12 replies to this topic

[scaramunga]

For Diamonds Are Forever, there was an additional verse to the title song (sung by Bassey) however there was a disagreement between John Barry and Cubby or Harry about it.

Does anyone know what the lyrics were to this omitted additional verse?

Also, was this a reason that John Barry did not return for Live and Let Die?

I know it has been stated that they wanted a new sound for Moore? Or that since George Martin wrote the title song that they wanted Martin to also to the score?

For Barry. If he was really tired of scoring Bond why did he return so often after Diamonds? Especially after he was replaced in Live and Let Die, The Spy Who Loved Me and For Your Eyes Only.

Thanks!!

[Taro Todoroki]

Not sure about the extra verse but I believe I remember Don Black saying that Harry didn't like the lyrics. BTW, Sir Paul McCartney wrote Live and Let Die.

[Guy Haines]

I've never heard of any additional lyrics for the DAF title song, but it is alleged that Harry Saltzman was unhappy with the lyrics as they stood, and had a bit of a disagreement with John Barry and Don Black about them - I think Saltzman considered the lyrics "pørnographic" in parts. Nevertheless, the song went ahead and became successful.

(I did read somewhere that Harry Saltzman wasn't too thrilled about the title song for Goldfinger either - please correct me if this story is wrong. Again, however, the song was used and was successful.)

As for John Barry's absences in the 1970s, my understanding is that he opted out of LALD because he was working on the musical "Billy Liar", again with Don Black. Regarding the other films he didn't score - the British tax regime had a part in his absence from TSWLM, allegedly. I don't think John Barry was tiring of Bond because he did, of course, score four more Bond films between 1979 and 1987.

[mattjoes]

I did read somewhere that Harry Saltzman wasn't too thrilled about the title song for Goldfinger either - please correct me if this story is wrong.

Indeed he wasn't. Page 3:
http://www.vanityfai...ohn-barry200902

I understand that because of a disagreement regarding the DAF song, Saltzman and Barry had a falling out, which is why Barry missed the next Bond film. As you might already know, he's never really been willing to give in to people when he's felt they were making the wrong decisions, music-wise.

[The Cat]

To answer all the questions:

Additional lyrics to DAF:

Diamondds are forever
I can taste the satisfaction
Flawless physical attraction
Bitter cold I see fresh 'till they rest on the flesh they pray for.

See Guy Haines' post above why Barry skipped some movies in the 70s.

And Martin didn't write the title song, Paul McCartney did.

Anything else?

[scaramunga]

To answer all the questions:

Additional lyrics to DAF:

Diamondds are forever
I can taste the satisfaction
Flawless physical attraction
Bitter cold I see fresh 'till they rest on the flesh they pray for.

See Guy Haines' post above why Barry skipped some movies in the 70s.

And Martin didn't write the title song, Paul McCartney did.

Anything else?

Thanks.

Why did Barry not score License To Kill?
Was there any attempt made to ask him to score Goldeneye?

[Guy Haines]

To answer all the questions:

Additional lyrics to DAF:

Diamondds are forever
I can taste the satisfaction
Flawless physical attraction
Bitter cold I see fresh 'till they rest on the flesh they pray for.

See Guy Haines' post above why Barry skipped some movies in the 70s.

And Martin didn't write the title song, Paul McCartney did.

Anything else?

Thanks.

Why did Barry not score License To Kill?
Was there any attempt made to ask him to score Goldeneye?

Concerning the LTK score - John Barry was ill, very seriously ill indeed, and unable to score movies for about two years. He had suffered from a ruptured oesophagus. His Oscar winning score for "Dances With Wolves" is dedicated to the doctors who saved him. The Bond film makers held out for him to return for as long as possible, I understand, but in the end he was not well enough to work on LTK, hence the score by Michael Kamen. He does, however, have a writing credit for the theme song - belatedly - because of the opening bars which are clearly influenced by the opening of the song "Goldfinger".

Was Barry asked to score GE? I don't know, but everything I've read about him since he left Bond suggests that after eleven films he felt he couldn't add anything further musically and that it was time to move on and hand over to someone else.

The best biography of Barry, by some margin, I think, is "John Barry:The Man With The Midas Touch" by Geoff Leonard, Pete Walker and Gareth Bramley. Also worth a read though, if it is still in print, is "John Barry A Sixties Theme: From James Bond to Midnight Cowboy" by Eddi Feigel, which as its title suggests concentrates on Barry's first decade of film music.

[Scaramanga'74]

Regardless of what Saltzman may have felt about DAF, it is still one of the more memorable songs in the series. While DAF is a relatively mediocre film (and even more so when you compare it with the rest of the Connery gems), it's one saving grace has to be Barry's lush and tantalising score.

The opening gun barrel theme remains my personal favourite even today. His stylistic composition aptly captures the luxury mood of Las Vegas while the action cue (despite some comical overture) does it well in heightening the suspense and overall enjoyment. Certainly not the best Bond film, but a terrific score nonetheless. And only someone of Barry's calibre could pull it off.

The fact is Barry's musical contribution is certainly way too high on my list whenever I go for my DAF DVD. Wouldn't want to have it any other way.

[The Cat]

Was Barry asked to score GE? I don't know, but everything I've read about him since he left Bond suggests that after eleven films he felt he couldn't add anything further musically and that it was time to move on and hand over to someone else.

Anyone can find inspiration if the right price is paid. However, if you're not allowed to write the theme song, there's no helping that.

[Guy Haines]

Regardless of what Saltzman may have felt about DAF, it is still one of the more memorable songs in the series. While DAF is a relatively mediocre film (and even more so when you compare it with the rest of the Connery gems), it's one saving grace has to be Barry's lush and tantalising score.

The opening gun barrel theme remains my personal favourite even today. His stylistic composition aptly captures the luxury mood of Las Vegas while the action cue (despite some comical overture) does it well in heightening the suspense and overall enjoyment. Certainly not the best Bond film, but a terrific score nonetheless. And only someone of Barry's calibre could pull it off.

The fact is Barry's musical contribution is certainly way too high on my list whenever I go for my DAF DVD. Wouldn't want to have it any other way.

I agree regarding the theme tune and score. One of the more diverse Barry entries musically, from the Vegas swing sound in the casino scenes, to the amusing but sinister "Wint and Kidd" theme, and my favourite from the score "007 And Counting", the music providing the background for the space laser weapon sequence.

Was Barry asked to score GE? I don't know, but everything I've read about him since he left Bond suggests that after eleven films he felt he couldn't add anything further musically and that it was time to move on and hand over to someone else.

Anyone can find inspiration if the right price is paid. However, if you're not allowed to write the theme song, there's no helping that.

Well now, I've learned something there. A mistake to exclude John Barry from involvement in the GE theme tune, I would think. Ironic, though, that he should receive a writing credit for the LTK theme when he wasn't directly involved. (Though its obvious his GF theme inspired it. The opening bars in particular!)

Edited by Guy Haines, 15 December 2010 - 07:17 AM.

[scaramunga]

Was Barry asked to score GE? I don't know, but everything I've read about him since he left Bond suggests that after eleven films he felt he couldn't add anything further musically and that it was time to move on and hand over to someone else.

Anyone can find inspiration if the right price is paid. However, if you're not allowed to write the theme song, there's no helping that.

Good to know. Great stuff here. Thanks for the info!

To answer all the questions:

Additional lyrics to DAF:

Diamondds are forever
I can taste the satisfaction
Flawless physical attraction
Bitter cold I see fresh 'till they rest on the flesh they pray for.

See Guy Haines' post above why Barry skipped some movies in the 70s.

And Martin didn't write the title song, Paul McCartney did.

Anything else?

Thanks.

Why did Barry not score License To Kill?
Was there any attempt made to ask him to score Goldeneye?

Concerning the LTK score - John Barry was ill, very seriously ill indeed, and unable to score movies for about two years. He had suffered from a ruptured oesophagus. His Oscar winning score for "Dances With Wolves" is dedicated to the doctors who saved him. The Bond film makers held out for him to return for as long as possible, I understand, but in the end he was not well enough to work on LTK, hence the score by Michael Kamen. He does, however, have a writing credit for the theme song - belatedly - because of the opening bars which are clearly influenced by the opening of the song "Goldfinger".

Was Barry asked to score GE? I don't know, but everything I've read about him since he left Bond suggests that after eleven films he felt he couldn't add anything further musically and that it was time to move on and hand over to someone else.

The best biography of Barry, by some margin, I think, is "John Barry:The Man With The Midas Touch" by Geoff Leonard, Pete Walker and Gareth Bramley. Also worth a read though, if it is still in print, is "John Barry A Sixties Theme: From James Bond to Midnight Cowboy" by Eddi Feigel, which as its title suggests concentrates on Barry's first decade of film music.

Thank you. I appreciate the post and the additional info. I was not aware that Barry was ill around the making of License To Kill.

[gkgyver]

Diamonds Are Forever may be my favourite of them all, actually.

[scaramunga]

Diamonds Are Forever may be my favourite of them all, actually.

It's a great theme song and a very good score. One of my favorite scores of the series.

I really like the Moonraker theme by Bassey too. I think the Moonraker score is one of the series best as well.