007 Soundtrack: Moonraker (1979)
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007 Soundtrack: Moonraker (1979)

June 28, 2014 1 By 007 Travelers
FILM: Moonraker (1979)
SOUNDTRACK RELEASED: 1979
SCORE COMPOSER: John Barry
TITLE SONG: “Moonraker”
COMPOSED BY: John Barry, Hal David
PERFORMED BY: Shirley Bassey
Moonraker is the soundtrack for the eleventh James Bond film of the same name.Moonraker was the third of the three Bond films for which the theme song was performed by Shirley Bassey. Frank Sinatra was considered for the vocals, before Johnny Mathis was approached and offered the opportunity. Mathis was unhappy about the song and withdrew from the project, leaving the producers scrambling for a replacement. Kate Bush declined, so John Barry offered the song to Bassey within just weeks of the release date. As a result, Bassey made the recordings with very short notice and never regarded the song ‘as her own’ as she had never had the chance to perform it or promote it first. The film uses two versions of the title theme song, a ballad version heard over the main titles, and a disco version for the end titles. Confusingly, the United Artists single release labelled the tracks on the 7″ single as Moonraker (Main Title) for the version used to close the film and Moonraker (End Title) for the track that opened the film. The song failed to make any real impact on the charts, which may partly be attributed to Bassey’s failure to promote the single, given the last minute decision and the way in which it was quickly recorded to meet the schedule.

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 TRACK LISTING

  1. “Moonraker (Main Title)” – Shirley Bassey – (3:10)
  2. “Space Lazer Battle”  – (2:47)
  3. “Miss Goodhead Meets Bond” – (2:48)
  4. “Cable Car and Snake Fight” – (3:07)
  5. “Bond Lured to Pyramid” – (2:02)
  6. “Flight into Space” – (6:27)
  7. “Bond Arrives in Rio and Boat Chase” – (2:38)
  8. “Centrifuge and Corrine Put Down” – (2:35)
  9. “Bond Smells a Rat” – (2:24)
  10. “Moonraker (End Title)” – Shirley Bassey – (2:27)

—

EXPANDED EDITION

DISC 1

SCORE PRESENTATION 56:02

1. Gun Barrel And Hijackers 1:25
2. Last Leg And Freefall Sequence 2:23
3. Main Title – Moonraker (Performed By Shirley Bassey) 3:12
4. California And The Drax Residence 1:36
5. Look After Mr. Bond And Chang’s Entry 1:34
6. Centrifuge 1:09
7. You Presume A Great Deal, Mr. Bond 1:19
8. 18-Carat 1:30
9. Corrine Put Down 1:30
10. Venini Glass And Bond Follows Holly 2:01
11. Funeral Barge – Venice Boat Chase 3:15
12. Bond Smells A Rat (Extended Version) 2:31
13. It Could Have Its Compensations 1:23
14. Bond Arrives In Rio 1:08
15. Cable Car Fight 1:58
16. Hello Dolly (Romeo & Juliet) 0:54
17. The Magnificent Seven 0:46
18. South American Boat Chase And Hang Glider Crash 1:58
19. Bond Lured To Pyramid (Film Version) 2:10
20. Snake Fight 1:12
21. Launch Program Commence And I Bid You Farewell 2:26
22. Flight Into Space 6:27
23. Marines Get Ready And Emergency Stop 1:44
24. Space Laser Battle 2:47
25. Jaws And Dolly Reunited And Jaws Lends A Hand 1:40
26. Globes Destroyed 2:38
27. End Title – Moonraker (Extended Version) (Performed By Shirley Bassey) 2:48

ADDITIONAL MUSIC 17:38
28. Moonraker (Instrumental) 3:14
29. Prelude, Op. 28, No. 15 (“Raindrop”) 0:56
30. Bugle Call 0:23
31. Mardi Gras 4:39
32. Morning After 2:34
33. Gregorian Chant 0:48
34. Funeral Barge – Venice Boat Chase (Alternate Mix) 3:15
35. Emergency Stop (Film Ending) 1:12
36. Intro To End Title 0:25
TOTAL DISC 1 TIME: 1:13:47

DISC 2
ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK ALBUM 30:42
1. Main Title – Moonraker (Performed By Shirley Bassey) 3:10
2. Space Laser Battle 2:47
3. Miss Goodhead Meets Bond 2:46
4. Cable Car And Snake Fight 3:06
5. Bond Lured To Pyramid 2:04
6. Flight Into Space 6:28
7. Bond Arrives In Rio And Boat Chase 2:37
8. Centrifuge And Corrine Put Down 2:35
9. Bond Smells A Rat 2:22
10. End Title – Moonraker (Performed By Shirley Bassey) 2:33

BONUS TRACKS 13:38
11. Moonraker (Early Lyrics, Slow Version) (Performed By Paul Williams) 4:13
12. Main Title – Moonraker (Alternate Instrumental) 3:02
13. Moonraker (Early Lyrics) (Performed By Paul Williams) 3:18
14. End Title – Moonraker (Alternate Instrumental) 3:00
TOTAL DISC 2 TIME: 44:27

TOTAL ALBUM TIME: 1:58:14

See more 007 SOUNDTRACKS here

TagsHal David John Barry Moonraker Roger Moore Soundtrack

About The Author

Pirita and Mika travel around the world searching for James Bond filming locations. Since 2010.

1 Comment

  • David Smith says:
    April 2, 2025 at 4:52 pm

    Wow, I never knew the history of this Bond theme song. We all know that hindsight is a wonderful thing, but it makes you wonder how things would have turned out If Bassey had been their first choice. For me the up-beat disco version summed up the films final scene in which the space shuttle begins another orbit if the Earth as Bond takes Holly(Goodhead) round the world one more time.

    Reply

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