Dr. No: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack [Soundtrack]

John Barry | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 1, 1991)
• Original Release Date: May 8, 1963
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Soundtrack
• Label: Capitol
• ASIN: B00000DRCH
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #71,860 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. James Bond Theme

2. Kingston Calypso

3. Jamaican Rock

4. Jump Up

5. Audio Bongo

6. Under The Mango Tree

7. Twisting With James

8. Jamaica Jazz

9. Under The Mango Tree

10. Jump Up

11. Dr. No's Fantasy

12. Kingston Calypso

13. The Island Speaks

14. Under The Mango Tree

15. The Boy's Chase

16. Dr. No's Theme

17. The James Bond Theme

18. Love At Last

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Monty Norman goes to Jamaica, September 30, 2001

By 

Henry R. Kujawa ("The Forbidden Zone" (Camden, NJ)) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dr. No: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (Audio CD)

If ever a movie desperately NEEDED an "upgraded" version of a soundtrack album, DR. NO (1962) is it! Only 7 of the 18 tracks on the album actually appear in the film, and most of the music in the film is not on the album! The current "soundtrack album" is more like one of those modern items that say "Music inspired by the film" (like the one Prince did for BATMAN in 1989).

Monty Norman did 2 recording sessions for the film: the first, a lightweight, bouncy & moody score rich in Jamaican styling; the second, a sombre, intense, exciting "orchestral" score in the classic "crime jazz" style. One of his compositions, "The James Bond Theme", based on his own "Good Sign Bad Sign" (from an unproduced play) turned up here and there in the score, but it was also re-recorded at the request of the producers by John Barry, and this version was so satisfying, it wound up being used at least 5 times over the course of the picture, and reappeared in every Eon Production since. The album breaks down as follows:

1)"James Bond Theme"-- by The John Barry Seven; surely the best recording of this ever made, it appears in the film's opening and closing credits; when Bond leaves the casino and arrives at his office; as Bond drives to Miss Taro's house (before he's ambushed); and when he arrives at Miss Taro's house. This recording was even reused as-is in OHMSS (the assault on Piz Gloria) and on some prints of THUNDERBALL (the end credits). For decades it was disputed whether Norman or Barry really wrote it, but it has apparently been proven in Norman's favor (and if one listens carefully, snippets of it can be heard in other pieces in the film-- none of which appear on this album, unfortunately).
2)"Kingston Calypso"-- by Byron Lee & The Dragonaires; this variation on "3 Blind Mice" is heard during the opening credits as 3 killers stroll toward their target.
18)"Love At Last"-- you have to listen VERY carefully to hear this, buried in the soundtrack as Bond makes inquiries at Strangways' club and meets Prof. Dent for the first time.
14)"Under The Mango Tree"-- vocal by Monty Norman, this is heard earlier as James follows Quarrel to Pusfella's club.
4)"Jump Up"--a really upbeat, catchy dance tune performed at Pusfella's club when James has his talk with Felix & Quarrel. Performed onscreen by Byron Lee & The Dragonaires, a band who've been around since 1956 and became a huge force in Jamaican music-- still around today!
6)"Under The Mango Tree"-- sung by Diana Coupland, this is heard on the record player at Miss Taro's house while James prepares for Prof. Dent's arrival.
13)"The Island Speaks"--the most ominous, moody bit here, heard as James & Quarrel approach Crab Key Island. This is the ONLY piece from the "orchestral" session included on the album!

The rest of the tracks do not appear in the film-- not necessarily a loss, but really... "Jamaican Rock", "Audio Bongo" and "The Is Boy Chase" (3,5,15) are more irritating than anything else (and I wonder where they were intended to go?). Several tracks are alternate versions, perhaps recorded to give the producers a choice of what to use where. These include "Jamaican Jazz", an instro. version of "Jump Up" (8), while (10) is an alternate take with a different singer & lyrics; (12) and (16) are both alternates of "Kingston Calypso", one with Diana Coupland singing and the other instrumental (the latter oddly re-named "Dr. No's Fantasy"); (9) is an instro of "Under The Mango Tree". 2 more versions of this appeared in the film, a more uptempo instro at the end of the film, and the scene on the beach where Bond meets Honey, sung by Diana Coupland (dubbing Ursula Andress) and Sean Connery himself-- but neither of these appear on the album. And why isn't it "UnderNEATH The Mango Tree" (as in the lyrics and various cover versions)?
Perhaps most intriguing are (7,11,& 17), three different versions (under 3 different names) of what may well have been the original, UNUSED "James Bond Theme". "Twisting With James" (7) would have fit at the nightclub; "Dr. No's Fantasy" (11) reminds me of something from THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN; and "The James Bond Theme" (17) could have fit well in the jungle (or somewhere in the film LIVE AND LET DIE); but NONE of the 3 versions of this catchy tune turn up in the film!

In addition to the obvious mess described above, the LP only had Norman's name listed in tiny type on the back (absurd, considering he wrote ALL the music on it); there were no credits indicating "Arranged & Orchestrated by Burt Rhodes"; "Conducted by Eric Rogers"; that track 1 was "Arranged by John Barry" and recorded by the John Barry Seven; and no listings for the vocals by Diana Coupland, Byron Lee & The Dragonaires or Monty Norman! (The latter was confirmed when I visited Norman's website; on a new recording of "Mango Tree", it's obviously the same singer!) Nor was there a credit for "Album Producer: Noel Rogers", but with all that's wrong here, I'm not surprised nobody wanted to take the blame for this!

I've just put together my own "custom" version of this from tracks on the album plus the "missing" music (with dialogue) from the movie; but I would hope that some day, someone at Eon would see to it that an "official" release like that may see the light of day!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The first James Bond movie. The first James Bond music!, November 13, 2002

By 

Devin Zydel (New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dr. No: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (Audio CD)

For an explosive movie, we are granted the pleasure of great music. Monty Norman gives us a song that as soon as you hear it, you know whats coming. For the 1:45 long James Bond theme, it is one of the worlds most renowned muisc ever! Other tracks are also very well, with a carribean theme. Some of the music is a little hard to hear, but it is still wonderful to listen to. Underneath the Mango Tree is a magnificent song in this collection. If any of the songs are meant just to be fillers, they are Audio bongo and Dr. No's Fantasy.
A fantastic way to start off the most popular movie series ever!...

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dr. Yes!, July 15, 2002

By 

H.S.A. (Washington, D.C. United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dr. No: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (Audio CD)

I don't know what all these other reviewers are really [upset] about. This soundtrack captures the essence and evokes memories of the film. Isn't that what a good soundtrack is supposed to do? Fleming loved Jamaica, and the music captures some of the pre-ska essence of Jamaican music. If you think about the music in the context of that era and you might enjoy it. Personally, whenever I hear "Three Blind Mice" I'll always think about Dr. No's three blind assassins ambling up the road to the British Embassy in Jamaica to kill the local British intelligence officers, which ultimately provokes Bond's arrival. I've been listening to this soundtrack for years, and I think its pretty cool. It's got substance and soul. To the other reviewers who panned it, go buy a Steven Seagal movie soundtrack or something by John Williams. To those who are Bond afficianados, and those who want to listen to some music with a little class and dash, this soundtrack is for you.