I wanted to update my Bond theme song collection, and purchased the Best of Bond James Bond - 50 years 50 songs 2CD compilation.
I know there were a couple of different versions of You Know My Name (a more orchestral mix used in the film, a grittier version for the CD single and some other mix I think).
Does anyone know which version of the song is on this collection?
I wanted to update my Bond theme song collection, and purchased the Best of Bond James Bond - 50 years 50 songs 2CD compilation.
I know there were a couple of different versions of You Know My Name (a more orchestral mix used in the film, a grittier version for the CD single and some other mix I think).
Does anyone know which version of the song is on this collection?
There were two versions of the song released. The single version came first, in Nov 2006, to coincide with the film. Next came the album version on Cornell's album "Carry On" in June 2007 The song wasn't included on the film's soundtrack album, at Cornell's request, from what I remember reading. Cornell's album version is closest to the film version, but not identical, I believe.
They're two entirely different recordings, and while they're both within a second or so of 4:00, there's an easy way to tell them apart:
About two minutes in, there's a lyric. In the single version it's "I've seen diamonds cut through harder men" but in the album version it's revised to "I've seen THIS diamond cut through harder men".
The film's opening credits use the "this diamond" recording. I'm honestly not sure which recording is used in the closing credits, it fades out well before that lyric, but I chose to put the Cornell album version in place of the opening credits and the single version in place of the end credits.
The version on the Best of Bond 50th Anniversary CD is the "this diamond" recording as well, but I'm not 100% sure if it's just cornell's album version or the film version. I think people here have said it's not the film version.
That said, the CD DOES contain what I think is the first ever release of the film version of Licence to Kill. It also has the film version of GoldenEye, which had only been released as a CD single previously. However it has the album version of Die Another Day, the film version of that is only available on the CD single.
I'm curious, do you know if the others are film versions or album/alternates? I'm fairly sure Licence to Kill is the first Bond song where the album version was longer than the film version. From that point on, the album versions are pretty much all much longer (and often very different, like TWINE) from the film versions.
"That said, the (Bond 50th) CD DOES contain what I think is the first ever release of the film version of Licence to Kill."
What, no Licence to Kilt, like on the album version? Lacking the suggestion of a Scotsman's airy attire (last worn by George Lazenby to devastating effect), the Main Title version is a much better mix of Gladys and the backing singers.
James, Assuming you're correct, for a mass market release, I'm surprised EMI would bother to use the actual main title recording. But, I hope you're right about it Best, Stan
"That said, the (Bond 50th) CD DOES contain what I think is the first ever release of the film version of Licence to Kill."
What, no Licence to Kilt, like on the album version? Lacking the suggestion of a Scotsman's airy attire (last worn by George Lazenby to devastating effect), the Main Title version is a much better mix of Gladys and the backing singers.
James, Assuming you're correct, for a mass market release, I'm surprised EMI would bother to use the actual main title recording. But, I hope you're right about it Best, Stan
I must admit - from the sample of that 50th anniversary recording I cannot hear any difference. Could you tell us exactly how this version differs from the one on the soundtrack album?
I must admit - from the sample of that 50th anniversary recording I cannot hear any difference. Could you tell us exactly how this version differs from the one on the soundtrack album?
The album version of Licence to Kill runs 5:15 and has a lot of extended instrumental doodling/filler that's not in the film version. The version on the Bond 50th album is the single version, running 4:11. I'm fairly sure this is the film version, just like the singles of GoldenEye and Die Another Day are the film versions.
I must admit - from the sample of that 50th anniversary recording I cannot hear any difference. Could you tell us exactly how this version differs from the one on the soundtrack album?
The album version of Licence to Kill runs 5:15 and has a lot of extended instrumental doodling/filler that's not in the film version. The version on the Bond 50th album is the single version, running 4:11. I'm fairly sure this is the film version, just like the singles of GoldenEye and Die Another Day are the film versions.
So to be clear since there's been a bit of back and forth. Have we confirmed that the Bond 50th compilation has the film versions of LICENCE TO KILL and GOLDENEYE but not the film version of DIE ANOTHER DAY? And do we know which Madonna single has the film version of DaD? There seem to be several versions out there for purchase (secondary market now, it seems). This is cool info!
So to be clear since there's been a bit of back and forth. Have we confirmed that the Bond 50th compilation has the film versions of LICENCE TO KILL and GOLDENEYE but not the film version of DIE ANOTHER DAY?
The Bond 50th disc definitely has the shorter single versions of Licence and GoldenEye. I can't confirm they're absolutely identical to the film versions, but they match them pretty closely, and they have the right intros and endings, unlike the longer album versions.
The ending of GoldenEye is especially important, because the single version/film version ends with a big orchestral flourish, while the album version just goes on endlessly as it slowly fades out. Listen to the end of each version:
And do we know which Madonna single has the film version of DaD? There seem to be several versions out there for purchase (secondary market now, it seems). This is cool info!
You want any single of DAD that has the "Radio Edit", that's the film version.
The album version of Licence to Kill runs 5:15 and has a lot of extended instrumental doodling/filler that's not in the film version. The version on the Bond 50th album is the single version, running 4:11. I'm fairly sure this is the film version, just like the singles of GoldenEye and Die Another Day are the film versions.
Bond 50th: Licence to Kill: Is the Mix Any Good?
Yes, but in the version on the 50th Anniversary CD, does it still sound in the mix like they're singing about George Lazenby's undercover attire? In the album mix, it always sounds as though they're singing "Licence to Kilt." In other words, is the vocal mix any good?
The music not included for the film and the album release itself seem to me to have been a set of missed opportunities: no Vick Flick and Eric Clapton pairing on the Bond theme; the music as released, probably the worst example of music editing of all the Bond albums, even Dr. No! Kamen in Latin American mode. A title song unrelated to the score.
I think the Red covered version of The Best of Bond from 2008 also has the shorter version of Licence to Kill. My copy runs at 4:12. However, I do think that there are additional edits that would need to be made to match the title sequence. The below link to a YouTube version of the titles runs under three minutes. The first "hey babe" sounds much closer to the second verse of the song rather than the first one that begins at 0:28 of the version of the single. The one that matches up with the video seems to start at 1:42. From the album version, that verse sounds like it begins at 1:54.
