| Live and Let Die | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soundtrack album by George Martin | |||||||||||||||||||
| Released | 1973 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Recorded | April 1973 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Length | 31:14 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Label | United Artists | ||||||||||||||||||
| Producer | George Martin (Original) Frank Collura (Reissue) |
||||||||||||||||||
| George Martin chronology | |||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Live and Let Die is the soundtrack of, and was written for, the 8th James Bond film of the same name.
Taking a temporary hiatus from scoring Bond films, John Barry subsequently passed the baton over to George Martin. This was the first James Bond film of which Barry was, in at least some aspect, not a part. Barry was then working on a musical and had had quarrels with producer Harry Saltzman over his title song to Diamonds are Forever.
The score for Live and Let Die was orchestrated and conducted by George Martin, and recorded at the AIR Studios.
In his autobiography, Martin said he was approached by Harry Saltzman who was impressed by the orchestral backing of Paul McCartney's demo of the title song and wanted Martin to score the film. Martin agreed but then was surprised when Saltzman asked him who he thought should sing the title song; Martin said that Paul McCartney intended to. Saltzman wanted a black soul singer to match the blaxploitation theme of the film, but a compromise was agreed when B. J. Arnau would sing the title song in a nightclub sequence. Martin related how he worked closely with director Guy Hamilton who practically dictated how one of the tracks If He Finds It, Kill Him should sound.[1]
For the theme song, Martin teamed with former-Beatle Paul McCartney, who had previously been considered for Diamonds Are Forever in 1971.[2] This was the first time the pair worked together since Abbey Road in 1969. The theme was written by Paul and his wife Linda McCartney and performed by Paul and his group, Wings. The tune, the first 'true' rock and roll song used to open a Bond film, was a major success in the United States (#2 for three weeks)[3] and the UK (#9), Paul's best showings in over a year. "Live and Let Die" continues to be a highlight of his live shows, complete with fireworks and lasers. In 2005, it was performed live by McCartney during the halftime show at Super Bowl XXXIX. In 1991 the song was covered by the rock band Guns N' Roses. Geri Halliwell and Chrissie Hynde each covered the title tune, the latter for current Bond-composer David Arnold's compilation album, Shaken And Stirred: The David Arnold James Bond Project.
It was also released in quadrophonic.
The original soundtrack LP ended with track 14, "James Bond theme." Except as noted, all tracks composed by George Martin.[4]