TOP 40/ 60 YEARS OF JAMES BOND MUSIC. This post: #19. More: tomorrow.

The TOP 40 SONGS from

60 YEARS of

 BOND

9Rank: 19

]Title: MR. KISS KISS BANG BANG

$Performer: Shirley Bassey

)Movie: Thunderball

l Year: 1965

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‘Goldfinger’ had been so successful as part of the burgeoning Bond film franchise, that the budget was increased and the next instalment was approached with much enthusiasm.

As the film was being edited, John Barry started on scoring ‘Thunderball’. He had created a definitive Bond theme song with “Goldfinger” and, working again with lyricist Leslie Briccuse, they decided it would be too difficult writing a song with the new film’s title. In Italy, James Bond had been nicknamed “Mr. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang”. That inspired Barry and Briccuse to write a song with that title.

Shirley Bassey had executed “Goldfinger” so effectively, that she was invited back to record “Mr. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang”. After a few attempts at cutting the song, Bassey’s vocal was considered too strong. Her rendition was set aside. Dionne Warwick was brought in to record a new vocal. All was set, until the producers decided they wanted a theme song that featured the film’s title.

‘Thunderball’ begins with Tom Jones belting out the title song. Warwick’s version of “Mr. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang” can be heard later in the film when Bond is in the Kiss Kiss Club. Bassey's take can be found on various compilations.

OP