Live and Let Die (soundtrack)
Encyclopedia
Live and Let Die is the soundtrack of, and was written for, the 8th James Bond
film of the same name
.
Taking a temporary hiatus from scoring Bond films, John Barry
subsequently passed the baton over to George Martin
. This was the first James Bond film of which Barry was, in at least some aspect, not a part. Barry was then working on a musical and had had quarrels with producer Harry Saltzman
over his title song to Diamonds are Forever
.
The score for Live and Let Die was orchestrated and conducted by George Martin, and recorded at the AIR Studios.
In his autobiography, Martin said he was approached by Harry Saltzman who was impressed by the orchestral backing of Paul McCartney's demo
of the title song and wanted Martin to score the film. Martin agreed but then was surprised when Saltzman asked him who he thought should sing the title song; Martin said that Paul McCartney intended to. Saltzman wanted a black soul singer to match the blaxploitation
theme of the film, but a compromise was agreed when B. J. Arnau
would sing the title song in a nightclub sequence. Martin related how he worked closely with director Guy Hamilton
who practically dictated how one of the tracks If He Finds It, Kill Him should sound.
For the theme song, Martin teamed with former-Beatle
Paul McCartney
, who had previously been considered for Diamonds Are Forever
in 1971. This was the first time the pair worked together since Abbey Road in 1969. The theme was written by Paul and his wife Linda McCartney
and performed by Paul and his group, Wings
. The tune, the first 'true' rock and roll
song used to open a Bond film, was a major success in the United States (#2 for three weeks) and the UK (#9), Paul's best showings in over a year. "Live and Let Die
" continues to be a highlight of his live shows, complete with fireworks and lasers. In 2005, it was performed live by McCartney during the halftime show at Super Bowl XXXIX
. In 1991 the song was covered
by the rock band Guns N' Roses
. Geri Halliwell
and Chrissie Hynde
each covered the title tune, the latter for current Bond
-composer David Arnold
's compilation album, Shaken And Stirred: The David Arnold James Bond Project.
It was also released in quadrophonic.
James Bond
James Bond, code name 007, is a fictional character created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve novels and two short story collections. There have been a six other authors who wrote authorised Bond novels or novelizations after Fleming's death in 1964: Kingsley Amis,...
film of the same name
Live and Let Die (film)
Live and Let Die is the eighth spy film in the James Bond series, and the first to star Roger Moore as the fictional MI6 agent James Bond. The film was produced by Albert R. Broccoli and Harry Saltzman...
.
Taking a temporary hiatus from scoring Bond films, 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...
subsequently passed the baton over to George Martin
George Martin
Sir George Henry Martin CBE is an English record producer, arranger, composer and musician. He is sometimes referred to as "the Fifth Beatle"— a title that he often describes as "nonsense," but the fact remains that he served as producer on all but one of The Beatles' original albums...
. This was the first James Bond film of which Barry was, in at least some aspect, not a part. Barry was then working on a musical and had had quarrels with producer Harry Saltzman
Harry Saltzman
Harry Saltzman was a Canadian theatre and film producer best known for his mega-gamble which resulted in his co-producing the James Bond film series with Albert R...
over his title song to Diamonds are Forever
Diamonds Are Forever
Diamonds Are Forever may refer to:In literature;* Diamonds Are Forever , the fourth novel in Ian Fleming's James Bond series* Diamonds Are Forever, a 2004 short novel by Ryk E...
.
The score for Live and Let Die was orchestrated and conducted by George Martin, and recorded at the AIR Studios.
In his autobiography, Martin said he was approached by Harry Saltzman who was impressed by the orchestral backing of Paul McCartney's demo
Demo (music)
A demo version or demo of a song is one recorded for reference rather than for release. A demo is a way for a musician to approximate their ideas on tape or disc, and provide an example of those ideas to record labels, producers or other artists...
of the title song and wanted Martin to score the film. Martin agreed but then was surprised when Saltzman asked him who he thought should sing the title song; Martin said that Paul McCartney intended to. Saltzman wanted a black soul singer to match the blaxploitation
Blaxploitation
Blaxploitation or blacksploitation is a film genre which emerged in the United States circa 1970. It is considered an ethnic sub-genre of the general category of exploitation films. Blaxploitation films were originally made specifically for an urban black audience, although the genre's audience...
theme of the film, but a compromise was agreed when B. J. Arnau
B. J. Arnau
B. J. Arnau is an American-born female singer and actor active in the UK and the US from the late 1960s to the early 1980s. She is also known as Brenda Arnau.- Biography :...
would sing the title song in a nightclub sequence. Martin related how he worked closely with director Guy Hamilton
Guy Hamilton
Guy Hamilton is an English film director.Hamilton was born in Paris, France where his English parents were living. Remaining in France during the Nazi occupation, he was active in the French Resistance...
who practically dictated how one of the tracks If He Finds It, Kill Him should sound.
For the theme song, Martin teamed with former-Beatle
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney
Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
, who had previously been considered for Diamonds Are Forever
Diamonds Are Forever (film)
Diamonds Are Forever is the seventh spy film in the Eon Productions James Bond series, and the sixth and final Eon Productions film to star Sean Connery as the fictional MI6 agent James Bond. The film is based on Ian Fleming's 1956 novel of the same name, and is the second of four James Bond films...
in 1971. This was the first time the pair worked together since Abbey Road in 1969. The theme was written by Paul and his wife Linda McCartney
Linda McCartney
Linda Louise McCartney, Lady McCartney was an American photographer, musician and animal rights activist. Her father and mother were Lee Eastman and Louise Sara Lindner Eastman....
and performed by Paul and his group, Wings
Wings (band)
Wings were a British-American rock group formed in 1971 by Paul McCartney, Denny Laine and Linda McCartney that remained active until 1981....
. The tune, the first 'true' rock and roll
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
song used to open a Bond film, was a major success in the United States (#2 for three weeks) and the UK (#9), Paul's best showings in over a year. "Live and Let Die
Live and Let Die (song)
"Live and Let Die" is the main theme song of the 1973 James Bond film Live and Let Die and was performed by Paul McCartney & Wings for the movie soundtrack and appears on the soundtrack album. The song was one of Wings' most successful singles, and the most successful Bond theme to that point...
" continues to be a highlight of his live shows, complete with fireworks and lasers. In 2005, it was performed live by McCartney during the halftime show at Super Bowl XXXIX
Super Bowl XXXIX
Super Bowl XXXIX was an American football game played on February 6, 2005, at Alltel Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida, to decide the National Football League champion following the 2004 regular season...
. In 1991 the song was covered
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
by the rock band Guns N' Roses
Guns N' Roses
Guns N' Roses is an American hard rock band, formed in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, in 1985. The band has released six studio albums, three EPs, and one live album...
. Geri Halliwell
Geri Halliwell
Geraldine Estelle "Geri" Halliwell is an English pop singer-songwriter, author and actress. After coming to international prominence in the late 1990s as Ginger Spice, a member of the girl group the Spice Girls, Halliwell launched her solo career in 1998 and released her album Schizophonic...
and Chrissie Hynde
Chrissie Hynde
Christine Ellen "Chrissie" Hynde is an US musician best known as the leader of the rock/new wave band the Pretenders. She is a singer, songwriter, and guitarist, and has been the only constant member of the band throughout its history.-Early life and career:Hynde is the daughter of a part-time...
each covered the title tune, the latter for current Bond
James Bond (film series)
The James Bond film series is a British series of motion pictures based on the fictional character of MI6 agent James Bond , who originally appeared in a series of books by Ian Fleming. Earlier films were based on Fleming's novels and short stories, followed later by films with original storylines...
-composer David Arnold
David Arnold
David Arnold is an English film composer best known for scoring five James Bond films, the 1994 film Stargate, the 1996 film Independence Day, and the television series Little Britain.-Film and television career:...
's compilation album, Shaken And Stirred: The David Arnold James Bond Project.
It was also released in quadrophonic.
Track listing
The original soundtrack LP ended with track 14, "James Bond theme." Except as noted, all tracks composed by George Martin.- "Live and Let Die (Main Title)Live and Let Die (song)"Live and Let Die" is the main theme song of the 1973 James Bond film Live and Let Die and was performed by Paul McCartney & Wings for the movie soundtrack and appears on the soundtrack album. The song was one of Wings' most successful singles, and the most successful Bond theme to that point...
(Paul and Linda McCartney)" – Paul McCartneyPaul McCartneySir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
& WingsWings (band)Wings were a British-American rock group formed in 1971 by Paul McCartney, Denny Laine and Linda McCartney that remained active until 1981.... - "Just a Closer Walk with Thee (Trad. Arr. Milton Batiste) /New Second Line (Milton Batiste)" – Harold A. "Duke" Dejan & The Olympia Brass Band
- "Bond Meets Solitaire"
- "Whisper Who Dares"
- "Snakes Alive"
- "Baron Samedi's Dance of Death"
- "San Monique"
- "Fillet of Soul – New Orleans/Live and Let Die/Fillet of Soul – Harlem" – B. J. ArnauB. J. ArnauB. J. Arnau is an American-born female singer and actor active in the UK and the US from the late 1960s to the early 1980s. She is also known as Brenda Arnau.- Biography :...
- "Bond Drops In"
- "If He Finds It, Kill Him"
- "Trespassers Will Be Eaten"
- "Solitaire Gets Her Cards"
- "Sacrifice"
- "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....
" (Monty Norman) - "Gunbarrel/Snakebit"
- "Bond to New York"
- "San Monique (Alternate)"
- "Bond and Rosie"
- "The Lovers"
- "New Orleans"
- "Boat Chase"
- "Underground Lair"