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Posted: |
Apr 21, 2024 - 8:21 AM
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By: |
Bond Scores
(Member)
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Following the wonderful expanded and re-mastered editions of Live & Let Die and Octopussy from La-La Land, plus all the David Arnold soundtracks of recent years, I thought it’d be interesting to speculate on which other Bond soundtracks might follow. I must stress, this is *purely* conjectural and is not based on any official intel. Any thoughts welcome!
Dr. No
Master tapes to the first three films - Dr. No, From Russia With Love and Goldfinger - were not found at EMI’s Abbey Road vaults in London in 2003 during the remastering project, where most of the expanded Bond material was kept. There is a long assumption that these tapes have been lost.
From Russia With Love
Someone connected to the recent Live & Let Die and Octopussy releases was asked why From Russia With Love wasn’t considered on its sixtieth anniversary, “Nothing new/alternate or extra exists on FRWL (trust me, we looked).” He later elaborated, “What I meant was that nothing of the unreleased music exists anywhere (hence the looked comment), so this score cannot be expanded for CD.”
Goldfinger
See above.
Thunderball
There were hopes in 2003 to release this as a 2 CD album, as there was lots of material which couldn’t fit onto one CD, but the idea was nixed because of money. As per Lukas Kendall, “Between unreleased cues, the alternate ‘Street Chase,’ the two vocal versions of ‘Mr. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang,’ and two instrumental pop covers from the Abbey Road tapes (‘Thunderball’ and ‘Mr. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang’ with twangy electric guitars and orchestra), there’s probably another 20 to 30 minutes of music.” There’s also the instrumental only version of the main title, as Tom Jones recorded his vocals separately. The film is sixty years old next year and the material exists, so I imagine this is quite likely for expansion/remastering.
You Only Live Twice
This is probably low down on the priority list, given that the 2003 CD saw all previously unreleased material released, with the exception of the instrumental of the main title (Nancy Sinatra recorded her vocals separately). It could be remastered again though, as per Live & Let Die, but it sounds doubtful that there’s any new or alternate material to be shared.
On Her Majesty’s Secret Service
This was mooted for expansion for the 50th anniversary of the film in 2019, but EON didn’t want anything to detract from the then imminent release of the No Time To Die soundtrack. Like the Thunderball release in 2003, there was over twenty minutes of missing music which had been sourced, but couldn’t fit onto one CD. The material exists and is easily accessible, so this is a very likely contender. It’s also the fifty fifth anniversary of the film this year and we know how La-La Land Records love an anniversary…
Diamonds Are Forever
Again, this is probably low on the priority list, given that the 2003 CD saw nearly all previously unreleased and alternate material released, with the exception of one sting and the longer version of the title song by Shirley Bassey that featured an additional verse. This couldn’t be cleared because of rights issues in 2003. The album could be remastered again though.
Live & Let Die
https://lalalandrecords.com/live-and-let-die-50th-anniversary-expanded-remastered-limited-edition-2-cd-set/
The Man With The Golden Gun
In 2003 EMI were going to try to remix and expand both Live & Let Die and The Man With The Golden Gun from the 16-track tapes that had been discovered at Abbey Road. As the transfers were being completed, it was apparent that the process was becoming too expensive and time-consuming, so TMWTGG fell by the wayside. Lukas Kendall remarked at the time, ”Had I known we could only do one of the early Moores, I would have suggested the Barry score rather than the George Martin one - but I didn’t, so we couldn’t.” Given that the material has been sourced, the demand for the substantial amount of music missing from the 1974/2003 release and the fact that it’s the fiftieth anniversary of the film this year, this is probably quite plausible.
The Spy Who Loved Me
Lukas Kendall remarked in 2003, “There are 24-track tapes of The Spy Who Loved Me at Abbey Road, but I don’t know if these are for the film soundtrack or the LP re-recording; furthermore, 24-track mixes are very time-consuming and expensive.” Twenty years have passed since then, so hopefully the tech has improved and the digitisation will be easier. It remains to be seen if these tapes are for the film score or album record. At any rate, this film and Moonraker are probably the expanded releases most clamoured for by fans, so demand is certainly there.
Moonraker
There’s been a long-standing and, ultimately, false rumour that the tapes for Moonraker are lost. This was another soundtrack mooted for expansion by La La Land Records in 2019 for the film’s 40th anniversary, perhaps indicating that someone has tracked down the tapes. It’s well documented how desperate fans are for an expanded version of this score and it’s now the forty fifth anniversary of the film, so who knows…
For Your Eyes Only
The Rykodisc release in 2000 indicates that the original tapes have been found. Rykodisc were likely limited fitting all the material onto one CD, so there are still quite a few missing cues from the film. Incidentally, the sheet music for the score has recently been published (https://neumation-music.com/products/bill-conti-for-your-eyes-only-in-full-score), so there’s always the re-score option if a further expansion/remaster doesn’t emerge soon 
Octopussy
https://lalalandrecords.com/octopussy-40th-anniversary-expanded-remastered-limited-edition-2-cd-set/
A View To A Kill
A View To A Kill was recorded in London, but apparently the tapes were not at Abbey Road in 2003. This is not to suggest that they don’t exist, but they may require more digging and investigation stateside (some of the missing music from Thunderball was found in the US). Hopefully, given the demand for the forthcoming Octopussy expansion (the 2000 copies from the initial batch have sold out), LLLR can see that there’s a lot of love for the later Barry soundtracks and they’ll pursue this. Perhaps Nic Raine could even lend a hand 
The Living Daylights
As per For Your Eyes Only, the 1998 Rykodisc release indicates that the original tapes have been found. All the material likely couldn’t fit onto one CD, given that there are still quite a few missing cues from the film. It’s the fortieth anniversary of the film in 2027, so maybe we’ll see an expansion then, but I don’t imagine it’s currently high on the agenda.
Licence To Kill
This one is entirely plausible and I would argue quite likely, given the mess of the original OST release. The new Michael Kamen website lists all the cues, including alternates and overlays, alongside unreleased audio samples: https://www.michaelkamen.com/catalogue/licence-to-kill . This indicates that his Estate are in possession of the music and La La Land Records appear to have a good relationship with them (see the recent Die Hard release). The soundtrack was also mooted for expansion in 2019 (see also On Her Majesty’s Secret Service and Moonraker). It’s the thirty fifth anniversary of the film this year, so who knows…
Goldeneye
The OST is lacking a lot of music from the film and time has been kinder to this release following its initial savage reception, so fan demand is there for an expansion. I’ve never come across chatter about the tapes, but hopefully Eric Serra and John Altman are in possession of them. Serra’s score is predominantly electronic, so hopefully he has digital files which will make them easier to expand and remaster. They’ll need to be married with Altman’s orchestra arrangements however (which may be separate). This is pure speculation though. Interestingly, at least one important part of the score exists on tape - John Altman’s tank chase. He uploaded it to SoundCloud a few years ago (https://soundcloud.com/smatalent/14-golden-eye-norman-altman) and Lukas Kendall remarked in 2003, “The only other thing that fell by the wayside due to a lack of time and money was the tank chase from GoldenEye (the Bond theme arranged by John Altman), which was recorded on fancy modern digital tape that required expensive equipment to transfer.” It’s the thirtieth anniversary of the film next year, so it’s a distinct possibility.
Tomorrow Never Dies
Likely as complete as we’ll ever get: https://lalalandrecords.com/tomorrow-never-dies-expanded-remastered-limited-edition-2-cd-set/
The World Is Not Enough
Likely as complete as we’ll ever get: https://lalalandrecords.com/world-is-not-enough-the-limited-edition-2-cd-set/
Die Another Day
Likely as complete as we’ll ever get: https://lalalandrecords.com/die-another-day-limited-edition-2-cd-set/
Casino Royale
Given that nearly all of the music has been released and that the score wasn’t recorded that long ago (so it’s in less need of remastering), this is low on the priority list. It would be nice to have all the cues in one place though and David Arnold clearly has a good relationship with La-La Land Records. Twentieth anniversary in 2026 perhaps?
Quantum Of Solace
Ditto Casino Royale, although there are some cues missing. Again, it would be great to have all of the cues on one double album (the end gun barrel music, Four Tet’s ‘Crawl, End Crawl’, etc.)
Skyfall
There are a lot of cues missing from the OST, but demand from fans probably isn’t very high for this release.
Spectre
I calculated that there’s nearly an hour and twenty minutes of missing music from this score, but again demand probably isn’t that high for it. I believe that La-La Land Records have expanded and remastered some of Thomas Newman’s other scores, so perhaps the relationship could continue with a Bond release.
No Time To Die
Again, there’s a lot of missing music from this score. Hans Zimmer’s website attests to numerous alternate takes of cues (https://hans-zimmer.com/discography/1/project/3496) and he’s been known to later release complete versions of his scores, so it’s plausible. As per Thomas Newman’s efforts, there probably isn’t a huge demand from fans currently.
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From Russia With Love
Dave Norris, an engineer on the new Live & Let Die and Octopussy releases, was asked why From Russia With Love wasn’t considered on its sixtieth anniversary, “Nothing new/alternate or extra exists on FRWL (trust me, we looked).” He later elaborated, “What I meant was that nothing of the unreleased music exists anywhere (hence the looked comment), so this score cannot be expanded for CD.”
Just for clarity, Dave Norris wasn't an engineer on the new releases and has never claimed to be.
Cheers
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Moonraker
There’s been a long-standing and, ultimately, false rumour that the tapes for Moonraker are lost. It likely started when the tapes couldn’t be found in the Abbey Road vaults for the 2003 project, likely because the score was recorded in Paris. This was another soundtrack mooted for expansion by La La Land Records in 2019 for the film’s 40th anniversary, perhaps indicating that someone has successfully tracked down the tapes. It’s well documented how desperate fans are for an expanded version of this score and it’s now the forty fifth anniversary of the film, so who knows…
The Moonraker tapes not being at Abbey Road has got nothing to do with Moonraker being recorded in Paris. The tapes for the additional music from Thunderball, Octopussy, and A View To A Kill weren't there either.
Also, no one "successfully tracked them down". They were never lost in the first place.
I appreciate what you're trying to do, but I'd recommend you just take a bit more care, because by filling in gaps with assumptions you're in danger of creating as much misinformation as you are trying to create clarification.
Cheers
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On the plus side FRWL is probably the most perfect score album of the first three films (my vote for the entire series). I'm sure there are some good cues missing, but everything of real note is on there, all f'n brilliant. Maybe the film mix of the opening credits would be nice, but I can't think of a piece of music I really miss.
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On the plus side FRWL is probably the most perfect score album of the first three films (my vote for the entire series). I'm sure there are some good cues missing, but everything of real note is on there, all f'n brilliant. Maybe the film mix of the opening credits would be nice, but I can't think of a piece of music I really miss.
"From Russia With Love" is a great score of course and I can't also remind of something that I miss. But I think that "Goldfinger" is a little bit better, from style of music. There are still 8 to 10 minutes left, all small cues, but if nobody finds something, then maybe it was that. I still hope, that LLL can find the rest of the stuff and releases a good 60th anniversary, along with 50th "The Man With The Golden Gun" (and maybe "Moonraker" and "Licence To Kill" too).
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"From Russia With Love" is a great score of course and I can't also remind of something that I miss.
I mean, okay, the Gun Barrel music. That should be a required cue in every Bond album.
But I think that "Goldfinger" is a little bit better, from style of music.
It's much smoother and a little more confident. I still go back to FRWL more, but they're both exemplary.
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IIRC, there was some damage to a OHMSS tape which may have had more music???
The reel containing the film version of Escape From Piz Gloria was damaged, leading to the use of an alternate take in it's place. The film version opened with cellos before going into Moog. The alternate started straight away with the Moog.
Lukas mused at the time whether the damaged reel might have also contained the music when Bond is trying to call London but the call box gets shot up. However, he wasn't certain that the music used wasn't "tracked".
This is from the 2003 FSM articles on the topic.
Cheers
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Barry's first six scores, from From Russia With Love to Diamonds Are Forever, plus The Living Daylights, are so good that I could--and probably have--make a case for any of them being the best Bond score. The other Barry/Bonds have their moments, but I would not include any of them in a best of the series discussion.
Maybe if the expanded Octopussy ever actually arrives in my mail, I'll reconsider . . .
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Could it be possible that the FLEMMING estate might have any tapes to DR NO, FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE or GOLDFINGER in their possession?
I suppose anything's possible but why would they? Ian Fleming wrote the books but he was nothing really to do with the production of the films, and he was definitely nothing to do with the production of the music.
Plus, he was dead by the time Goldfinger was released.
Cheers
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He uploaded it to SoundCloud a few years ago (https://soundcloud.com/smatalent/14-golden-eye-norman-altman) and Lukas Kendall remarked in 2003, “The only other thing that fell by the wayside due to a lack of time and money was the tank chase from GoldenEye (the Bond theme arranged by John Altman), which was recorded on fancy modern digital tape that required expensive equipment to transfer.”
Hot damn those trumpets! That's gotta be Derek Watkins. Superb!
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Post from Tony Fisher on Trumpet Herald site, 14th January 2007
QUOTE: Hi folks -
Just found the site - great !! I would like to clarify a couple of things that I have come across in reading your posts - let me explain first that I have been a first-call lead trumpet studio player here in London for the last 40 years or so - check out my website - so musically, I have "been there - done that" - recording with everybody you can name - from Sinatra to Doc Severinsen, Harry James, Hank Mancini, - ( even the Beatles !!) etc. I am STILL doing it, at over 70 years of age - currently I have a weekly TV show and various other recordings, jazz gigs, plus being the bandleader of the Bert Kaempfert Orchestra for the last 13 years. The thing I need to clarify is the question someone asked about the "007" trumpet section on the early James Bond movies - that was Stan Roderick, me , Greg Bowen and Eddie Blair. Stan Roderick was the official lead trumpet but Greg and I did the high stuff that everyone seems to remember. Derek Watkins was NOT involved - Derek came along much later and has done all the LATER Bond movies. As far as I remember, we started the first Bond films in the early 60s, then in 1975 John Barry took the whole orchestra to Japan to promote the latest Bond - doing a six week concert tour - with the trumpet section that I have named above. No problem with Derek - he is a good friend of mine - I just want to put the record straight.
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