I have listened to the Lala NSNA cd.
I could say that now it is completely remastered by Lala that I love the score, but that wouldn’t be the truth. I can say it sounds better than ever, but… that makes it for me not a great score.
Ofcourse it is not all super bad, I like the tango, the calypso, the cruise missiles music and the music when Bond and Domino escape on the horse, but that is pretty much it and that is not a lot for over an hour music.
The title song is ok, but not great or a real classic, especially when you compare it with Shirley Bassey’s GF or DAF. I find it more like an earworm song, a melody, that gets stuck in your head but that you don’t particularly care for.
It is nice to have, but I will not listen to it very much in the future I am afraid.
You may already know this; there is a Nic Raine (former John Barry orchestrator) conducted re-recording, “Bond Back In Action” volume one, which has a very good & near perfect Dr No Suite which features the missing Dr No cues you mentioned. It’s also available on his later expanded editions, “James Bond Collection” and “The Ultimate James Bond Collection;” both are 4 CD sets.
I do hope LLL does a re-issue of From Russia With Love similar to its 60th Goldfinger with a remastered resequenced edition. Take care.
Back in the late 1980s, using two VCRs, I re-edited & redubbed NSNA substituting John Barry Bond cues.
My local Bond friends enjoyed it, and it was fun to do. I’ve also seen on YT, someone replace Eric Serra’s GE score with Barry’s score from The Specialist; not quite perfect but more interesting.
I also received my copy of LLL NSNA on August 7th. As many have commented, it’s also my least favorite of the Bond scores, but a pleasant listen while doing household chores; I especially like the versions of “Une Chanson D’Amour.” I already had the Japanese vinyl LP, the Silva 1995 CD, and two copies of the Lani Hall 45 with the movie tie-in covers.
Hopefully, this Fall we’ll see the releases of AVATK, GE and maybe CR06.
It’s not a LLL site exclusive and also not an official James Bond film. The 007 Store doesn’t sell anything related to NSNA, as it was made outside the auspices of Eon. The album can be found at other music retailers though like Screen Archives and The Movie Music Store.
