I was reading the old Film Score Monthly articles about the 2003 James Bond remastered cd's some of which were expanded at the time.
There was a short piece called The Tracks Not Taken on several of the scores that were remastered, but un expanded.
Film Score Monthly Volume 8 Issue number 5.
The Man With The Golden Gun was on the schedule but cut due to lack of project funds. The score is on 16-track tapes just like Live and Let Die.
The Spy Who Loved did not have enough time to assemble the score. There are 24-track tapes located at Abbey Road in London, but it is not noted whether they are for the soundtrack album or the film soundtrack. Lukas also notes that 24-track tape remastering is very expensive.
A View To A Kill was recorded in London, but the tapes are not at Abbey Road for whatever reason.
Moonraker recorded in Paris and the tapes are not at Abbey Road. Originally the score heard in Moonraker theatrically was mono. Was not the films score mixed in stereo for DVD? If so the tapes exist to remaster and expand.
The article notes that Octopussy tapes were not located at Abbey Road, but may be located in MGM in Los Angeles.
Of course he notes that Dr. No, From Russia With Love and Goldfinger full scores are most likely lost.
Goldeneye Kendall wanted to include the tank chase by John Altman, but the recording was recorded on a "fancy modern digital tape that required expensive equipment to transfer."
With all of the great work being done on expanding and reissuing soundtracks, surely FSM, Intrada or La La Land Records would do the extra work and issue these scores?
Hopefully MGM can make an arrangement in the near future.
What I thought was silly at the time is that they wanted to do the score as budget items rather then charging a bit more.
As I have seen with the smaller soundtrack labels if they are done well they are worth paying for. Intrada, Grescendo, La La Land Records and FSM have done amazing work with the Star Trek soundtracks. Both the films and tv.
Kendall also remarks that very little marketing was done for the remastered soundtracks.
So I'm guessing the only people that knew about them to buy was Bond fans. Even though MGM wanted commercial appeal with them.