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La-La Land Records Present Licence To Kill: 35th Anniversary Remastered & Expanded 2CD

Bond_ScoresBond_Scores UK
edited January 15 in Music Posts: 101
LICENCE TO KILL: 35th ANNIVERSARY REMASTERED & EXPANDED LIMITED EDITION (2-CD SET)

La-La Land Records, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, EON Productions and Universal Music Enterprises mark the 35th Anniversary of the sixteenth 007 film Licence To Kill, with a remastered and expanded 2-CD re-issue of composer Michael Kamen’s original motion picture score. Produced by Albert R. Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson, the 1989 film stars Timothy Dalton as James Bond in his second turn as 007 and is helmed by John Glen, directing his fifth Bond film.

Oscar® nominated composer Michael Kamen joins the Bond music fold and unleashes a robust and propulsive score to Licence To Kill, a perfect complement to the harder-edged story, which sees Bond seeking revenge for the maiming of his friend Felix Leiter (David Hedison) and the killing of his new bride Della (Priscilla Barnes). Kamen’s thematic work honors the series’ iconic musical legacy with exciting variations of the classic “James Bond Theme,” while bringing his own unique style to the world of James Bond. Expanded beyond the original soundtrack album, Licence To Kill hits its target like never before within this deluxe presentation, which also includes two versions of the film’s title song, performed by Gladys Knight.

Produced by Neil S. Bulk and mastered by Doug Schwartz from 1/4" stereo tapes and 3-track mag provided by MGM, this is a special 2-CD release, limited to only 5,000 units. The score presentation is spread across both discs, while Disc Two also includes the remastered 1989 soundtrack album, as well as additional music. The exclusive, new liner notes are by film music journalist and author Jon Burlingame and the art direction is by Dan Goldwasser.

TRACK LISTING:

DISC 1
SCORE PRESENTATION 91:36
1. Gun Barrel / Cray Cay Landing* 1:13
2. His Funny Valentine (Film Version) 1:46
3. Sanchez Is In The Bahamas / Shark Fishing (Extended Version)* 2:16
4. Bond Hooks Sanchez* 2:06
5. James & Felix On Their Way To Church (Film Version)* 0:54
6. Licence To Kill (Performed by Gladys Knight) 4:12
7. Sanchez Escapes 1:52
8. Della’s Goodbye 1:17
9. Torturing Felix 2:08
10. He Disagreed With Something That Ate Him 2:05
11. Let’s Go Shark Hunting 0:38
12. Ocean Exotica Break-In* 2:56
13. You Earned It 2:27
14. Hemingway House 1:48
15. Licence Revoked (Film Version) 1:15
16. Bond Aboard* / Sharkey Dead 4:50
17. Seaplane Escape* 7:06
18. Pam (Film Version)* 2:52
19. Enter Ms. Kennedy / Enter Lupe / Sanchez’s Office 3:37
20. Uncle Q / Let’s Get Some Rest* 2:09
21. Planting The Explosives* 4:06
22. Kwang* / Assassination Attempt 2:29
23. Ninja (Film Version) 3:59
24. Sanchez’s Home 1:11
25. Bond Sneaks Out* 1:26
26. Bond Confronts Pam 1:45
27. Framing Krest* 5:18
28. Leaving Harbour 1:19
29. Bond And Lupe 1:46
30. Q In Disguise 0:41
TOTAL DISC 1 TIME: 1:14:12

DISC 2
SCORE PRESENTATION CONTINUED
1. The Lab* / The Process* 2:22
2. The Conveyor Belt 2:46
3. Dario Sees Pam / Chewed Up 1:15
4. Escape From The Compound 2:11
5. Tanker Downhill* 1:17
6. Truck Chase* 4:42
7. Problem Eliminated / Get In 1:32
8. Pam And Bond 1:07

ADDITIONAL MUSIC 11:34
9. Bridal Chorus 0:19
10. Für Elise 1:10
11. Olimpatec Meditation Institute 2:52
12. Casino Source I 1:15
13. Casino Source II 0:30
14. Party Version I 0:40
15. Party Piano 2:33
16. Pam (Wild Guitar Excerpt) 2:04

ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK ALBUM 45:37
17. Licence To Kill (Extended Version) (Performed by Gladys Knight) 5:13
18. Wedding Party (Performed by Ivory) 3:53
19. Dirty Love (Performed by Tim Feehan) 3:45
20. Pam* 3:49
21. If You Asked Me To (Performed by Patti LaBelle) 3:58
22. James & Felix On Their Way To Church* 3:53
23. His Funny Valentine 3:26
24. Sanchez Is In The Bahamas / Shark Fishing* 2:05
25. Ninja 6:02
26. Licence Revoked* 9:10
TOTAL DISC 2 TIME: 1:14:49
TOTAL ALBUM TIME: 2:29:01
* contains “James Bond Theme” written by Monty Norman

This is a CD format release

Immediately ordered from the 007 Store!
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Comments

  • Bernie99Bernie99
    Posts: 266
    OMG fantastic
  • mtmmtm United Kingdom
    edited January 15 Posts: 16,778
    Cool, well that makes a lot of sense, it needed a better release. It's not my favourite score or anything but was not well represented by the first soundtrack album.
    No sign of the Clapton demo but I guess that doesn't matter.

    https://lalalandrecords.com/licence-to-kill-35th-anniversary-remastered-expanded-limited-edition-2-cd-set/
  • bondywondybondywondy Uk
    Posts: 388
    Good news! :)

    Hopefully there will be a 40th Anniversary Expanded Edition of A View To A Kill.
  • GoldenGunGoldenGun Per ora e per il momento che verrà
    Posts: 7,259
    I was able to resist TMWTGG and MR. Even though I love what they're doing and the presentation is gorgeous, it's a big price tag for these LaLaLand scores, especially considering the additonal import costs. But for a Tim masterpiece like LTK, I just can't say no. Pre-ordered from the 007 site.
  • SecretAgentMan⁰⁰⁷SecretAgentMan⁰⁰⁷ Lekki, Lagos, Nigeria
    edited January 16 Posts: 2,227
    Gosh! I knew LTK was going to pop up. LLLR are really making the wait for Bond 26 bearable with all these releases. This is superb! 10yrs ago or so, I wasn't a fan of Michael Kamen's LTK, but now, I love his somewhat metallic and very muscular take on the Bond sound.
  • DarthDimiDarthDimi Behind you!Moderator
    Posts: 24,345
    Excellent news. Can't wait! I've always loved this score.
  • CraigMooreOHMSSCraigMooreOHMSS Dublin, Ireland
    Posts: 8,246
    Oh, bloody marvelous! :)
  • bondywondybondywondy Uk
    edited January 15 Posts: 388
    GoldenGun wrote: »
    I was able to resist TMWTGG and MR. Even though I love what they're doing and the presentation is gorgeous, it's a big price tag for these LaLaLand scores, especially considering the additonal import costs. But for a Tim masterpiece like LTK, I just can't say no. Pre-ordered from the 007 site.

    I agree the price is quite expensive but if fans want to have the complete soundtracks they will pay. Maybe a slightly cheaper MP3 download option could have been considered for people no longer invested in the CD format. But it's good to know there are companies like La-La Land still releasing new CD soundtracks.
  • mtmmtm United Kingdom
    Posts: 16,778
    I guess one thing is that they are based in LA so these might not ship quickly.
  • MakeshiftPythonMakeshiftPython “Baja?!”
    Posts: 8,270
    mtm wrote: »
    Cool, well that makes a lot of sense, it needed a better release. It's not my favourite score or anything but was not well represented by the first soundtrack album.
    No sign of the Clapton demo but I guess that doesn't matter.

    https://lalalandrecords.com/licence-to-kill-35th-anniversary-remastered-expanded-limited-edition-2-cd-set/

    I assume there was a lot of hard feelings over that demo. The fact it never went beyond a demo with temp instruments before Kamen could record a full orchestra just makes it feel like a stillborn project. I would have loved to have heard what it would have been like in its final version. Just wasn’t meant to be.

    Maybe when all participants have passed away it’ll get some form of release for archival purposes.
  • mtmmtm United Kingdom
    Posts: 16,778
    MakeshiftPython wrote: »
    mtm wrote: »
    Cool, well that makes a lot of sense, it needed a better release. It's not my favourite score or anything but was not well represented by the first soundtrack album.
    No sign of the Clapton demo but I guess that doesn't matter.

    https://lalalandrecords.com/licence-to-kill-35th-anniversary-remastered-expanded-limited-edition-2-cd-set/

    I assume there was a lot of hard feelings over that demo. The fact it never went beyond a demo with temp instruments before Kamen could record a full orchestra just makes it feel like a stillborn project. I would have loved to have heard what it would have been like in its final version. Just wasn’t meant to be.

    Maybe when all participants have passed away it’ll get some form of release for archival purposes.

    I think didn't they say that they went into record it too early and Kamen didn't really have any ideas at that point? It does feel slightly like it's going nowhere when you listen to it. I always thought it had too many ideas which did end up in LTK for it not to be him though.

    Total guess but if it was actually available to the makers of this album (and it was recorded separately from the score so it may not have been) I would assume that Clapton being on it made it impossible to release officially because of his existing contracts with record companies. I guess that's why we didn't get the Johnny Mathis Moonraker either.
  • bcaloubcalou France
    Posts: 78
    What a great news.
    I'd say it's the most peculiar Bond soundtrack behind Goldeneye, and I love both.
  • Bernie99Bernie99
    edited January 15 Posts: 266
    That Bond-Theme-Version at 0:55 is so great, finally it will be released



    They should also add the Transition of the wedding song and title song as a bonus-track, that's simply perfect

  • bcaloubcalou France
    edited January 15 Posts: 78
    Bernie99 wrote: »
    That Bond-Theme-Version at 0:55 is so great, finally it will be released



    They should also add the Transition of the wedding song and title song as a bonus-track, that's simply perfect


    Agreed on both points. That transition is awesome.

    LTK also holds the record for the most quotation of the Bond Theme, according to the crazy work made in this video

  • mtmmtm United Kingdom
    Posts: 16,778
    There's one bit of the Bond theme on the sample tracks which I've never noticed in the movie before: it seems to use the same melody that Monty Norman did in Dr No- the extra three notes on the end of the riff section.
  • mattjoesmattjoes J.W. Pepper winner J.W. Pepper.
    Posts: 7,067
    Nice! And they fixed the abrupt edits of the old album. Check out the sample of Licence Revoked at 0:45.
  • bcaloubcalou France
    Posts: 78
    mtm wrote: »
    There's one bit of the Bond theme on the sample tracks which I've never noticed in the movie before: it seems to use the same melody that Monty Norman did in Dr No- the extra three notes on the end of the riff section.

    Do you remember in which sample track it can be heard?
  • mattjoesmattjoes J.W. Pepper winner J.W. Pepper.
    Posts: 7,067
    Truck Chase is the track I want the most, but I look forward to exploring the entire score again in higher sound quality. I've always found it curious how the guitar solos lack high end. I like it though.
  • mtmmtm United Kingdom
    edited January 15 Posts: 16,778
    bcalou wrote: »
    mtm wrote: »
    There's one bit of the Bond theme on the sample tracks which I've never noticed in the movie before: it seems to use the same melody that Monty Norman did in Dr No- the extra three notes on the end of the riff section.

    Do you remember in which sample track it can be heard?

    Yeah in the Uncle Q, er, cue. See if you think it does- it's even played on brass which makes it feel more Dr No (although the Bond theme resolves with some strings).

    There's also a Rule Britannia quote in there too, I assume for Q. I've never noticed that before (if it's in the film).
    mattjoes wrote: »
    Nice! And they fixed the abrupt edits of the old album. Check out the sample of Licence Revoked at 0:45.

    Oh yeah! That always was a really clunky bit, wasn't it.
  • BMB007BMB007
    Posts: 579
    Exciting! I love the score for "Licence to Kill". This will be a great release!
  • bcaloubcalou France
    Posts: 78
    mtm wrote: »
    bcalou wrote: »
    mtm wrote: »
    There's one bit of the Bond theme on the sample tracks which I've never noticed in the movie before: it seems to use the same melody that Monty Norman did in Dr No- the extra three notes on the end of the riff section.

    Do you remember in which sample track it can be heard?

    Yeah in the Uncle Q, er, cue. See if you think it does- it's even played on brass which makes it feel more Dr No (although the Bond theme resolves with some strings).

    There's also a Rule Britannia quote in there too, I assume for Q. I've never noticed that before (if it's in the film).

    Wow, that's really well spotted.
    Indeed the cue is partly unused in the movie. I just tried and "Rule Britannia" matches the reveal that Q is the intruder.
    As for the Dr.No reference, I really want to believe it, but I'm not sure. I think these three descending notes may be a coincidence. When you watch the scene with this music, this bit sounds more comical than menacing, as it was intended in DN.
    But who knows, maybe Kamen was a hardcore Norman fan.
    In any case and once again, well spotted !
  • mtmmtm United Kingdom
    edited January 15 Posts: 16,778
    Yeah I wouldn't claim it's intended, just reminiscent.
    Is the Rule Britannia bit in the film or you matched it up there?
  • bcaloubcalou France
    Posts: 78
    No, Rule Britannia is not in the movie. But it's easy to place the cue at the right position while playing the movie, because the first few seconds are here to indicate the start.
    mattjoes wrote: »
    Truck Chase is the track I want the most, but I look forward to exploring the entire score again in higher sound quality. I've always found it curious how the guitar solos lack high end. I like it though.

    Hearing that Truck Chase Bond Theme in high quality for the first time was something!
  • mtmmtm United Kingdom
    Posts: 16,778
    bcalou wrote: »
    No, Rule Britannia is not in the movie. But it's easy to place the cue at the right position while playing the movie, because the first few seconds are here to indicate the start.

    Ah cool, thanks, that's fun.
    bcalou wrote: »
    Hearing that Truck Chase Bond Theme in high quality for the first time was something!

    Yes it sounds incredible doesn't it?
  • BT3366BT3366
    Posts: 1,933
    What a completely unexpected and cool surprise to get this announcement. I thought with the multiple releases from 2024 it would be more than enough until late in 2025. Makes me hopeful we'll get more interspersed throughout the year.

    LTK has always been one of my least played soundtracks. My main memory of it is that Latin-influenced guitar motif that Kamen keeps repeating. But these La-La Land releases allow us to hear things with fresh ears and hopefully gain a better appreciation.

    I can say the soundtracks have been one of the things I've always looked forward to when a new film was released as there wasn't always a ton of merchandising the way there was in the '60s, so I'm perfectly fine with paying the asking price for these, especially in light of there not being much else in the way of merchandising these days, unless you want to pay a king's ransom for some of the items in that official store.
  • Agent_99Agent_99 enjoys a spirited ride as much as the next girl
    Posts: 3,188
    Instant preorder here, as much for the tasty-looking booklet as for the music.

    LTK's 30th was overshadowed by the anniversary of OHMSS so let's hope they've decided to make a thing of the 35th!
  • DarthDimiDarthDimi Behind you!Moderator
    Posts: 24,345
    I've always been a fan of this film's score. Kamen took a decidedly bombastic approach to the Bond Theme in his action pieces, infusing them with enough energy to keep them both thrilling and adrenalized. He seamlessly carried over elements from his Die Hard and Lethal Weapon scores, blending them effectively with the unmistakable "sound of Bond." His romantic cues avoided imitating the charm and warmth of Barry's iconic sensual suites; instead, they carved out their own identity—exotic and, for fans of Patti LaBelle's If You Asked Me To, hauntingly beautiful. The score's darker tone aligns perfectly with the film's atmosphere, as does its bold, heavier action music.

    I'm eagerly anticipating this release.
  • CraigMooreOHMSSCraigMooreOHMSS Dublin, Ireland
    Posts: 8,246
    I think the score's biggest strength is how Kamen fully utilises the potential power of the Bond theme as if it's a big relentless march. He pushes the brass and horns to their limits, and not in a way that is intended to evoke the style of the 60s scores the way Arnold did.

    It's a score that is unashamedly in love with the Bond theme and how far it can be pushed.
  • mattjoesmattjoes J.W. Pepper winner J.W. Pepper.
    edited January 17 Posts: 7,067
    Absolutely. Kamen plays the s**t out of the Bond Theme. He goes completely nuts with it. Which always reminds me of him humming the Bond Theme in the Music of Bond documentary. That insane energy totally comes across.

    gIEDiYV.gif
  • echoecho 007 in New York
    Posts: 6,420
    Agreed. There is something about this score that is inspired, unlike many other non-Barry ones.
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