The Octopussy Theme

Following a one-film layoff from the series, composer John Barry returned for Octopussy, where he, Tim Rice, Stephen Short, Rita Coolidge wrote, recorded, and mixed the movie’s theme song, “All Time High.”  For obvious reasons the film’s title was not used for the theme song.  The song’s title was selected among six options that Rice provided to Barry.

 

Prior to Coolidge being selected to perform the theme song, British singer Mari Wilson was in contention.  Wilson evoked a retro image that harkened back to the mid-1960s when the Bond series originated, but it was the lack of a United States profile that ultimately led to her dismissal.  Bond producer Cubby Broccoli later admitted he had also considered American singer Laura Branigan for the job, which Barry and Rice both stated would have been acceptable with them.

 

“All Time High” is the first Bond theme to receive a music video.  The song’s title was used in promotional material as a slogan for the film.  While not much of a hit with general audiences in America, reaching only 36 on the Billboard Hot 100, it did reach the number one spot for four weeks on Adult Contemporary radio.  While a hit in other European counties, “All Time High” rose no higher than 75 on the UK chart, making it one of the lowest ranking James Bond themes ever.

 

Being that Octopussy was the 10th Bond movie for John Barry to work on his biography has been covered already.  You can find it in full here.

 

Timothy Miles Bindon Rice is a British lyricist and author and was born November 10, 1944.  Rice is a recipient of an Academy Award, Golden Globe, Tony Award, and Grammy, and his most popular works are with Andrew Lloyd Webber, whom he wrote Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita, and additional songs for the 2011 West End revival of The Wizard of Oz.  He is also known for his work with Walt Disney Studios, which includes songs for Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, and The Lion King.

 

Rice’s career began as a management trainee with EMI Records, but he later left EMI with record producer Norrie Paramor to work as an assistant producer.  His collaborations include working with Cliff Richard, Elton John, Alan Menken, Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson of ABBA, and Rick Wakeman.

 

Rice was knighted for services to music in 1994, has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, is an inductee into the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame, is a Disney Legend recipient, and is a fellow of the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors.

 

Marrying in 1974, his marriage to Jane McIntosh dissolved in the late 80s after it was revealed he had been having an affair with actress/singer Elaine Paige.  However, the divorce was never finalized and the two remain, technically, married still.  The couple had two children.

Stephen Short is a Grammy Award-winning record producer and operates Ping Pong Music, an artist management company.  Several of his works have gone on to win Grammies, Oscars, and Golden Globes.

 

Short’s career in music began at Trident Studios in London in 1977, where he worked with artists like Genesis, Queen, and Wings.  One of his earliest production credits was in 1978 with Donna Summer on “Last Dance.”  In the 1990s Short redirected his focus on production, leading to work with Phil Collins, dc Talk, and Chaka Kahn.

 

His current emphasis is on young talent, discovering new artists and bands, such as This World Fair and Camera Can’t Lie.

Rita Coolidge, born May 1, 1945, is an American recording artist and songwriter, gaining fame in the 1970s and 80s with charted hits in pop, country, adult contemporary, and jazz.  The artist began her career as a background singer, featured on records for Leon Russell, Joe Cocker, Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Graham Nash, and Stephen Stills.

 

Kris Kristofferson and Coolidge were married in 1973, after meeting on a flight three years earlier.  While partnered with Kristofferson, Coolidge won two Grammy Awards for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal.  The first was in 1974 for “From the Bottle to the Bottom” and the second was in 1976 for “Lover Please.”  However, the two divorced in 1980.

 

Coolidge saw her greatest success from 1977-78 with four consecutive top 25 hits, three of which were cover songs.

 

Kristofferson and Coolidge had one daughter together.  She was also romantically involved with Stephen Stills and Graham Nash, which the transition from one to the other has been cited as a contributing factor behind the 1970 breakup of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.  Coolidge has since married again in 2004.  She currently resides in Fallbrook, California.

 

Coolidge is a painter and has exhibited her work.  She also formed Walela, a Native American music trio, in 1997 with her sister and niece.