FROM THE ARCHIVE 335 -1979-

Moonraker
Music written by John Barry (Jonathan Barry Prendergrast) and lyrics by Hal David.
Recorded: April, 1979
Released:
on United Artists soundtrack album:
August 8, 1979, UA-LA971-I
on United Artists singles:
UK: June, 1979, UP 602
US: June 25, 1979, UA-X1308-Y
Charted:
Album US: #159, 1979

Written as the theme for the James Bond movie “Moonraker” in 1979. It was released on a single, and also on the Soundtrack LP.The song did not chart and the soundtrack LP only reached position 159 on the LP charts. This was the third official James Bond recording for Shirley Bassey and her last recording for the United Artists label. Shirley Bassey repeatedly said that she hated “Moonraker” and only did it as a favour to John Barry.
The original soundtrack album contained two versions: the “Main Title” which was playing in the beginning of the film, and an up-tempo “End Title” which is from after the film during the credits. You can listen to both versions here.

The soundtrack album is available on CD digitally remastered. The Main Title is also available on the collection Bassey – The EMI/UA Years 1959-1979, and was on the Reader’s Digest collection Shirley Bassey – This Is My Life, and is on many James Bond and John Barry collections. Another recording has been released 1992 on the Bassey Sings Bond album.

The note about Goldfinger from the 30th anniversary Bond collection:
The big news about the next Bond, “Moonraker,” was that “Jaws is back!” The towering Richard Kiel – who’d portrayed the recurring evil henchman, Voltaire, in TVs “Wild Wild West” – apparently found a following in “Spy” and was therefore called back for “Moonraker.” As the steel-toothed Jaws, he was a likeablebad guy who could never get hurt (thanks to Bond’s masochistic penchant for punching him in the mouth).
Directed by Gilbert and written by Chris Wood, one of “Moonraker” ‘s bright spots is the presence of the beautiful French actress Corinne Clery in the small but memorable role of Drax associate Corinne Dufour. John Barry, Shirley Bassey and Hal David all came back to add some musical gusto to the proceedings.
It has been said that in a radio interview Shirley Bassey did in New York, she said that she walked out of the premiere because the sound on the song was so low, and she thought it should be louder. The interviewer asked her what she thought of Roger Moore, she said: “Wet! Wet! Wet!”
It has also been said that the job to write and record the song for this Bond movie was originally offered to Kate Bush, but she turned it down and so John Barry got the job again.

It has also been suggested that this song was originally written for Dionne Warwick, but she could not sing it, and then John Barry bumped into Shirley in an L.A. hotel and asked if Shirley could sing the song and she did, but it has also been suggested that Hal David and Dionne Warwick had gone their separate ways some years before.

Finally, it has been suggested that this song was intended for Johnny Mathis but he was sick and had to drop out.

Moonraker (Main Title)

 

Moonraker (End Title)

 

Lyrics:

Where are you?
Why do you hide?
Where is that moonlight trail that leads to your side?
Just like the Moonraker goes in search of his dream of gold
I search for love, for someone to have and hold
I’ve seen your smile in a thousand dreams
Felt your touch and it always seems
You love me
You love me
Where are you?
When will we meet?
Take my unfinished life and make it complete
Just like the Moonraker knows his dream will come true someday
I know that you are only a kiss away
I’ve seen your smile in a thousand dreams
Felt your touch and it always seems
You love me
You love me

(Transcribed by Roman)

Extra: 

A poll from Radio Times!!!!!!! Vote for a Dame Shirley song as your favourite Bond song! Dame Shirley is at number one at the moment. Let’s keep her there. To vote CLICK HERE