"Never Say Never Again"?

[dragon53]

Is the Lani Hall/Alpert theme song for NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN available on one of Alpert's compilation CDs?
The film soundtrack CD has been out of print for some time, and I think Michel Legrand's score is pretty bad, particularly for a James Bond film. However, the Hall/Alpert theme itself is very interesting and sort of grows on me...in large because I am a big fan of both Hall and Alpert.
I'd like to have a CD with the theme itself--if one is available.

 

[Captain Bacardi]

It's never been on an Alpert compilation, but has been on a couple of Lani Hall's: Classics and Collectibles.



Capt. Bacardi

 

[Steve Sidoruk]

The best thing to do is buy the DVD of the movie, as it has Herb's long solo after Lani's vocal. It played over the closing credits. To my knowledge, Herb's part never appeared on a CD at all.

 

[Nathan Strum]

Here's the CD: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000006OWG/

I can't say it's worth the twenty bucks, however. Herb's solo isn't on it (which is why I bought mine in the first place).

I'd suggest renting the DVD.

 

[cfpmike]

I have the CD. On track 26 Bond In Retirement/End Title Herb's solo starts at 1:10 and goes to 1:50 Lani's solo starts at 2:10.

Mike

 

[Harry]

I have the CD. On track 26 Bond In Retirement/End Title Herb's solo starts at 1:10 and goes to 1:50 Lani's solo starts at 2:10.

Mike

Sorry - the above is not correct.

That track 26 on the CD is a combination of the Michel Legrand Orchestra and the Lani Hall track segued together. The solo trumpet part that you can hear there is played by a member of the Legrand orchestra, Herb Alpert's solo version of the theme is only heard on the actual movie soundtrack (over the start of the end credits) - it's never been officially released on any CD due to some rights disagreements.

The Lani Hall track on the Silva Screen CD is a slightly longer version of the song, beginning with the reverb-drenched refrain of a multi-tracked Lani singing a capella, "Never...never say never again...never...never say never again" and then starting up the orchestral part that normally starts the track.

Harry

 

[dragon53]

Guys,

Thanks for the info.
Regarding the NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN dvd, there's a rumor that Sony is re-releasing a remastered dvd like the previous 20 James Bond movies now that has the rights to NSNA and CASINO ROYALE (which allowed it to remake the CASINO ROYALE---which also had Alpert). But it's only a rumor.
I borrowed the current NSNA dvd and the audio isn't very impressive.
I'll look for the Lani Hall cd to see if it's available.

 

[cfpmike]

well I quess it's my mistake, but who ever it is, I like his trumpet sound.

Mike

 

[Harry]

Guys,
I borrowed the current NSNA dvd and the audio isn't very impressive.
I'll look for the Lani Hall cd to see if it's available.

True - the sound on that DVD is pretty bad. You'll find better highs on the Spanish language track, though it's also got a Spanish announcer reading the credits. The sound throughout the movie suffers from what used to be called "wow" in the old days. That's a slow-paced speed-up and slow-down of the audio.

As for the movie itself on DVD, the initial release was flawed by skipping over about five minutes of the story. It was then re-done to fix that problem. The "fixed" version can be identified by three asterisks next to the title name on the adhesive strip on the top. If it doesn't have that, it could be an earlier flawed release.

Harry

 

[dragon53]

The NSNA dvd end credits say the theme was produced by "Herb Alpert and Sergio Mendez" (sic)

 

[Harry]

Correct. The recording of "Never Say Never Again" by Lani Hall was produced by Herb Alpert and Sergio Mendes. It marked the return of Lani and Sergio working together. She later appeared on his BRASIL '86 album singing "Nowhere To Hide".

Harry