Summary
"We Have All the Time in the World" is a James Bond theme song performed by Louis Armstrong. Its music was composed by John Barry and the lyrics by Hal David. It is a secondary musical theme in the 1969 Bond film On Her Majesty's Secret Service, the title theme being the instrumental "On Her Majesty's Secret Service", also composed by Barry. The song title is taken from Bond's final words in both the novel and the film, spoken after the death of Tracy Bond, his wife. As Armstrong was too ill to play his trumpet, it was therefore played by another musician (Herb Alpert most likely, based on his ties to Hal David and Burt Bacharach, and having played on the Casino Royale theme).[2] Barry chose Armstrong because he felt he could "deliver the title line with irony".[3]
| "We Have All the Time in the World" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 1994 single re-release | ||||
| Single by Louis Armstrong | ||||
| from the album On Her Majesty's Secret Service | ||||
| B-side | "Pretty Little Missy" | |||
| Released | 1969, 1994 (re-released) | |||
| Genre | Jazz[1] | |||
| Length | 3:15 | |||
| Label | Warner Bros. | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Hal David, John Barry | |||
| Producer(s) | Phil Ramone | |||
| Louis Armstrong singles chronology | ||||
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| Audio sample | ||||
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The song was released as a single in both the US and the UK (under the abridged title "All The Time in the World" in the UK[4]) to coincide with the release of the film in December 1969, but did not chart in either market. The recording became a hit in the UK 25 years later, in 1994, as a result of a Guinness beer commercial, after My Bloody Valentine chose to cover it for charity. Armstrong's version was then re-released on vinyl and CD and reached #3 in the UK Singles Chart and #4 in Ireland. In 2005, a BBC survey found that it was the third most popular love song played at weddings.[5]
In addition to My Bloody Valentine, "We Have All the Time in the World" has been covered by various other artists including The Specials, Iggy Pop, Fun Lovin' Criminals, Vic Damone, Michael Ball, Elbow and Alfie Boe.
The instrumental version of the theme reappears twice in the 2021 James Bond film No Time to Die, in addition to the lyrical variation being played at the beginning of the closing credits.[6]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ "Every James Bond Theme Song Ranked". Slant Magazine. 4 October 2021. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
That said, the jazzy ballad (with music by John Barry and lyrics by Burt Bacharach collaborator Hal David) is perfectly lovely...
- ^ On Her Majesty's Secret Service liner notes, On Her Majesty's Secret Service - Ultimate Edition (©2006 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, Inc.).
- ^ John Barry. "On Her Majesty's Secret Service audio commentary". On Her Majesty's Secret Service Ultimate Edition. MGM Home Entertainment.
- ^ 45cat.com
- ^ "Adams hit tops wedding dance poll". BBC News. 7 April 2005. Retrieved 18 December 2009.
- ^ Burlingame, Jon (10 October 2021). "Louis Armstrong Meets James Bond, Again: Why 'We Have All the Time in the World' Plays a Key Role in 'No Time to Die'". Variety.