Title Song Performers of the Dalton Era
a-ha
After seven films, Roger Moore retired from the role of James Bond in 1985. In 1987, Timothy Dalton made his 007 debut in The Living Daylights. His two James Bond outings don’t get the respect they deserve mainly due to the public’s disapproval of Dalton’s serious approach to the character.
John Barry is once again at the top of his game with a fantastic score and a catchy title song performed by the Norwegian trio, a-ha (Picture left to right — Keyboards: Magne Furuholmen, Guitar/Drums: Pal Waaktaar-Savoy and Vocals: Morten Harket). The Living Daylights would turn out to be John Barry’s last James Bond film. Some say he chose not to return because of his bad experience with a-ha, but maybe it’s just because eleven James Bond scores was enough for him.
Title Song: “The Living Daylights”
Film: The Living Daylights, 1987
Highest Chart Position: United Kingdom: #5
Highest Chart Position: United States: Didn’t Chart
Official Web Site: a-ha.com
Status: Active
Albums
- Hunting High and Low (1985)
- Scoundrel Days (1986)
- Stay On These Roads (1988)
- East of the Sun, West of the Moon (1990)
- Memorial Beach (1993)
- Minor Earth Major Sky (2000)
- Lifelines (2002)
Purchase a-ha’s Latest Album: “Lifelines”
from Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk.
Compilations
- Stay on These Roads Remixes (1990)
- Sun Always Shines on TV: The Mixes (1990)
- Best In Brazil (1991)
- The Very Best of a-ha (1991)
- Headlines And Deadlines: The Hits of a-ha (1991)
- How Can I Sleep With Your Voice In My Head (2003)
- The Singles 1984-2004 (2004)
Purchase a-ha’s Latest Compilation: “The Singles 1984-2004”
from Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk.
Soundtracks
- The Living Daylights (1987)
- One Night at McCool’s (2001)
Purchase The Living Daylights Soundtrack
from Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk.
Gladys Knight
Timothy Dalton returned as James Bond in 1989’s Licence To Kill. It would turn out to be Dalton’s final outing as Bond. Michael Kamen, known for action movies like Lethal Weapon, took over from John Barry. Kamen’s score put a fresh twist on the “James Bond Theme” and Gladys Knight performed the title song which was written by Narada Michael Walden, Jeffrey Cohen and Walter “Baby Love” Afanasieff.
Michael Kamen, Vic Flick, and Eric Clapton had composed a song for use as the title song and they got as far as shooting footage for the music video before the song was scrapped and replaced with Gladys Knight’s version. Clapton is rumored to have the only surviving copies of the song. Gladys Knight was the first female singer of a title song since Rita Coolidge’s “All Time High” for 1983’s Octopussy. Licence To Kill would turn out to feature Maurice Binder’s last James Bond title sequence before his death in 1991
Title Song: “Licence To Kill”
Film: Licence To Kill, 1989
Highest Chart Position: United Kingdom: #6
Highest Chart Position: United States: Didn’t Chart
See Gladys Knight LIVE in Las Vegas at the Flamingo: caesars.com
Status: Active
Albums
- Miss Gladys Knight (1978)
- Gladys Knight (1979)
- Good Woman (1991)
- Just For You (1994)
- Many Different Roads (1999)
- At Last (2001)
Purchase Gladys’ Latest Album: “At Last”
from Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk.
Soundtracks
- Licence To Kill (1989)
- Set It Off (1996)
Purchase the Licence To Kill Soundtrack
from Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk.