Song 18 - The James Bond Theme by Monty Norman

First heard in the first James Bond film, Dr. No, The James Bond Theme is as famous as "Old MacDonald had a Farm" and I challenge anyone to try and listen to the tune without thinking of the iconic film image of James Bond in the white circle and the black slowly turning to red. As much as you could never imagine James Bond without the lead actors who have played him, you can't have the movies without its unmistakeable theme tune. 

The unforgettable "dum di-di dum dum" rhythm of the guitar in the first few bars fills me with a familiarity of the films and I know I am in for a roller coaster ride with our hero as he travels the global to bring down his arch enemies, breaking a few hearts along the way. 

The guitar riff  gives way to the jazz arrangements of trumpets; trombones saxophones and all together creates the character on the large screen for the audience. Having played the trombone at school; I can safely say that this is a theme that I would have loved to play as there is fun to be had to actually had a chance to play music so well known.

There is a great debate who wrote the theme with Monty Norman being credited as the composer since 1962 and has collected around £485,000 in royalties between the years 1976 and 1999. However; it is  John Barry who arranged the tune for Dr. No and Barry himself went on to be one of the most prolific composers for the James Bond films. Many would claim that John Barry wrote the music but as courts has twice ruled in favour of Monty Norman and he has won libel cases against publishers who have argued Barry's cases; you will forgive me if I credit Monty Norman as the composer of the tune. 

The James Bond Theme; since appearing in Dr No, has been used in all James Bond films; with many of the arrangements being written by John Barry and in Adele's Skyfall you can here the theme tune coming through around the 2 minute mark.  Adele's Skyfall will be talked about on another post.

The original recording of the theme happened on the longest day (21st June) 1962, using five saxophones, nine brass, a solo guitar and a rhythm section. The guitarist, Vic Flick, who played the famous riff for the first time was paid a one-off fee of £6, which in today's money who not even let him into watch a Bond film at the cinema.  They would have had no idea that the piece of music would be as famous as it now is. 

The film, Dr. No, was released on 5th October 1962, and grossed $59.5 million at the box office. With Sean Connery as 007, the released of the first film was to start a franchise which is now worth over $6,000 million; it would be interesting to know how much Vic Flick would charge now to play the riff.

To be taken to the world of James Bond, listen to its unforgettable theme here:
James Bond Theme by Monty Norman

Written: Monty Norman
Arranged by: John Barry
First recorded: 1962
First album: Dr. No, 1962