26 replies to this topic

[Number Six]

Does anyone know anything or have any good links on this subject? I've got about 10 or so, but I'm looking to make an all-inclusive web-portal on the subject. Does anyone have any recommendations of stuff to listen to?

--Eric

[Red Grant]

Off the top of my head I'd recommend:

Anything by John Barry (Naturally) - Bond scores, Ipcress File, Quiller Memorandum.
Qunicy Jones - The Deadly Affair
Lalo Schifrin - The Liquidator
Jerry Goldsmith - The Man From UNCLE
Burt Bacharach - Casino Royale

[Number Six]

Hey, Red....

Thanks for your totally bitchin' website. I go there every few days just to look at the same old pictures, and you've inspired me (though I should damn you for this), to try to buy the Illustrated James Bond books with both McClusky and Horak. If you ever need anything about the various comic books that have come out, I can help with most everything except for the original DC Showcase/Illustrated Classics version of Dr. No (Though I might have that soon....).

Oh, and thanks for the recommendations too.

--Eric

[Glen Barrington]

Since this thread is called "Spy-Jazz", I can throw one real unique one out there I jumped on that is very Contempo with a Techno twist, yet Jazzy in execution:

"The Sex Mob Does Bond". SMOKIN versions of the Bond tunes.

Also, in a similar vien, a good friend of mine, Drummer/Producer Larry Washington did a KILLER CD called "Liscense To Chill". It got quite a bit of airplay in France and other parts of Europe.

[Blue Eyes]

The Sex Mob does Bond. Which songs do they do? And is Lisence to Chill Jazz as well?

[k13oharts]

Could anyone else recommend any chill-out or new-age-instrumental as spy music?

I would consider Keko Matsui's The Messenger from her 2002 album The Ring to be quite Bondian enough. Has anyone heard this? If so, what do you think?
Her website is on: http://www.keikomatsui.com/

Edited by k13oharts, 10 July 2005 - 01:34 PM.

[Brian Flagg]

I prefer vintage stuff, so those are the links I'll provide. Hope you find them helpful.

http://www.scorebaby.com/

http://www.spyboproyale.com/

http://www.filmscoremonthly.com/ These guys have three volumes of two-disc sets of the original U.N.C.L.E. music. And man are they good. $24.95 a pop and the customer service is second to none.

*EDIT* For you eighties freaks out there, FSM just released the original music to Knight Rider. There's generous audio clips on the FSM site. Can't believe I lived through this stuff...

Edited by Brian Flagg, 10 July 2005 - 10:37 PM.

[k13oharts]

Whoa! Thanks for those links!

[spynovelfan]

Ennio Morricone did some great scores for Bond clones in the 60s. Think the other main proponents have all been mentioned.

More recently, Barry Adamson (formerly of the Bad Seeds) has created spy-themed jazz on a few albums, and even recorded a bizarre ska-influenced version of the 007 theme on his 1992 SOUL IS MURDER album, featuring a Jamaican who thinks he's Bond. And a couple of years ago, DJ Shadow and Dan The Automator took many of the jazz-funk themes of Bollywood spy thrillers and rejigged them into trip-hop numbers. The album was called BOMBAY THE HARD WAY - GUNS, CARS AND SITARS.

[k13oharts]

featuring a Jamaican who thinks he's Bond.

Hmmm, no wonder some people are hoping for a dark-skinned Bond
Bond a rasta?! whoa man!

[spynovelfan]

Yes, it actually has a bit where someone says "Bond... is black!"

[k13oharts]

Lolz, let's not continue that train of thought on this one
that's for the "We want a dark-skinned Bond board" (no offence intended)

Let us continue, though, on Bondian jazz, chill-out and new-age instrumental music a.k.a. spy music

[k13oharts]

Oki, so far, nobody listens to jazz anymore as it seems.

Not even any thoughts on Norah Jones sounding "spy" enough even in any of her lyrics?

[Brian Flagg]

Oki, so far, nobody listens to jazz anymore as it seems.

Not even any thoughts on Norah Jones sounding "spy" enough even in any of her lyrics?

I'm probably the biggest Jazz fan on this forum, it's just that much of it doesn't constitute "Spy Jazz."

If you like Spy Jazz and want to dig a little deeper, let me recommend "Crime Jazz." It's the older sister of Spy Jazz and can be found on such masterpieces as Peter Gunn, Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer/M Squad and the Ultra Lounge #7 "The Crime Scene." A harder edged, big band feel to the proceedings. Listening to this stuff will make you want to live in a black and white world, circa 1958. Great stuff.

http://www.kpr.ku.ed...ro/gallery.html

BTW, Norah Jones ain't Jazz. She's more Carole King than King Oliver.

Edited by Brian Flagg, 11 July 2005 - 04:01 PM.

[The Cat]

Spy jazz is such a wide category... So what kind of jazz ARE you looking for? If I might make a recommandation, I'd say Jimmy Smith's Goldfinger is the best in this category. Performed live at Salle Pleyel, this track offers 7 minutes of pure 60s improvised jazz.

[Brian Flagg]

Spy jazz is such a wide category... So what kind of jazz ARE you looking for? If I might make a recommandation, I'd say Jimmy Smith's Goldfinger is the best in this category. Performed live at Salle Pleyel, this track offers 7 minutes of pure 60s improvised jazz.

Cat, I like your taste in Jazz! Most anything recorded in the 1960s by Blue Note Records is going to be phenomenal. Although I'm not crazy about the Avante-Garde sound they put out by the late 1960s. I do like some of that type of madness, but I prefer more soulful, yet edgy fare. (Think Charles Mingus and early Ornette Coleman)

[The Cat]

The good thing about jazz is that it has such a wide range, I bet there's at least one particular area within the whole that would please everybody. It's so say that that many good 60s materials are not released on CD, or at least I don't know about them (except for Count Basie). The LPs of Frank Pourcel, Ray Baretto (latino-jazz?) or the Zero Zero Seven band are also cool additions, but the problem is that I've never heard them live... When jazz is really in element... And I'm always looking for more to have of this genre.

If anyone wants a wider selection of 60s Spy Jazz, check out the compilations Music To Read James Bond By. I know at least two volumes of this set, but someone told me there are more. They are rather good anthologies and represent a little bit of everything from the era... They should give you a taste of what's avaialble at all, so you can make more concrete research into a particular area.

Reading back the thread, I saw someone recommand Sex Mob... Well... The proper term for that album is madness. They covered 13 tracks on that album (2 others on a different one) abd while some tracks have nice bits, their improvisational parts are way too jarring for this kitty. Though I have to admit I have a soft spot for a portion of This Never Happened to the Other Fella... The fight music sounds just like an Hungarian cartoon show I used to watch. Brings back such sweet memories.

[stromberg]

If anyone wants a wider selection of 60s Spy Jazz, check out the compilations Music To Read James Bond By. I know at least two volumes of this set, but someone told me there are more. They are rather good anthologies and represent a little bit of everything from the era... They should give you a taste of what's avaialble at all, so you can make more concrete research into a particular area.

I think I've only seen two of them, of which I have Vol. 1. Highly recommend it. Was even a bit disappointed when I found out that some of the songs are the original movie versions, but there's some great stuff by Ferrante & Teicher (especially like the James Bond Theme version). Also, there's a record "Basie meets Bond". Only have a 45" of that, Goldfinger/Thunderball, but this one sounds pretty cool.

Otherwise, my taste in Jazz is pretty random. Never really tried to develop it but bought this 'n' that trough the years. Generally like most of the classics, not very much into "modern" stuff. Have a thing for Stan Getz - but also for Charlie Parker. Was lucky to see Dave Brubeck live a while ago...

When it comes to Spy Jazz, I definitely have to mention Quincy Jones here. And don't forget Lalo Schifrin.

[The Cat]

If anyone wants a wider selection of 60s Spy Jazz, check out the compilations Music To Read James Bond By. I know at least two volumes of this set, but someone told me there are more. They are rather good anthologies and represent a little bit of everything from the era... They should give you a taste of what's avaialble at all, so you can make more concrete research into a particular area.

I think I've only seen two of them, of which I have Vol. 1. Highly recommend it. Was even a bit disappointed when I found out that some of the songs are the original movie versions, but there's some great stuff by Ferrante & Teicher (especially like the James Bond Theme version). Also, there's a record "Basie meets Bond". Only have a 45" of that, Goldfinger/Thunderball, but this one sounds pretty cool.

Otherwise, my taste in Jazz is pretty random. Never really tried to develop it but bought this 'n' that trough the years. Generally like most of the classics, not very much into "modern" stuff. Have a thing for Stan Getz - but also for Charlie Parker. Was lucky to see Dave Brubeck live a while ago...

When it comes to Spy Jazz, I definitely have to mention Quincy Jones here. And don't forget Lalo Schifrin.

How odd... I only have volume 2, but not volumew one. The problem with Volume 2 that it features material that is more widely available (Count Basie, Leroy Holmes). But on the positive side, it is rich in "inspired by Bond" thematic material, such as Leroy Holmes Espionake and License To Kill or Al Caiola's Underwater Chase. Here's a listing for you, Herr Stromberg:

01 - Al Caiola - Thunderball
02 - Count Basie - 007
03 - Leroy Holmes - Search For Vulcan
04 - Perez Prado - The James Bond Theme
05 - Leroy Holmes - Espionage
06 - Leroy Holmes - I Wanna Be a James Bond Girl
07 - John Barry - Mister Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
08 - Ferrante and Teicher - Goldfinger
09 - Al Caiola - Underwater Chase
10 - Count Basie - The Golden Horn
11 - Leroy Holmes - License To Kill
12 - Leroy Holmes - Odd Job Man

P.S. Seeing that you mentioned Stan Getz, I hope you know his cover of The Look Of Love. I have around 30-40 covers of that song, but this is one of my favorites.

[Brian Flagg]

I might also include "Dr. No's Fantasy"(I think that's the title) from one of the Ultra Lounge CDS. Great stuff of the era. 1965-66 was the peak period for Bond. I also remember Basie's Band covering "From Russia With Love." In fact, it may be reissued on "Basie Plays Bond" from the Verve label--once again, exact titles eluding me owing to food deprivation.

Schifrin is a master film composer! I just got a CD (made from an LP) of his 1969 "Mannix" soundtrack. Similar in concept to his Mission Impossible album of the mid-1960s, where the themes are expanded upon and some intense and funky jamming is going on. And I STILL can't recommend those Man From UNCLE 2-cd sets enough!
As for Quincy, I liked his work on "The Pawnbroker." Hard to believe that The Q-Man was once so darned cool...

Edited by Brian Flagg, 19 July 2005 - 09:49 PM.

[The Cat]

Don't you think about Count Basie Meets Bond? It has in deed been issued on CD as well. It is really some well spent bucks, with Basie's take on the main title themes and additional music, including two versions of Dr. No's Fantasy. As for the Ultra Lounge CDs, I remember one with more spy jazz material, including more Leroy Holmes music. I think that one was entitlted something like Cocktail Capers...

[Onyx2626]

As for Quincy, I liked his work on "The Pawnbroker." Hard to believe that The Q-Man was once so darned cool...

hey Flagg! i'm baack... you know your jazz, (early Herbie Hancock might squeeze in here)
Quincy is so busy aligning himself with hiphop and the Sinatra album, it's a shame he seems so distant from his earlier movie scores. Different crowds laud different music of his.

[Brian Flagg]

As for Quincy, I liked his work on "The Pawnbroker." Hard to believe that The Q-Man was once so darned cool...

hey Flagg! i'm baack... you know your jazz, (early Herbie Hancock might squeeze in here)
Quincy is so busy aligning himself with hiphop and the Sinatra album, it's a shame he seems so distant from his earlier movie scores. Different crowds laud different music of his.

Funny you should mention Herbie, as both he and Quincy Jones are well-known for many different "bags" that they've been in. Sure, it looks good on their resum

[stromberg]

....
How odd... I only have volume 2, but not volumew one. The problem with Volume 2 that it features material that is more widely available (Count Basie, Leroy Holmes). But on the positive side, it is rich in "inspired by Bond" thematic material, such as Leroy Holmes Espionake and License To Kill or Al Caiola's Underwater Chase. Here's a listing for you, Herr Stromberg:
....

Ah, thanks for that. Had a link to some list, but the track list for Vol.2 doesn't mention the artists. Don't know if you're familiar with Vol.1, so here's a link with cover and track list. http://www.317x.com/...bond2/card.html

....
P.S. Seeing that you mentioned Stan Getz, I hope you know his cover of The Look Of Love. I have around 30-40 covers of that song, but this is one of my favorites.

Don't think I've ever heard it, but will look out for.


Pretty much agree with what averyone says about Quincy. Wish he would have stayed more with Jazz...

[The Cat]

....
How odd... I only have volume 2, but not volumew one. The problem with Volume 2 that it features material that is more widely available (Count Basie, Leroy Holmes). But on the positive side, it is rich in "inspired by Bond" thematic material, such as Leroy Holmes Espionake and License To Kill or Al Caiola's Underwater Chase. Here's a listing for you, Herr Stromberg:
....

Ah, thanks for that. Had a link to some list, but the track list for Vol.2 doesn't mention the artists. Don't know if you're familiar with Vol.1, so here's a link with cover and track list. http://www.317x.com/...bond2/card.html

Thanks for the listing. It seems like an intresting bunch. I'd really like to get this one, but I can't find it anywhere. I came in contact with Volume 2 by pure accident and I highly doubt Volume 1 will pop up this part of the world. Nice cover too. Volume 2 has a brown-haired girl reading UNDERWATER! Must be those waterproof editions...

....
P.S. Seeing that you mentioned Stan Getz, I hope you know his cover of The Look Of Love. I have around 30-40 covers of that song, but this is one of my favorites.

Don't think I've ever heard it, but will look out for.

Hey, if you need it, you know where to find me.

[merger]

When it comes to spyjazz I guess Lalo Schifrin is the King.
Here

[Four Aces]

Spy Jazz? That's a new one for me, and I conside myself pretty savvy when it comes to Jazz. NOLA is a regular business destination for me, and here is the place I usually hang out Snug Harbor, and it's not in the French Quarter either, so it's authentic and non-touristy. In fact I am back there again next week. Think I'll catch Charmaine Neville on Monday night .

Cheers,

4A