GOLDFINGER
Rating: 
Original Review: The sexy, sultry, legendary tones of Welsh diva Shirley Bassey open the album of this, one of the most celebrated Bond movie scores ever. After the opening song, still unsurpassed for the wonderful 'come-hither' feeling it gives off, everything else was bound to be an anti-climax, but even so John Barry manages to develop a score which is by turns exciting, amusing and ever so slightly erotic. The 'Alpine Drive' cue is pure, unadulterated nostalgia - a typical 60s jazz piece - which then turns into a clever adaptation of the Goldfinger song underscore as Bond prowls around 'Auric's Factory'. Of course, this being Bond, the two classic themes make their appearances too, mixed deftly with the song score in the glorious celebratory theme 'Bond Back in Action Again'. Another thing worth mentioning is Barry's little hat-tip to leitmotif, by creating a menacing little theme for the irrepressible Oddjob, with a muted timpani throbbing in the background, while a set of trumpets slowly hoot single, spaced out notes - this motif appears in the cues 'Oddjob's Pressing Engagement' and the subtly comedic 'Teasing the Korean'. I also like the bouncy march created for the cue 'Dawn Raid on Fort Knox', when the wonderfully named Pussy Galore's Flying School swoops over the gold depository. You know, I must admit that before hearing A View to a Kill, and then this, I didn't fully realise that Bond films had such clever and entertaining underscores to go with the title song and the two themes. I will most certainly be looking out for other Bond works on the future.
Track Listing:
- Goldfinger (written by John Barry, Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley, performed by Shirley Bassey) (2:47)
- Alpine Drive/Auric's Factory (5:24)
- Oddjob's Pressing Engagement (3:05)
- Bond Back in Action Again (2:29)
- Teasing the Korean (2:12)
- Gassing the Gangsters (1:03)
- Goldfinger - Instrumental Version (2:08)
- Dawn Raid on Fort Knox (5:43)
- The Arrival of the Bomb and Countdown (3:25)
- The Death of Goldfinger/End Titles (2:34)
Running Time: 31 minutes 24 seconds
Duchesse Records (1988/ 1964)
Music composed and conducted by John Barry. James Bond Theme written by Monty Norman. Album produced by John Barry.
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