DIFFERENCES film versions & album versions of main titles/end titles/title songs

I am quite the sucker for film music. And for me October 23rd, when the final score for "SPECTRE" will be released (composed and conducted by Thomas Newman, with instrumentals of the song "Writing's On The Wall") is an exciting one! BUT, like so many past Bond films, there are usually quite a lot of recording differences between the album versions of instrumental themes (main titles, end titles) and title songs.

In this topic I want to go into detail about those differences in recordings and mixes of the final film versions and the final album versions. Here we go:

Main Titles 'From Russia With Love' (composed, arranged and conducted by John Barry & Lionel Bart)
--> Final Film Version: http://picosong.com/S4Uu
--> Final Album Version: http://picosong.com/S4UD
--> Conclusion: The album version doesn't have the funky electric organ! Instead it has been replaced by more common snare drums to add rhytmn.

End Titles 'Moonraker' (composed, arranged and conducted by John Barry, lyrics by Hal David)
--> Final Film Version: http://picosong.com/S4df & http://picosong.com/S4dB
--> Final Album Version: http://picosong.com/S4dp
--> Conclusion: I think the film version is slightly more 'groovy', as it contains a backing track with richer and fuller synthesizer/electro music. I think these end titles were a complete joy in cinemas back in 1979. Made all the booties swirl :-D!

End Titles 'Surrender' (composed, arranged by David Arnold, conducted by Nicholas Dodd, lyrics by Don Black)
--> Final Film Version: http://picosong.com/S4rU
--> Final Album Version: http://picosong.com/S4G5
--> Conclusion: KD Lang's voice is more pronounced in the film version of the end titles. And I do believe she recorded the song twice, once for the album version and once for the film version. Just listen carefully to her voice.

Main Titles 'The World Is Not Enough' (composed, arranged by David Arnold, conducted by Nicholas Dodd, lyrics by Don Black)
--> Final Film Version: http://picosong.com/S4pn
--> Final Album Version: http://picosong.com/S4GH
--> Conclusion: Slightly more pronounced electronical infused/synthesized backing track. But more importantly the orchestration is different and sounds 'fuller', 'richer'. Though the film version is shorter.

Main Titles 'You Know My Name' (composed, arranged by David Arnold & Chris Cornell, conducted by Nicholas Dodd)
--> Final Film Version: http://picosong.com/S4pC
--> Final Album Version: http://picosong.com/S4Ms
--> Conclusion: I never was a big fan of the album version of "YKNM". It was too....'bad-ass' for Bond I think. Until the song was re-recorded with orchestra at Abbey Road Studios. The film version is my favourite.

Main Titles 'SkyFall' (composed, arranged by Paul Epworth)
--> Final Film Version: http://picosong.com/S4Me
--> Final Album Version (instrumental): http://picosong.com/S4MS
--> Conclusion: The film version of "SkyFall" is off course shorter than the album version. But I do think the film version is perhaps the best examples how a song needs to be edited at the right places. Also, I added an instrumental version with slightly different instrumentation, slightly more 'aggressive' strings and piano parts near the end.

Main Titles 'Writing's On The Wall' (composed, arranged by Jimmy Napes, Nile Rodgers & Disclosure)
--> NC-Rework Version: http://picosong.com/S4MA
--> Conclusion: As an extra, this NC-Mix with reworked backing track, with more percussion instruments, like drums, extra piano, snare drums.

Let me know what you think of the film versions vs. the album versions ;-).

Comments

  • Posts: 11,119
    Anyone?
  • Creasy47Creasy47 In Cuba with Natalya.Moderator
    Posts: 40,370
    I'll take a look, but it has been only 16 minutes since you made the thread. Give it time. ;)
  • chrisisallchrisisall Brosnan Defender Of The Realm
    Posts: 17,687
    The film version of TMWTGG is the one song to rule them all. I need an uninstall program to get it out of my head...
  • MurdockMurdock The minus world
    Posts: 16,328
    The Spy Who Loved Me and GoldenEye have two different versions.

    The Spy Who Loved Me.
    Full Version http://picosong.com/S546/
    Film Version http://picosong.com/S55R/

    GoldenEye.
    Full Versionhttp://picosong.com/S55S/
    Film Versionhttp://picosong.com/S55V/
  • TripAcesTripAces Universal Exports
    edited October 2015 Posts: 4,548
    There are different versions of TLD, too. A-Ha was not pleased with John Barry's mix of the song and released their own mix. Years later, the band backtracked and said that Barry's version was indeed better.
  • Posts: 3,333
    The 45 single release version of DAF has a shorter intro than the film's and album soundtrack too (shorter version is on the Best of James Bond CDs). And as @Murdock pointed out TSWL movie version is different to the single that was released.
  • TurnerTurner It's cavernous
    Posts: 7
    The Living Daylights
    --> Final Film Version:"Hey driver where are you going? I swear my nerves are showing".
    --> Final album version: "Hey driver where are you going? I swear your lips are showing."
  • LOL I read the first post about two times... and I still don't understand it. But I'm looking to fall in love with more James Bond songs after the amazing "Writing on the Wall" last week, I haven't stopped listening to it on Spotify.

    What are some good songs to start with. I've heard Adele and fell in love with it, utterly and absolutely. What are some other similar songs to get started on.
  • AceHoleAceHole Belgium, via Britain
    Posts: 1,727
    Great post, Gustav. The Abbey Road version (film version) of Chris Cornell's YKMN is my favorite contemporary Bond song, bar none.

  • Posts: 11,119
    AceHole wrote: »
    Great post, Gustav. The Abbey Road version (film version) of Chris Cornell's YKMN is my favorite contemporary Bond song, bar none.

    Yeah, same here.

    In all honesty, I always prefer the complete main title experience over just the simple over-produced album version of the song. The main title (or end title) sequence is where the title song always sounds at its best if you ask me. Therefore I created/downloaded all film versions of the songs. They usually are better..

  • M_BaljeM_Balje Amsterdam, Netherlands
    edited October 2015 Posts: 4,416
    From DAD i prefer Album version above Radio version and also a bit above videoclip version. Film version is oke to me, but i prefer the other three. Radio version (Song is ignored by Dutch radio since there playing one time on release date.So you can't realy speak from radio version.) of Writings on the Wall i think the score is better whyle with 4:43 version you at i think his voice is better. Overall i prefer the 5:40 version (the version i heard has bad audio)

    You Know My Name isn't at on soundtrack, so there is no album version. There is 4:05 version (Single version who whas not avaible in The Netherlands. ) who can get on The Best Of Bond ...James Bond CD/DVD release from 2008. (I pay 8,99 euro for it, same money as there wil ask for 2 disc single of Sam Smith) I also prefer film version. Both You My Name and Another Way To Die be ignored on Dutch radio.

    From Skyfall i prefer lyric video, followd by radio version, single version and film version. Again there is no album version, so think you mean single version and this time there whas single avaible. Also there playing her on radio, last time this happend before whas with Madonna, before that it whas Goldeneye. Videoclip of Twine whas screent on MTV, but there never playing song on the radio.

    I hoped that i whas wrong in my exeptions Sam Smith going to be ignored.
  • edited October 2015 Posts: 5,772
    Well, the end version of "Nobody Does It Better" is very different on the album compared to the movie. No sailors singing.

    Oh, and no Sam Smith on the album of "Spectre". Just an instrumental version :

    amazon.co.uk/Spectre-Thomas-Newman/dp/B015EZU1QS/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1443753931&sr=8-5&keywords=spectre
  • GertGettlerGertGettler Laptop Barcelona
    Posts: 431
    In the past 7 months I have completely finalized my Bond soundtrack project, in which I tried to sequence all tracks/songs in chronological order. Furthermore, I removed the tracks that do not really pay hommage to the original and replaced it with better quality versions as heard in the film. So I tried to add as many High-Q unreleased tracks as possible. Mind you, for some tracks that's very difficult (almost impossible to remove the action noise for instance).

    I will try to have the shared files via box.com available as soon as possible.
  • WalecsWalecs On Her Majesty's Secret Service
    Posts: 3,157
    In the past 7 months I have completely finalized my Bond soundtrack project, in which I tried to sequence all tracks/songs in chronological order. Furthermore, I removed the tracks that do not really pay hommage to the original and replaced it with better quality versions as heard in the film. So I tried to add as many High-Q unreleased tracks as possible. Mind you, for some tracks that's very difficult (almost impossible to remove the action noise for instance).

    I will try to have the shared files via box.com available as soon as possible.

    Cool, I'm looking forward to it. I, too, tried to sequence all tracks in chronological order and included some tracks which were missing from the original albums - but I'm afraid I may have done a few mistakes here and there. Looking at your sequence may help me figure out if I made any mistakes.
  • Posts: 4,023
    I was just thinking today as to whether or not there is a list somewhere of all the tracks featured in the Bond movies. Perhaps we should get our lists together.

    I watched Thunderball last week for the first time in a few years, and couldn't believe I'd still missed out on a pretty long track. I was sure it was on the CD.
  • Posts: 6,682
    Funny, after years of it being a big mess (barring the OST albums), in the past few months I've also been sorting out my Bond music collection. I'm currently fixing the volume changes in the TND music taken from the isolated DVD track, since none of the attempts you can find on the internet were truly satisfying to me. I also found out you can get all the unreleased cues in FYEO from the rear channels (including the source music), with the exception of a very brief one. I hope to post them soon.

    vzok wrote: »
    I was just thinking today as to whether or not there is a list somewhere of all the tracks featured in the Bond movies. Perhaps we should get our lists together.
    The Cat's Corner website used to have lists, but it went down and the Internet Archive failed to preserve it. We should put a list together. Some tracks can be easily overlooked while watching the films, such as the first brief version of Over and Out that plays in OHMSS.
  • MurdockMurdock The minus world
    Posts: 16,328
    @mattjoes, the prospect of hearing all those unreleased FYEO cues excites me! I can't wait to hear those when you get around to uploading them. :)
  • Posts: 4,023
    mattjoes wrote: »
    Funny, after years of it being a big mess (barring the OST albums), in the past few months I've also been sorting out my Bond music collection. I'm currently fixing the volume changes in the TND music taken from the isolated DVD track, since none of the attempts you can find on the internet were truly satisfying to me. I also found out you can get all the unreleased cues in FYEO from the rear channels (including the source music), with the exception of a very brief one. I hope to post them soon.

    vzok wrote: »
    I was just thinking today as to whether or not there is a list somewhere of all the tracks featured in the Bond movies. Perhaps we should get our lists together.
    The Cat's Corner website used to have lists, but it went down and the Internet Archive failed to preserve it. We should put a list together. Some tracks can be easily overlooked while watching the films, such as the first brief version of Over and Out that plays in OHMSS.

    If you can sort out FYEO tracks, I’ll buy you a delicatessen, in stainless steel.
  • Posts: 6,682
    Murdock wrote: »
    @mattjoes, the prospect of hearing all those unreleased FYEO cues excites me! I can't wait to hear those when you get around to uploading them. :)
    Good! Just have to go to work on some of them with some judicious noise reduction and volume balancing.

    vzok wrote: »
    mattjoes wrote: »
    Funny, after years of it being a big mess (barring the OST albums), in the past few months I've also been sorting out my Bond music collection. I'm currently fixing the volume changes in the TND music taken from the isolated DVD track, since none of the attempts you can find on the internet were truly satisfying to me. I also found out you can get all the unreleased cues in FYEO from the rear channels (including the source music), with the exception of a very brief one. I hope to post them soon.

    vzok wrote: »
    I was just thinking today as to whether or not there is a list somewhere of all the tracks featured in the Bond movies. Perhaps we should get our lists together.
    The Cat's Corner website used to have lists, but it went down and the Internet Archive failed to preserve it. We should put a list together. Some tracks can be easily overlooked while watching the films, such as the first brief version of Over and Out that plays in OHMSS.

    If you can sort out FYEO tracks, I’ll buy you a delicatessen, in stainless steel.
    So finally, I will understand what that means. ;)
  • GertGettlerGertGettler Laptop Barcelona
    edited September 2019 Posts: 431
    Getting there guys. 16 Bond soundtracks out of 26 I have now uploaded to https://box.com . When finished I will write a little Word-file / guide so you have an idea which unreleased tracks have been added, which non-original tracks -not composed by the composer doing a particular score- have been added and which tracks that are the exact film versions have been added. I tried to sequence everything as perfectly as possible.

    But to make it 'listenable' I made some 'liberal adjustments'. For instance, the main titles song from QOS is truly ghastly, so I replaced that for the instrumental (personal taste). Once finished I will let you know. You can then PM me. And I will give you the password and username so you can enter my box.com soundtrack collection :-). I warn you...this is the most definite Bond soundtrack collection you can get ;-). And...we have to be jolly well prepared for "No Time To Die" eh :-P!

    PS: I will also add these four compilation albums ("Shaked & Stirred" I have expanded with some other songs produced and mixed by David Arnold and/or Propellorheads that were never added to the Original album, eg. Björk's version of "YOLT"):
    nojj68B.png
  • GertGettlerGertGettler Laptop Barcelona
    Posts: 431
    Are there some other wishes with regard to Bond soundtracks that you would like to see into effect? Improvements or unreleased tracks from current Bond scores that you want to get?
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