As mentioned on Friday, I have a few worthwhile covers from the 1997 Bond theme tribute album Shaken and Stirred to share with you all. This album was produced and masterminded by film composer David Arnold, who has since gone on to score for every Bond film from Tomorrow Never Dies onward. (According to Wikipedia, John Barry, upon hearing this album, recommended Arnold for the job.)
First up, as promised, is a swell version of “Thunderball” sung by ABC’s Martin Fry, who proves here that fops can have a manly swagger of their own.
Next, we have a rendition of “Nobody Does It Better” from Aimee Mann, aided and abetted by Jon Brion, as was often the case in those halcyon days. This track is a pretty wild collision of the Mann/Brion aesthetic with the electronic leanings of Arnold, who has some Bjork credits in his background.
Aimee Mann, “Nobody Does It Better”
Finally, a track that is obviously close to my heart, Pulp‘s “All Time High.” As I see it, Jarvis Cocker decided to sing this song in the guise of James Bond as an aging, dissolute, has-been drunk pleading some sweet young thing for her time. He has no intention of really taking this relationship beyond a one-night stand, but he’s so suddenly committed to the task at hand — a task that was once effortless — that he finds himself really meaning the things he’s saying, in spite of himself. Incidentally, Cocker maintains this persona on much of Pulp’s album of ’97, This Is Hardcore.
Thanks, Oats. My thoughts: I tried — LORD, how I did TRY — to get into the Jarvis Cocker thing, No dice. Just too much drama for me. The Mann/Brion thing is interesting from a Kentonite point of view, for sure. I’m always amazed at just how nimble Brion’s brain is. Every one of those harmonic flips and twists would be a formidable achievement for a mere mortal; Brion’s got a gift. Mann is pretty much window dressing on a track with as much going on as that one.
Now to Martin Fry and “Thunderball.” Though this one appealed to me the most at many levels, it ended up being the one I appreciated the least. To start with, the piece showed up Fry’s limits as a vocalist. Sure — nobody can do the Tom Jones thing; on the original, he *is* a thunderball. I’m not sure you could’ve chosen a more explosive vocalist. Fry’s no different than the rest of us — we just sing a bit. But Fry’s performance is more than just sub-Jonesian; it’s weak. So there’s one big demerit.
The track itself is brilliant. The instrumental voices blend and layer in fascinating ways; melodies and counter-melodies soar into the stratosphere, lifting the tune higher and higher — it’s like a controlled musical explosion. Awesome. BUT ALL THE GOOD BITS WERE COPPED FROM THE ORIGINAL. So, kudos to the arrangers for spotting all the amazing arrangements and voices from 1965, but — don’t expect me to think your efforts were worth the studio time. What was the point?
Anyhow, thanks; these were all interesting.
HVB, International Man Of Mystery
p.s.: who *is* that guy in the tuxedo?
The whispery vocal stylings Cocker is using work ok with minimal backing, but not once the rock band plus huge orchestra kick in. The intimacy implied by the vocal gets swallowed up by the swollen accompaniment.
I’ve never been a huge fan of most Bond themes, but I like the musical backing on all three of these selections. MUCH better than I would have expected. Thanks, Oats. I agree with the general seniment that all three singers sound overmatched by the music, although I think the Pulp guy might have gotten the most bang for his buck with his approach.
Re: the photo
I think the clock is ticking on Daniel Craig’s Bond. THIS guy is the Bond of the near future!
He looks like he’s contemplating his next move. Will it be a devastating judo chop on the guy double-dipping his potato chips, or an artfully brutal knee to the groin of the guy hogging the pretzels?
Find out in “007: Quantum of Suburbia”
On Her Majesty’s Secret Settee?
Now THAT’s funny, mockcarr!
Is the picture at the top of this post the guy left behind after Bond effortlessly relieves him of his date?
This is what “Q” looks like after he takes off his lab coat. Actually, everyone working in British intelligence must wear evening clothes.
That would be pretty good wallpaper for your tripping pleasure.