TOP 40/ 60 YEARS OF JAMES BOND MUSIC. This post: #1. This concludes the countdown.

The TOP 40 SONGS from

60 YEARS of

 BOND

9Rank: 1

]Title: GOLDFINGER

$Performer: Shirley Bassey

)Movie: Goldfinger

l Year: 1964

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Bond creator Ian Fleming died on August 12, 1964. The following month, the third instalment in the film franchise -‘Goldfinger’- premiered.

The new film introduced us to Auric Goldfinger (played by Gert Fröbe and Honor Blackman as Pussy Galore. Among its locations was Fort Knox.

Cinema audiences had been introduced to the Bond theme in ‘Dr. No’ and Matt Monro had sung the first 007 movie title song in ‘From Russia With Love’. When Shirley Bassey’s “Goldfinger” set up the new adventure, everything changed forever.

Few films can boast as alluring and indelible a title song. John Barry composed the music with lyrics provided by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley. This remained Barry’s favourite Bond creation, although co-producer Harry Saltzman disliked the song but- fortunately- it was too late to change it.

“Goldfinger” peaked at #21 in the United Kingdom and became Bassey’s sole US Top 10 hit. The parent soundtrack album reached #1 in America.

Bassey’s powerful vocal dexterity has defined Bond songs ever since. This is the one against which all subsequent 007-related tracks have been compared.

OP