Under the Covers with James Bond - "Goldfinger"
"My dear girl, there are some things that just aren't done. Such as drinking Dom Perignon '53, above the temperature of 38 degrees Fahrenheit. That's just as bad as listening to the Beatles without earmuffs!"
Really, Mr. Bond? Not a Beatles fan? He does however have something of a point, at least as it relates to today's featured Bond title song. Because one does not simply cover Shirley Bassey. And yet, there are two very daring, very interesting and genre bending covers of the legendary "Goldfinger" which your ears have likely never heard.
Before we spin those versions, let's bask in the golden glow of the incomparable voice of Shirley Bassey.
Now, there are relatively few cover versions of this particular piece, and rightly so as it is arguably the quintessential example of the title song in the James Bond music canon. Even David Arnold didn't include it on the Shaken and Stirred: The David Arnold James Bond Project album. Fortunately, there are some musicians daring enough to try.
The first and by far best of the duo is from a group called Blue Stingrays.
You may be more familiar with the Blue Stingrays by their other, better known name: The Heartbreakers. Yes, as in Tom Petty & the. Those Heartbreakers. This is a straightforward and note-perfect surf rock rendition of "Goldfinger". Now yes, the much more well known surf music group The Ventures also covered this song, but we will save that, and the surf music scene's love affair with James Bond music for another post.
Things get a bit more experimental on this next version.
If you aren't familiar with Magazine, they were a post-punk band from the UK formed by ex-Buzzcocks vocalist, Howard Devoto. This track appeared as a B-side to Magazine's 1978 single "Touch and Go". Devoto brings just a touch of menace to the song with his vocal delivery along with pre-saged New Wave guitar tones from late axe man, John McGeoch. Had Goldfinger been made in the late 70's or early 80's this would have been a potential lead candidate for the title sequence.
For further listening, check out the original, very down beat jazz of the "Goldfinger" demo, as sung by its co-lyricist, Anthony Newley.
The music of James Bond will return in Thunderball.
Comments
Post a Comment