Soundtracks from blockbuster movies often turn into top selling records and radio hits. “Thunderball” (1965) was the fourth of the classic James Bond films — released back when Sean Connery was cast as Agent 007. The song by the same name, as recorded by Welsh singer Tom Jones, became a No. 5 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 in Jan. 1966. Ultimately it spent 12 weeks on the chart. However, that movie soundtrack, and especially so the main theme, went through a tumultuous evolutionary process prior to its international success.
Shirley Bassey, another famous Welch singer, had a smash with the prior Bond theme, “Goldfinger,” from the movie of the same name that came out in 1964. The producers of “Thunderball” wanted Bassey to, once again, perform the theme for the new movie. Her recording of “Mr. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang” satisfied the movie makers until they determined the short intro was insufficient to support the accompanying visuals. It had to be rerecorded, but Bassey’s schedule wouldn’t accommodate. Therefore, those in charge enlisted American singer, Dionne Warwick, to perform another version of the same basic theme. The track turned out well and it was scheduled for inclusion in the movie. Then Bassey learned that Warwick’s vocal was chosen over hers and she sued. As a result of the litigation, the producers scrapped both versions of “Mr. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang” (although an instrumental rendition does appear on the soundtrack album).
At this point, it would be remiss to leave out that another major recording artist opted for this same soundtrack recording. The man in black, Johnny Cash, submitted a version of “Thunderball” and the lyrics were written to “describe the film’s storyline.” The producers rejected Cash’s entry in the competition. It sounded like a theme from a 1960’s era cowboy western show. We all know that James Bond was an urbane and sexy spy in a modern and rapidly changing world. With lots of song choices, but none that were usable for one reason or another, composer John Barry and lyricist Don Black, in a hurried rush, wrote another version of “Thunderball.” In the meantime, producers had demanded that th lyrics must include the word “Thunderball.” In the end, their song worked: It was exciting and Tom Jones made it a hit. The rumor is that Jones fainted during the recording session — right after he sang the final high note. Jones is quoted as saying, “I closed my eyes and I held the note for so long that when I opened my eyes the room was spinning.” There you have it! The story of how Tom Jones aced out Shirley Bassey, Dionne Warwick, and Johnny Cash and earned himself a Top 10 soundtrack/radio hit with his vocal styling of “Thunderball.”
The accompanying “Found Performance” video was filmed in 1987 at Casteel Coch, which is a gothic castle in South Wales. If you were tuning your AM radio to KISN in Portland, Oregon in January 1966, you might have heard something that sounded much like this. Click below to see the video at Vimeo.
Maple Valley Mike • July 30, 2020
Johnny Cash died about the same time as Steve Jobs and Bob Hope, so a meme had gone out that now we had no jobs, no cash and no hope.
Steven Smith • July 30, 2020
Mike…put that way it was quite the loss…huge talents in their respective fields.
Maple Valley Mike • July 30, 2020
Even at her advanced aged, Dionne is marvelous. My wife and I saw her in Vegas last winter, next best thing to Sinatra.
Steven Smith • July 30, 2020
I have another video of her performance of “Message to Michael” that I plan to post at some point.
Jason Remington • July 29, 2020
How could Tom Jones lose? He had killer looks, a fabulous voice and his popular tv show. His concert appearances, where ladies ran to the stage to throw their knickers at him was akin to girls fainting over the Beatles. It was madness! I saw Jones in concert several times. He never disappointed.
Steven Smith • July 30, 2020
Jason….he had so many hits. My introduction to Jones was hearing him when I saw the movie.