In addition to Barry's orchestration of the "James Bond Theme" most of the tracks on the album were performed by Byron Lee & the Dragonaires
who appear in the film singing "Jump Up". The song "Under the Mango Tree" was performed by an uncredited Diana Coupland
, Norman's wife at the time. None of the Eric Rogers orchestrated tracks appear on the soundtrack album.
One musical theme that appears in three different orchestrations on the album: Dr. No's Fantasy, Twisting with James and the misleadingly entitled "The James Bond Theme" (track 17 on the album, but entirely unrelated to the "track 1
"), is not heard anywhere in the film. Diana Coupland recalled that it was Norman's first attempt at a '"James Bond Theme"'. Notable omissions from the soundtrack include the film's opening sci-fi electronic music
sound effects/"James Bond Theme" gunbarrel sequence, and Eric Rogers symphonic arrangements of Norman's score including a brief theme for Miss Moneypenny and the music from the tarantula
scene as well as Dr. No's death (reused during the climax of the helicopter attack in From Russia with Love
but not on that soundtrack album either).
Dr. No (film)
Dr. No is a 1962 spy film, starring Sean Connery; it is the first James Bond film. Based on the 1958 Ian Fleming novel of the same name, it was adapted by Richard Maibaum, Johanna Harwood, and Berkely Mather and was directed by Terence Young. The film was produced by Harry Saltzman and Albert R...
.
Composer Monty Norman
Monty Norman
Monty Norman is a singer and film composer best known for being credited with composing the "James Bond Theme".-Biography:...
was selected by producer Albert R. Broccoli
Albert R. Broccoli
Albert Romolo Broccoli, CBE , nicknamed "Cubby", was an American film producer, who made more than 40 motion pictures throughout his career, most of them in the United Kingdom, and often filmed at Pinewood Studios. Co-founder of Danjaq, LLC and EON Productions, Broccoli is most notable as the...
after Broccoli backed a musical of Norman's Belle or The Ballad of Dr. Crippen written by Wolf Mankowitz
Wolf Mankowitz
Cyril Wolf Mankowitz was an English writer, playwright and screenwriter of Russian Jewish descent.-Early life:...
a frequent collaborator with Norman and an original screenwriter for Dr. No. Norman accompanied the producers and film crew to Jamaica.
The original James Bond Theme
James Bond Theme
The "James Bond Theme" is the main signature theme of the James Bond films and has featured in every Eon Productions Bond film since Dr. No. The piece has been used as an accompanying fanfare to the gun barrel sequence in almost every James Bond film....
was written by Monty Norman. John Barry
John Barry (composer)
John Barry Prendergast, OBE was an English conductor and composer of film music. He is best known for composing the soundtracks for 12 of the James Bond films between 1962 and 1987...
, who would later go on to compose the music for eleven Bond films, arranged the Bond theme, but was uncredited - except for the credit of his orchestra playing the final piece. It has occasionally been suggested that Barry, not Norman, composed the "James Bond Theme
James Bond Theme
The "James Bond Theme" is the main signature theme of the James Bond films and has featured in every Eon Productions Bond film since Dr. No. The piece has been used as an accompanying fanfare to the gun barrel sequence in almost every James Bond film....
". This argument has been the subject of two court cases, the most recent in 2001. Some portions of the theme are, however, based on music Norman composed for a stage musical several years previously.
The soundtrack album of Dr. No was not originally issued to coincide with the film's initial release in October 1962. However, in addition to his fee for orchestrating The James Bond Theme, Barry was allowed to perform a different orchestration of the theme on Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
. This became a top ten hit in the UK. The soundtrack album came out after the American release of Dr. No in June 1963 with American single recordings of The James Bond Theme by Al Caiola
Al Caiola
Al Caiola is a guitarist who plays jazz, country, rock, western, and pop music. He has been both a studio musician and stage performer...
and Leroy Holmes
LeRoy Holmes
LeRoy Holmes was an American songwriter, composer, arranger and conductor....
on United Artists Records
United Artists Records
United Artists Records was a record label founded by Max E. Youngstein of United Artists in 1957 initially to distribute records of its movie soundtracks, though it soon branched out into recording music of a number of different genres.-History:...
and Si Zentner
Si Zentner
Simon H. "Si" Zentner was an American jazz bandleader.Zentner played piano from age four and picked up trombone a few years later. He attended college for music and had intended to pursue a career in classical music, but became more interested in pop music after recording with Andre Kostelanetz...
on Liberty Records
Liberty Records
Liberty Records was a United States-based record label. It was started by chairman Simon Waronker in 1955 with Al Bennett as president and Theodore Keep as chief engineer. It was reactivated in 2001 in the United Kingdom and had two previous revivals.-1950s:...
. In addition to Barry's orchestration of the "James Bond Theme" most of the tracks on the album were performed by Byron Lee & the Dragonaires
Byron Lee & the Dragonaires
Byron Lee and the Dragonaires are a Jamaican ska, calypso and soca band. The band played a crucial pioneering role in bringing Caribbean music to the world...
who appear in the film singing "Jump Up". The song "Under the Mango Tree" was performed by an uncredited Diana Coupland
Diana Coupland
Betty Diana Coupland was an English actress best remembered for her role as Jean Abbott on Bless This House, which she played from 1971 to 1976.-Early life:...
, Norman's wife at the time. None of the Eric Rogers orchestrated tracks appear on the soundtrack album.
One musical theme that appears in three different orchestrations on the album: Dr. No's Fantasy, Twisting with James and the misleadingly entitled "The James Bond Theme" (track 17 on the album, but entirely unrelated to the "track 1
James Bond Theme
The "James Bond Theme" is the main signature theme of the James Bond films and has featured in every Eon Productions Bond film since Dr. No. The piece has been used as an accompanying fanfare to the gun barrel sequence in almost every James Bond film....
"), is not heard anywhere in the film. Diana Coupland recalled that it was Norman's first attempt at a '"James Bond Theme"'. Notable omissions from the soundtrack include the film's opening sci-fi electronic music
Electronic music
Electronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound...
sound effects/"James Bond Theme" gunbarrel sequence, and Eric Rogers symphonic arrangements of Norman's score including a brief theme for Miss Moneypenny and the music from the tarantula
Tarantula
Tarantulas comprise a group of often hairy and often very large arachnids belonging to the family Theraphosidae, of which approximately 900 species have been identified. Some members of the same Suborder may also be called "tarantulas" in the common parlance. This article will restrict itself to...
scene as well as Dr. No's death (reused during the climax of the helicopter attack in From Russia with Love
From Russia with Love (film)
From Russia with Love is the second in the James Bond spy film series, and the second to star Sean Connery as the fictional MI6 agent James Bond. Released in 1963, the film was produced by Albert R. Broccoli and Harry Saltzman, and directed by Terence Young. It is based on the 1957 novel of the...
but not on that soundtrack album either).
Track listing
- "James Bond ThemeJames Bond ThemeThe "James Bond Theme" is the main signature theme of the James Bond films and has featured in every Eon Productions Bond film since Dr. No. The piece has been used as an accompanying fanfare to the gun barrel sequence in almost every James Bond film....
" – John Barry Orchestra - "Kingston Calypso" – Byron Lee and the Dragonaires
- "Jamaican Rock" (not heard in the film, a possible unused title track)
- "Jump Up" – Byron Lee and the Dragonaires
- "Audio Bongo" (an Electronic musicElectronic musicElectronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound...
version of a musical theme for Dr. No) - "Under the Mango Tree" – Diana CouplandDiana CouplandBetty Diana Coupland was an English actress best remembered for her role as Jean Abbott on Bless This House, which she played from 1971 to 1976.-Early life:...
- "Twisting with James" (a version of "Dr No's Fantasy" unused in the film)
- "Jamaica Jazz" - (unused in the film, an instrumental of Jump Up)
- "Under the Mango Tree" - (Instrumental unused in the film)
- "Jump Up" – Byron Lee and the Dragonaires
- "Dr. No's Fantasy" (unused in the film)
- "Kingston Calypso" – Diana CouplandDiana CouplandBetty Diana Coupland was an English actress best remembered for her role as Jean Abbott on Bless This House, which she played from 1971 to 1976.-Early life:...
- "The Island Speaks" (an instrumental version of a musical theme for Dr. No accompanying Bond and Quarrel landing on Crab Key)
- "Underneath the Mango Tree" – Monty NormanMonty NormanMonty Norman is a singer and film composer best known for being credited with composing the "James Bond Theme".-Biography:...
- "The Boy's Chase" (unused in the film)
- "Dr. No's Theme" [instrumental version of Kingston Calypso]
- "The James Bond Theme" (an unused instrumental version of Dr. No's Fantasy)
- "Love at Last" (heard briefly in a party sequence)