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The Music of James Bond Hardcover – November 1, 2012
| Jon Burlingame (Author) Find all the books, read about the author, and more. See search results for this author |
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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 Goldfinger and Thunderball. 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.
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 Moonraker; 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 Licence to Kill but saw his work shelved, and how Amy Winehouse very nearly co-wrote and sang the theme for Quantum of Solace.
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 The Music of James Bond a must read for 007 buffs and all popular music fans. This paperback edition is brought up-to-date with a new chapter on Skyfall.
- Print length304 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherOxford University Press
- Publication dateNovember 1, 2012
- Dimensions10.1 x 1 x 7 inches
- ISBN-10019986330X
- ISBN-13978-0199863303
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Editorial Reviews
Review
"When it comes to writing about film music, Jon Burlingame is the man with the Midas touch. Both casual fans and 007 aficionados should find this book to be enlightening, informative, and great fun to read." --Leonard Maltin
"Jon Burlingame has written an amazing behind-the-scenes dossier, revealing the personalities, the betrayals, the egos, the lawsuits, and the untold stories behind 007's hits and misses. Nobody does it better than Bond, and nobody knows Bond music better than Burlingame." --John Cork, co-author, James Bond, The Legacy
"A magnificent work. Not only has Mr. Burlingame assembled a meticulously researched history of the James Bond music, but, being an expert on musical scoring and composers, he offers a degree of music appreciation and insight that few possess. James Bond fans will devour this like Beluga caviar and Dom Perignon champagne." --Steven Jay Rubin, author of The Complete James Bond Movie Encyclopedia
"Jon Burlingame provides the intriguing and often fascinating story behind the one heretofore neglected aspect of the James Bond phenomenon: the soundtracks and the incredibly talented people behind them. The Music of James Bond manages to be exhaustively researched, yet highly entertaining. Those of us who pride ourselves on being 007 scholars will be humbled by the wealth of new insights the author reveals. With this indispensable book, Burlingame reaffirms his status as one of the world's foremost experts on motion picture soundtracks." --Lee Pfeiffer, co-author, The Incredible World of 007 and The Essential Bond, and Editor-in-Chief, Cinema Retro Magazine
"Jon Burlingame has crafted an authoritative and uniquely informative volume--the definitive examination of a major contribution in the longevity of the James Bond film series. The Music of James Bond is packed with memorable quotes and a sprinkling of photographic gems."--Graham Rye, Editor & Publisher, 007 MAGAZINE
"At last, a worthy historical analysis of 007 that finally puts the music in the spotlight; often neglected and overlooked, John Barry's distinctive sound played a pivotal part in defining James Bond's screen persona. Jon Burlingame's incredibly detailed account successfully threads together the full story, and in doing so, reveals more twists and turns than an Ian Fleming novel. --Geoff Leonard and Pete Walker, co-authors, John Barry: The Man With the Midas Touch
"The Bond films bounce from one locale and storyline to another, with the music serving as our constant frame of reference. And so it probably deserves a biography unto itself: a snappy, efficient and gossip-heavy one such as The Music of James Bond by Jon Burlingame." -- Colin Fleming, The Washington Post
"The tunes and scores that have graced the 007 franchise finally get their due in this exhaustively researched and consistently fascinating chronicle." -- Neil Smith, Total Film
"THE MUSIC OF JAMES BOND is an immensely readable and satisfyingly comprehensive study of an overlooked aspect to the Bond films' success. I couldn't put it down." -- Neil Shurley, Examiner.com
"[A] thorough and engaging account of the composers, singers, and lyricists who have contributed the stylistically eclectic scores and title songs for James Bond films over the past fifty years... For connoisseurs of Bond films and their scores, The Music of James Bond will likely become an indispensable part of their collection."-- Journal of the Society for American Music
About the Author
Jon Burlingame is one of the nation's leading writers on the subject of music for film and television. He writes regularly for Daily Variety and teaches film-music history at the University of Southern California. His other work has included three previous books on film and TV music; articles for other publications including The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, and Premiere and Emmy magazines; and producing radio specials for Los Angeles classical station KUSC.
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Product details
- Publisher : Oxford University Press; 1st edition (November 1, 2012)
- Language : English
- Hardcover : 304 pages
- ISBN-10 : 019986330X
- ISBN-13 : 978-0199863303
- Item Weight : 1.73 pounds
- Dimensions : 10.1 x 1 x 7 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #2,314,863 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #6,414 in Movie History & Criticism
- #6,811 in Music History & Criticism (Books)
- #37,362 in Performing Arts (Books)
- Customer Reviews:
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The book is impeccably researched but never boring or dry. It touches just enough on the scoring process and the techniques of John Barry and others to be really useful to film composers and music aficionados, while also offering candid and sometimes sordid tales of the inside negotiations and planning that occurred with each film.
I thought I knew everything about the Bond films and the rare music tidbits. I was wrong. This is written as if you're a fly in the wall, sitting alongside the composers and producers as they plan the score for each film, discuss the lead song, and argue over what type of feel is needed.
With a chapter for each film (including the outliers Casino Royale in 1967 and Never Say Never Again), up through Skyfall, this book was endlessly entertaining. I didn't want it to end. My one hope is that this gets updated after No Time to Die.
If you're a Bond or soundtrack fan this book is meant for you.
Top reviews from other countries
If there is a gripe, it would have been interesting to have more on how the music was rated by critics, and some insight into why, as soundtracks, they have never been as popular as the films. I would have also liked more primary interviews with some of the singers and certainly people like Paul McCartney on the process of writing, rather than using existing published interviews.







