Mike has been disappearing down the rabbit holes again, and has stumbled upon some more rejected James Bond themes to go with his recent post.....as if there weren't enough there already. So over to Mike...
Since I posted my original Bond Rarities Collection album here a few months ago…I found a brand new album (Legitimacy Unknown!) that suspiciously follows my exact track listing throughout a large portion of it… but it was nice enough to veer off in spots and find a few more songs I may have missed. So since turnabout is Fair Play… I thought I would steal their additions.
Now some of these were up for consideration in my original post (and passed over due to little or no info about them…but since these folks were nice enough to put out a 6! CD compilation of obviously legit tracks (at least volumes 1-2 of the six seem that way as well as at other points throughout the rest of the volumes) I thought I would give them the benefit of the doubt and hope they found legit reasons to include some of the following tracks on their album. (I've included the details on their set in my pdf, as well as a link to it at the very end of the post, because it really is a beautiful collection every Bond fan should have!). Iʼm not going to include all the songs from their compilation, because I debunked some of them in my original go round, but I've researched the cuts they added and found that a bunch were truly outtakes or used in the now very rare video games. Hereʼs my updated notes on these new cuts and why I feel they are worthy (well…almost worthy) of inclusion.
Now some of these were up for consideration in my original post (and passed over due to little or no info about them…but since these folks were nice enough to put out a 6! CD compilation of obviously legit tracks (at least volumes 1-2 of the six seem that way as well as at other points throughout the rest of the volumes) I thought I would give them the benefit of the doubt and hope they found legit reasons to include some of the following tracks on their album. (I've included the details on their set in my pdf, as well as a link to it at the very end of the post, because it really is a beautiful collection every Bond fan should have!). Iʼm not going to include all the songs from their compilation, because I debunked some of them in my original go round, but I've researched the cuts they added and found that a bunch were truly outtakes or used in the now very rare video games. Hereʼs my updated notes on these new cuts and why I feel they are worthy (well…almost worthy) of inclusion.
As i stated in my original notes….let the arguments over them begin… (but enjoy the music while you are arguing!!).
On Her Majesty's Secret Service 1969
John Barry and Hal David wrote two other songs for the film, both performed by Danish singer Nina. One, entitled 'Do You Know How Christmas Trees Are Grown?', was featured in the film in several scenes. The other, 'The More Things Change', was recorded by Nina at the same session, but did not end up in the finished film. Instead, it appeared as the b-side of the UK single of 'Do You Know How Christmas Trees Are Grown?'. Now the first is obviously a
Christmas song…so Iʼm not including it… but the second fits in nicely with the melancholy feel of the film… so in it goes.
The Living Daylights 1987
In 1987, Tor Endresen's single 'Black Rain' was almost chosen as the theme song for 'The Living Daylights', and 'Lovemagic' by Elisabeth Andreasson is also included on this collection.
Flimsy I know…but that is definitely the Bond theme in there!
Tomorrow Never Dies 1997
The most convoluted of any Bond theme, 'Tomorrow Never Dies' was completely up for grabs. Thanks to some indecision from the studio, a contest of sorts was launched in which a handful of selected artists submitted their version of the title track. The list was an impressive one too: Pulp, Saint Etienne, The Cardigans, Swan Lee, Duran Duran, Marc Almond, The Fixx, and this one by Dot Allison all entered the sweepstakes. Canadian crooner k.d. lang came in a close second with her contribution 'Surrender', which won the consolation prize of rolling through the end credits, but in the end Sheryl Crow was the surprise winner, proving she could pull off a seductive vocal backed by a debonair arrangement from David Arnold and his orchestra.
On Her Majesty's Secret Service 1969
John Barry and Hal David wrote two other songs for the film, both performed by Danish singer Nina. One, entitled 'Do You Know How Christmas Trees Are Grown?', was featured in the film in several scenes. The other, 'The More Things Change', was recorded by Nina at the same session, but did not end up in the finished film. Instead, it appeared as the b-side of the UK single of 'Do You Know How Christmas Trees Are Grown?'. Now the first is obviously a
Christmas song…so Iʼm not including it… but the second fits in nicely with the melancholy feel of the film… so in it goes.
The Living Daylights 1987
In 1987, Tor Endresen's single 'Black Rain' was almost chosen as the theme song for 'The Living Daylights', and 'Lovemagic' by Elisabeth Andreasson is also included on this collection.
Flimsy I know…but that is definitely the Bond theme in there!
Tomorrow Never Dies 1997
The most convoluted of any Bond theme, 'Tomorrow Never Dies' was completely up for grabs. Thanks to some indecision from the studio, a contest of sorts was launched in which a handful of selected artists submitted their version of the title track. The list was an impressive one too: Pulp, Saint Etienne, The Cardigans, Swan Lee, Duran Duran, Marc Almond, The Fixx, and this one by Dot Allison all entered the sweepstakes. Canadian crooner k.d. lang came in a close second with her contribution 'Surrender', which won the consolation prize of rolling through the end credits, but in the end Sheryl Crow was the surprise winner, proving she could pull off a seductive vocal backed by a debonair arrangement from David Arnold and his orchestra.
Quantum Of Solace 2008
Composer Huck Whitney wrote 'Quantum Of Solace' as a demo for the film..to be sung by whichever star they choose - it's not official, and some say itʼs a spoof. For the same film we have ʼWeapons' by The Neon Empire, which is another one thatʼs hard to say…not much on this one.
Composer Huck Whitney wrote 'Quantum Of Solace' as a demo for the film..to be sung by whichever star they choose - it's not official, and some say itʼs a spoof. For the same film we have ʼWeapons' by The Neon Empire, which is another one thatʼs hard to say…not much on this one.
Skyfall 2012
'Cold War' was self-submitted by the band Red Is For Fire, but it was doubtful that it would be chosen.
'Cold War' was self-submitted by the band Red Is For Fire, but it was doubtful that it would be chosen.
SPECTRE 2015
The band TREN has made an original James Bond song of their own title 'Ghost'. Once again self submitted… so also doubtful.
The band TREN has made an original James Bond song of their own title 'Ghost'. Once again self submitted… so also doubtful.
No Time To Die 2021
English singer, songwriter, DJ, and fashion designer Boy George has released a track named after the new James Bond film 'No Time To Die'. Boy George confirmed via his official Twitter account that the song is in no way official or connected to the production, and joked that he "only did it to annoy Ed Sheeran and Dua Lipa." Cool Song tho!
Everything Or Nothing video game 2003
English singer, songwriter, DJ, and fashion designer Boy George has released a track named after the new James Bond film 'No Time To Die'. Boy George confirmed via his official Twitter account that the song is in no way official or connected to the production, and joked that he "only did it to annoy Ed Sheeran and Dua Lipa." Cool Song tho!
Everything Or Nothing video game 2003
'Everything Or Nothing' is a song by American recording artist Mýa. It was written by Ron Fair, Randy Bugnitz, and Mýa and recorded for the 2003 James Bond third-person shooter video game 'James Bond 007: Everything Or Nothing', released for the PlayStation 2, Xbox, and GameCube consoles. Published by Electronic Arts, the game features the likeness and voice of Mýa, who portrays the character Mýa Starling, an NSA double agent who aids Bond in dealing with the use of nanotechnology as terrorism. 'Everything Or Nothing' was released as a promotional single in support of the game's official release, and a jazz version, also produced by Fair, was performed by Mýa on 'The Tonight Show with Jay Leno' in late 2004.
GoldenEye: Rogue Agent video game 2004
GoldenEye: Rogue Agent video game 2004
Paul Oakenfold remixed Natacha Bedingfield's 'If You're Gonna Jump' for the 'GoldenEye: Rogue Agent' video game in 2004, and here's an interesting fact - Natasha Bedingfield also portrayed one of the two new Bond girls in the 'From Russia With Love' video game which was released a year later. The song only plays when you beat the game, so howʼs that for a rarity!!
OK kids… That wraps up my update…let me know what you think! And if you want to try the whole 6CD set (full track listing included in the pdf included in the folder) then it's here hXXps://download-soundtracks.com/movie_soundtracks/the-best-of-bond-jamesbond-collection-soundtrack/ , on a site that's possibly the best I've ever found for rare soundtracks.
OK kids… That wraps up my update…let me know what you think! And if you want to try the whole 6CD set (full track listing included in the pdf included in the folder) then it's here hXXps://download-soundtracks.com/movie_soundtracks/the-best-of-bond-jamesbond-collection-soundtrack/ , on a site that's possibly the best I've ever found for rare soundtracks.
Track listing
01 The More You Change - Nina
02 Black Rain - Pal Thowsen & Tor Endresen
03 Lovemagic - Elisabeth Andreasson
04 Tomorrow Never Comes - Dot Allison
05 Quantum Of Solace - Huck Whitney
06 Weapons - The Neon Empire
07 Cold War - Red Is For Fire
08 Ghost - TREN
09 No Time To Die - Boy George
10 Everything Or Nothing - Mya
11 If You're Gonna Jump - Natasha Bedingfield