The Best of John Barry's James Bond Scores

Licence to Compose: John Barry with Jane Birkin in the mid 1960s.

John Barry’s work as a composer is mainly known for the scores he worked for the James Bond franchise. From 1962 to 1987, Barry composed the music for 11 James Bond films. Here are his best Bond scores.

1.       On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969)

There is fan division on the film’s merits but most can agree that the score to this film is simply one of Barry’s best. Standout tracks are the main theme, ‘This Never Happened to the Other Fella’, ‘Journey to Blofeld’s Hideaway’ and ‘Sir Hilary’s Night Out’ (curiously subtitled ‘Who Will Buy My Yesterdays?’). Barry manages to merge synthesizers and brass perfectly.

2.       You Only Live Twice (1967)

Barry’s score for this film managed to perfectly evoke 1960s Japan. Standout tracks are the main theme (perfectly sung by Nancy Sinatra), ‘Capsule In Space’, ‘Fight at Kobe Dock/Helga’, ‘A Drop in the Ocean’ and ‘Mountain’s and Sunsets’. Some of Barry’s best cues are on this record.

3.       Moonraker (1979)

For James Bond going into Space, Barry came up with some lush and perfect cues to supplement scenes. The main title was sung by Shirley Bassey (who had worked with Barry before on Goldfinger and Diamonds Are Forever) and some of the standout tracks are ‘Miss Goodhead Meets Bond’, ‘Bond Lured to Pyramid’ and ‘Flight into Space’ which are string laden pieces of absolute aural delight. With the recent loss of Roger Moore, listening to this score back is poignant.

4.       The Living Daylights (1987)

Barry’s last score for James Bond was Timothy Dalton’s first in the role as Bond. Barry outdid himself with a pumping synthesized beat back with gorgeous brass riffs. Standout tracks are ‘Exercise at Gibraltar’, ‘Ice Chase’, ‘Necros Attacks’ and ‘Kara Meets Bond’.