James Bond Theme – Vale Sean Connery
This weekend saw the passing of the great actor and producer, Sir Thomas Sean Connery, the original, and some would say best, James Bond. Connery played James Bond in seven films, from 1962 to 1983. He died in his sleep at his home in The Bahamas on Saturday, aged 90.
The origin of the James Bond Theme has been the subject of two court cases. On both occasions the courts found Monty Norman to be the composer, and he has been the recipient of the substantial royalties. The counterclaim has come from John Barry, arranger of the theme and leader of the orchestra that recorded it for the first movie it appeared in, Dr. No, in 1962.
The controversy stems from the fact that the makers of Dr. No were dissatisfied with a theme for James Bond given to them by Monty Norman. Jazz ensemble leader John Barry was called in to make an arrangement of Norman's motif after Norman had completed the score. To flesh out the arrangement, Barry added the countermelodies, and bridges that are juxtaposed with Norman's motif, however Monty Norman claims to be the originator of the distinctive dum di-di dum dum ostinato synonymous with the theme.
Barry, who was paid £250 for his work, was surprised that his theme appeared so often in Dr. No. He was told by Noel Rogers, the head of United Artists Music, that though the producers would not give him any more money or a writing credit they would get in touch with him if there was another Bond film made. John Barry composed the scores for eleven Bond Films all together.
The James Bond Theme was recorded on 21 June 1962, using five saxophones, nine brass instruments, a solo guitar and a rhythm section. The guitar motif was played by Vic Flick on a 1939 English Clifford Essex Paragon Deluxe guitar plugged into a Fender Vibrolux amplifier. Flick was paid a one-off fee of £6 for recording the famous motif.