Music of James Bond

The story of the music that accompanies the cinematic adventures of Ian Fleming's intrepid Agent 007 is one of surprising real-life drama. In <em>The Music of James Bond</em> author Jon Burlingame throws open studio and courtroom doors alike to reveal the full and extraordinary history of the sounds of James Bond spicing the story with a wealth of fascinating and previously undisclosed tales. <p/>Burlingame devotes a chapter to each Bond film providing the backstory for the music (including a reader-friendly analysis of each score) from the last-minute creation of the now-famous James Bond Theme in Dr. No to John Barry's trend-setting early scores for such films as <em>Goldfinger </em>and <em>Thunderball</em>. We learn how synthesizers disco and modern electronica techniques played a role in subsequent scores and how composer David Arnold reinvented the Bond sound for the 1990s and beyond. <p/>The book brims with behind-the-scenes anecdotes. Burlingame examines the decades-long controversy over authorship of the Bond theme; how Frank Sinatra almost sang the title song for <em>Moonraker</em>; and how top artists like Shirley Bassey Tom Jones Paul McCartney Carly Simon Duran Duran Gladys Knight Tina Turner and Madonna turned Bond songs into chart-topping hits. The author shares the untold stories of how Eric Clapton played guitar for <em>Licence to Kill</em> but saw his work shelved and how Amy Winehouse very nearly co-wrote and sang the theme for <em>Quantum of Solace</em>. <p/>New interviews with many Bond songwriters and composers coupled with extensive research as well as fascinating and previously undiscovered details--temperamental artists unexpected hits and the convergence of great music and unforgettable imagery--make <em>The Music of James Bond</em> a must read for 007 buffs and all popular music fans. This paperback edition is brought up-to-date with a new chapter on <em>Skyfall</em>.<br>