Goldfinger: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack [SOUNDTRACK]

Shirley Bassey, John Barry, Anthony Newley, James Bond Films (Related Recordings), Leslie Bricusse

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 1, 1991)
• Original Release Date: January 9, 1965
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Soundtrack
• Label: Capitol
• ASIN: B00000DRBX
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #165,180 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
The third film in the James Bond series was the one that transformed 007 into a pop-cultural phenomenon (and turned Sean Connery into a star). It also set the tone for every Bond soundtrack to follow, featuring a huge title pop hit (which introduced the extraordinary Shirley Bassey-- long a superstar in England--to American audiences) and, of course, John Barry's loud, brassy instrumentals, some close enough to pass for rock 'n' roll. The wonderful "James Bond Theme" had been used in the first two flicks, but never this predominantly. Barry genuinely builds suspense, tension, and mystery within his sounds--and, along with McCartney's "Live and Let Die," the title song remains the best (and definitely the most haunting) of all the Bond-based title tunes. (You were going to suggest "A View to a Kill," perhaps?) In fact, after reaching No. 1 on the LP charts for three weeks in 1965, this went on to have such a pop-cultural effect that the Beatles would borrow the "James Bond Theme" for the intro to their own "Help," while years later, the postpunk band Magazine would score a huge British hit with a cool cover of "Goldfinger." Simply the best Bond all the way around. --Bill Holdship

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good, but not the best., May 13, 2000

By	Håkan Tallgren (Karlstad, Sweden, Scandinavia) - See all my reviews

The soundtrack to Goldfinger is a famous one, and when it was released in 1964 it selled real good. Just like any other Barry-Bond-soundtrack it is a great CD, but still not one of the best. Barry didn't found a perfect balance with action-songs, beatufil songs and exiting songs before his next Bond-score, Thunderball. The Goldfinger soundtrack doesn't have a great balance.

The Main Title song Goldfinger is of course a superb one, and you can say nothing bad about that one. Probebly did John Barry understand how good this song was, cause in the soundtrack he works alot with it. In 5 five songs can we hear instrumental versions of the title song, both in very beatufil music (like in "Alpine Drive") and something like action-music (in "Dawn Raid on Fort Knox").

The entire instrumental version of the title track is not so good, and it "steals" some of the great tunes from "Dawn Raid on Fort Knox", but it doesn't fit in the instrumental song.

As usual this Bond-soundtrack is in-complete. What is so special with this CD is that is doesn't even have all the music from the LP! Four songs have been taken away, "Golden Girl", "Pussy Galores Flying Circus", "Death of Tilley" and the great "The Laser Beam", which come from the unforgettable scene whear Bond is about go be split by a laser beam. (What a surprise, hey!)Beacause of that this CD only is 31 minutes long!

Enjoy a great CD, that mostly have superb versions of the title track on it. But there is better Bond-soundtracks, like "You Only Live Twice" and "On Her Majesty's Secret Service".

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pure Gold for Barry and Bond, January 20, 2000

By	G M. Stathis (cedar city, utah USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

If one were forced to make a list of the best James Bond scores, John Barry's "Goldfinger" should be ranked a close second to Barry's own "On Her Majesty's Secret Service." Thankfully no Bond fan really has to do this. "Goldfinger" in many ways is the definitive Bond soundtrack and score. Shirley Bassey's vocal of the title tune is not only the best of the series, it is one of the great show tunes of all time. The score is excellent as well; "Bond Back in Action" is a particular delight which includes the James Bond theme opening and then presents a kind of mini-score from the pre-title sequence. As with all of the early soundtracks there is a good deal of Barry's score which did not make it to the original recording. A number of cuts do appear on the double disc, anniversary issue of the "The Best of Bond" (wihich includes an Anthony Newley vocal of the title that is "interesting"), and it would be nice if a new recording were released to include an expanded score. "Goldfinger" established Barry as the master in this genre, and made clear his enormous talents in film scoring. Moreover, this score became the standard by which all Bond scores have been and will be measured (it just happened that "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" measured up quite well).

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Music with the Midas touch, August 17, 2003

By	Dave Mock (Rockville Centre, New York United States) - See all my reviews

Having impressed both moviegoers and the industry in his rookie year as the Bond series' lead composer, John Barry followed up with a soundtrack that's almost as impressive. This CD is a combination of spectacular music and -- even without the remastering -- brilliant production.

While Barry had to give way to Lionel Bart when it came to composing the "From Russia With Love" title song, the "Goldfinger" theme music is Barry all the way, and it's as close to a perfect movie song as there is. Mix the bombast of Barry's horn-soaked arrangement, the over-the-top lyrics by Leslie Bricusse and Tony Newley, and of course the powerful delivery by vocalist Shirley Bassey...and you have a theme song that's a thriller itself.

The CD is filled with gems, including the brilliant big-band instrumental "Into Miami" -- used just after the title credits to accompany the wonderful slow aerial zoom to the Fountainebleau Hotel. The suite "Alpine Drive - Auric's Factory"
has wonderful violin passages balancing the "Goldfinger" music and a suspenseful section during which Bond spies on the Auric Enterprises plant.

The soundtrack CD reaches its powerful peak in "Dawn Raid on Fort Knox" and "The Arrival Of The Bomb And Countdown." Each has violins and horns building upon each other dramatically to a finish that doesn't need the movie visual to leave you tingling.

The only clunker is the Duane Eddy-ish, monaural guitar instrumental of "Goldfinger..." which obviously sounds as if it's from a worn master tape. The arrangement is fine, but the audio quality is a drawback from what's otherwise a spectacular disc...which comes awfully close to the brilliant "From Russia With Love" in front to back quality.