Under the Covers with James Bond - "On Her Majesty's Secret Service"
One of the most polarizing films in the James Bond canon is On Her Majesty's Secret Service. Sean Connery had left the series, and new Bond actor George Lazenby ended up only portraying the character this one time, in a performance which is still the subject of discussion 43 years after the movie's release. No matter which side of the OHMSS debate you come down on though, one thing every Bond fan can agree on about the movie is its not one, but two epic music themes.
Eschewing what had become the norm over the previous three (and all subsequent Bond films for that matter) OHMSS opened with an instrumental piece, and what a recording it is.
John Barry's "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" is almost as instantly recognizable a piece of Bond music as the "James Bond Theme" itself. In 1997, British Big Beat/Trip Hop duo, Propellerheads remixed "OHMSS" for the Shaken and Stirred: The David Arnold James Bond Project album, with exceptional results.
This nine-plus minute epic makes further use of other familiar pieces of Bond music to excellent effect. Apart from this version and one recorded by Steampunk band Vernian Process for its 2006 set of cover songs, Catalysts (which appears to have gone out of print) there are relatively few covers of this excellent piece of music. It's influence though can be felt well into the 21st Century, all the way to studios of Pixar.
The other song from the film, which is so closely associated with it that many people erroneously believe it is the title piece, is the last recorded song featuring Louis Armstrong, "We Have All the Time in the World".
The word "perfect" gets thrown around quite frivolously any more, but not when using it to describe this particular piece of music. Hal David's lyrics are all at once sad and uplifting. The legend of the piece is further solidified by the tale recounted by John Barry that Armstrong recorded it in a single take.
There are two solid covers of this song which are respectful of the original while being true to the artists who recorded them. The first is another piece from Shaken and Stirred: The David Arnold James Bond Project, featuring Iggy Pop on vocals.
Straightforward in its intent and delivery, David Arnold and Iggy Pop's version is exceedingly listenable. For another version that focuses on the vocalist while still keeping within the spirit of the original is this recording by alt rock band, My Bloody Valentine.
Recorded for the 1993 Peace Together compilation, the arrangement doesn't deviate far from John Barry's original, while still having it's own identity. While nothing matches the original for its sheer emotional impact, all three of these versions are quite enjoyable listens in their own right.
The music of James Bond will return in Diamonds Are Forever.
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