“For Your Eyes Only” was an
international hit, reaching number four on the US Billboard Hot 100, eight on the UK Singles Chart, and the top 10 in
several other counties. It also received
an Academy Award Best Song nomination, but lost to “Arthur’s Theme (Best That
You Can Do)” from Arthur.
Conti originally wanted to bring
in a singer who fit the “Bond style,” such as Donna Summer or Dusty
Springfield. After studio executives
suggested Sheena Easton, who had recently seen her song “9 to 5,” renamed “Morning
Train (9 to 5)” to avoid confusion with the Doll Parton song, reach number one
on the American charts, Conti listened to Easton’s debut album but was
unimpressed. However, he decided to work
with her after meeting with her in person.
You can listen to Blondie's submission for the film here.
You can listen to Blondie's submission for the film here.
William Conti was born April 13,
1942. After graduating from Louisiana
State University and studying at the Julliard School of Music, Conti’s big
break in the movie industry came with scoring Rocky, which at the time was a small United Artists film. The movie went on to become a critical and
audience favorite. Conti’s training
montage tune, “Gonna Fly Now,” topped the Billboard singles chart and earned
him his first of three Academy Award nomination. Conti went on to serve as soundtrack composer
for all the Rocky sequels, excluding Rocky
IV.
Along with Rocky films and For Your Eyes
Only, which he got to work on because John Barry refused to return to the
series for tax reasons, Conti’s other film work includes scoring The Right Stuff, which earned him an
Academy Award for Best Original Score, The
Karate Kid, 1999’s remake of The
Thomas Crown Affair, and the TV series Dynasty. He also wrote the theme song to the original
version of American Gladiators.
In addition to the three Oscar
nominations, Conti also received three Golden Globe nominations and 13 Emmy
nominations, with all but one of those being for his work as musical director
at the Academy awards, a role he has served in a record 19 times. This year Conti was inducted into the
Louisiana Music Hall of Fame.
Michael Leeson is a lyricist and
screenwriter, whose film and television credits include The Cosby Show, The Partridge
Family, Happy Days, The War of the Roses, and The Bill Engvall Show.
Leeson’s musical work with writing
partner Peter Vale, after meeting Vale at the University College London, includes
Eddie Money’s “Take Me Home Tonight,” “Would I Lie to You” by Charles and
Eddie, and work with Ray Charles, The Commodores and Paul Young.
Leeson has been on the Board of
the British Academy of Composers & Songwriters and received a BMI TV Music
Award, two Emmy awards, and a Humanitas Prize.
Sheena Shirley Easton, born April
27, 1959, is a Scottish recording artist and actress. Easton rose to public fame when she was the
focus of an episode of the first British reality television program, The Big Time: Pop Singer. The show followed Easton’s attempt to gain a
record contract, eventually showing her signing with EMI Records. Easton’s debut singles reached the UK Top 10,
making her the first UK female artist to appear twice in the same Top 10.
Easton has sold more than 20
million albums worldwide, is a six-time Grammy nominee, winning two, and
received five U.S. gold albums and one U.S. platinum album. From her 16 studio albums and 45 singles, 15
songs have reached the Top 40 on the Billboard
Hot 100. She also had 25 Top 40 hits in
international territories around the world.
Easton was the first artist in history to have a top five hit on five
different Billboard charts
consecutively.
Her discography includes working
with Kenny Rogers, Prince, Babyface, and Christopher Neil. Easton’s television work includes a
five-episode appearance on Miami Vice
and voice work for the All Dogs Go to
Heaven series and Gargoyles.
Easton has been married four
times, with no nuptial lasting more than 18 months. She has two adopted children.
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