"Thunderball" Opening w/ theme song by Johnny Cash

[wildone106]

It would be good if James Bong was a western..otherwise..nope...:)

[tsntana]

I can kinda imagine a Clint Eastwood gunbarrel sequence. :)

[WhenWorldsCollide91]

Fuck me, what an awesome song. First time I listen to it, though I am a great fan of the James Bond movies as well as of Johnny Cash. He managed to get that subtlety in the song... you know, the kind of dark undertone that is in every 007 theme song. Love it.

[2wingo]

@WhenWorldsCollide91 Agreed, but this version of Thunderball just doesn't fit as well as the Tom Jones version because TJ's version could be about both Bond and the villain, while this one is about a woman.

[reynders30]

awesome song. :-)

[bigfolkie5418]

Original Theme song was sung by Tom Jones

[Malenock86]

This is fucking awesome. I love the Tom Jones version but this is equally awesome if not a little more so. lol

[2wingo]

@Malenock86 It's definitely awesome, but the reason that it just doesn't work is because Johnny's version is about a woman, while Tom Jone's version is about either the villain or Bond himself, depending on how you look at it.

[DJX187]

@2wingo

the song is actually about the bomb itself - he only refers to it as "her" - just to reference.. and he actually references Bond, by saying "somewhere there is a man who can stop the thing in time"... it actually tells more about the plot of the film itself then maybe previously thought?

[2wingo]

@DJX187 Hmm, maybe. It's hard to understand the lyrics at times due to the way Johnny talks.

[code2high]

W-T-F is this real??? I mean it's not bad.........If Lulu could sing a Bond hit then why not the Man in Black!

[2wingo]

@code2high It doesn't really fit as well as the Tom Jones version, which could be about both Bond and the villain.

[code2high]

@2wingo I agree Wingo. This song is good but does'nt fit the 007 image........unless JB was gonna gallop onto the screen on a mighty stallion! Cash had sung the title tune of a couple of other big screen productions that faired quite well (i.e. Sons of Katie Elder and Little Fayus and Big Halsley).......

[Iltbsm]

The name's Norris. Chuck Norris.

This just isn't the theme for a British agent ;)

[brerrabbit77]

Yeah - I have never heard this until this moment. This is OK for a Johnny Cash song but the Tom Jones version fits the movie much better.

[caberwacky]

1965!!!?!!! This is actually better then some of the james bond titles in the 1980's!!!

[1TakeVlog]

Thunderball your fiery breath can burn the coldest man, and who is going to suffer from the power that is in your hand?

Superb

[madabbafan]

sorry but give me the propper title song by Tom Jones over this any day

[GoldenShoresGal]

Hmmm...good song - reminds me a little of Marty Robbin's "Big Iron." But for a James Bond movie? I'm perfectly happy with the Tom Jones' version. Even though the lyrics to Thunderball aren't that great, Sir Tom's singing is so amazing, who even notices or cares?

[TheDrYes]

idk somehow it seems to fit

[promagnum]

It was perfect timing as well.

[verityheld]

It's a great song, but for James Bond? This would inspire a great Western, you could almost write the script just from the song. Thunderball- a youngster left for dead when bad men killed her family . . . grown to womanhood and seeking revenge . . . one tough-kicking, quick-firing, gun-slinging good-looking gal, power of lightning, Thunderball!

[ejay1118]

This is simply too cool a song. Too bad it really doesn't fit the storyline of the movie.

[TheBobQueen]

is this song on any of cash's albums?

[hasablad69]

@TheBobQueen Yeah, BQ, my research on allmusic.com indicated that this obscure oddity was later released on a 1978 album entitled "Johnny and June".

It was hard to track down because it wasn't classified as a strictly Johnny Cash album but rather as a Johnny Cash/ June Carter album. Good luck trying to find the vinyl, nigh on impossible, no doubt.

[unknown235]

@TheBobQueen yes its also on the bootleg vol 2 thats easyer to find then that album whas hasablad69 said

[GortosXtreme]

I was confused at first. Wasn't it thunderball which should have gotten "Mr Kiss Kiss Bang Bang" at first?

[stekow1111]

clever editing but no cigar.

[felixlinquist]

Makes me wanna get some spurs and ride Trigger on down to the pass.

[MagnetoMasterOfEvil]

@felixlinquist DAMN! Christie's just sold Trigger for $266,000 a couple of weeks ago. Worth every penny! "Happy Trails...to you..."

[vrz07]

good song

[hasablad69]

I always thought this video was somebody's idea of a joke - you know where somebody else's song, i.e. John Lennon, Petulia Clark, is put over the titles to a Bond film just as a "what might have been" sort of thing. I couldn't believe it when I checked on allmusic.com that the song credits were Barry/Cash (from a 1978 Cash album called Johnny & June).

What the HELL was John Barry smoking at the time - likely the same stuff he was toking when he hired Louis Armstrong for OHMSS.

[ejay1118]

@hasablad69 -I object, Louis Armstrong's "We Have All The Time In The World" was epic! Maybe a Bond film shouldn't have a romantic montage, but you had to deal with the fact that Bond was falling totally in love for only the second time in his life!

[hasablad69]

@ejay1118 ejay, some people are Louis fans and I can't argue with that but for my money having a "Buzza Buzza Buzza", frog throated vocalist, who's better suited to Dixieland jazz, warbling a touching melody and making it sound like it's coming from the mouth of a half-full cement mixer totally defeats the purpose. To my ear, Louis was not suited for this song; it should have been a duet with

Shirley Bassey and Tom Jones doing the honours.

[ejay1118]

@hasablad69 - That's why there are horse races. I like the song as it is. I think a "sweeter" rendition would have been too smaltzy, but that's me.

[hasablad69]

@ejay1118 John Barry's apparent vision for the tune was that of a "wise one" singing a song about life. O.K. fine but then the grammatic person in which the song was sung just doesn't fit - the guy's life is over and he's seen, blah, blah, blah and he's saying "WE" have all the time ..." ?  Him and who else? He's alone. He's past it. If the lyrics had been done in the second person plural, "YOU have all the ...",

then the song and the singer's age and the concept makes more sense.

[blofeld39]

@hasablad69 It's taken from the last line spoken in the book and film, by Bond; it works.

[hasablad69]

Like - DUH - know that. As I've argued before, the song should have been done as an ensemble or as a duet.

The concept of a solitary, older man singing, "WE etc., etc." just did not make any sense and did not work in the body of the film at all. Shirley Bassey and Tom Jones doing the song together would have worked, would have gotten a lot of air play, and would have been, most probably, a world-wide, smash hit.

[smahala2100]

could be used as a future perry the platypus theme lol

[bishopaz]

yippeee yi aye!!!

[bumbaestsexy]

But the original theme song was by Tom jones ?

[danolson68]

Man, I hate country but every damn song of Johnny Cash is pure fucking gold...

[hasablad69]

@danolson68 Not true.

[MyMaryjones]

I want to see the tone, help me. thanks

[mocrg]

It's a great song but it sounds like a western not a Bond theme.

[dominicrusho]

Wow - he actually references the plot with the bit about "her engines" and "her power within running free" is obviously the Vulcan bomber and the bomb that was stolen! Very cool.

[CroweDharma]

I really like this song!

[sparkescadman]

Then, they mixed styles and streamlined it.

In 1965, Johnny Cash wore black Bond style suits with narrow lapels , and had a Bond hair style .

Look up his videos from the mid-60's.

Cash and Lee Hazlewood (pre-mustache) were the "bridge" between Bond and the first 3 Clint Eastwood films.

They all were sophisticated world-wise country guys then who would have hung out with Bond.

Bond-like Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin made Westerns,.

Dean's1965 hit "Houston" is country..

.

[Lemon77UG]

Version by Tom Jones is far, far superior.

[SeanConneryIloveyou]

The first time that i listen this and... super cool.

[jovicans]

it's like a sergio leone movie starting, not james bond

[blogward]

Can't see Sean Connery in chaps somehow.

[Clay3613]

@blogward Connery has worn a red diaper with suspenders.

[MrBeaker09]

Where can you find this song?

[felixlinquist]

Laughable!!!!

[celt67]

As Alan Partidge might say "STOP GETTING BOND WRONG "

[TheDrYes]

pretty good dude.

[painlessissuicide]

cool song, but not a Bond song

[algomeysa]

Now I want to hear the Johnny Cash version of NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN!

[bwill613]

Great song by Johnny Cash. Perhaps if they made this movie into a James Bond western or filmed in Texas or Gulf of Mexico instead of the carribean, it would have been a suitable Bond opening song.

[JoeSidhu]

I love Johnny Cash!

Such an awesome song.

But sadly it doesn't fit James Bond. It's too western and not classy.

[spider9137]

@JoeSidhu

"not classy"?? ... Pardner, be careful what you say about Mr. Johnny Cash ...

[itsmule69]

@spider9137 Damn skippy! Them there is fightin words son!

[ejay1118]

@spider9137 ~ If Johnny Cash did it, it was classy! Hell "Chicken In Black" was classy. BUT, it is the wrong style for the actual film.

[JoeSidhu]

@spider9137

It's classy. But not James Bond classy. It's not British class. It's more of a western kinda feel. It just would never fit.

[Switch020181]

@JoeSidhu good brain

[mqblues]

Wait..there on the horizon... riding a white horse and carryin' a colt 44...it's that man from the settin' sun...Thunderball!

[CompassionatePatriot]

This is a very good and catchy song, but it isn't a Bond song. It sounds more like something out of a western. Maybe if James Bond ever went to Wyoming, they could use this song.

[felixlinquist]

Thanks for all the insincere comments; you're all really very kind to the late great Johnny Cash. Thank God someone sobered up before they put this in for the opening theme song....

[Liberate006A]

No insult intended to the great johnny cash, but I thought I was about to see 007 riding a horse and wearing a cowboy outfit! I'm glad Jones sang it.

[sligo74]

The best man to talk his way through a song! RIP JC

[brerrabbit77]

This was good, but I thought the Tom Jones original fit the movie a lot better.

[CroweDharma]

Frikkin' awesome! Love Johnny Cash!

[mipmipmipmipmip]

this would have been the most freaking cool bond theme song ever. Is there a cd with rejected bond theme song submissions somewhere?

[ejay1118]

@mipmipmipmipmip - There should be; this, Alice Cooper's "The Man With The Golden Gun" I know there are a few more.

[MetalGearKelan]

This is fucking great

[walkabou5]

Really awful and couldn't really be taken seriously as a Bond title song

[RodneyShaneRuss]

I agree. It's a great song ,but it does't fit the tropical locale. If only Bond were a western.

[JRM2882]

oops um sorry this isnt james bond u messed up the lyrics :p

[JRM2882]

by far my favorite jame bond theme

[itwontcomeout5678]

did you know Rick Astley almost sang the his theme for Octopussy? I was like WTF, i heard it on jamesbondwiki, but i cant find this version of the song anywhere. Who knows, maybe the Rick Roll would of been Octopussy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!­!!!!!!11111111one!1!11!1eleven

[JoeCamelCigg]

It would have been so awesome if Johnny's song would have been on instead of Jones!

[bwill613]

I would have laughed if I heard that Johnny Cash song for the title of the James Bond movie unless it is made into a western or filmed in the deep American South.

[JoeCamelCigg]

Then i Know.

[itwontcomeout5678]

James Bond transfers to the CIA and goes to Tennasee, so now he's "Bawnd...Jayums Bawnd"

[owenatkins]

In the era of Eastwood's first westerns, this fits well. Cash dressed and had hair like Bond then (see the mid 60's videos on You Tube)

It was a mistake not to use Cash's POWERFUL theme-plus the early "Flowers on the Wall" era Statlers were on it(who also dressed and had hairstyles like Bond then)

[Midnightguy1171]

It's a good song and like I Johnny Cash, but this song don't match with this James Bond film unless if Thunderball was filmed somewhere in Texas or Mexico instead of underwater.

[doll894]

use youtube mp3 converter my friend ;)

[MrBeaker09]

Too bad you can't find this song for download... :,(

[JamesBond007MANIAC]

my God its a country James Bond..lol...this song is actually quite good!

[Fuliginosus]

The best part of the movie was when Bond came riding into town pursued by Mohicans.

[THORDEN86MX]

yeah, some mohicans with submarines hiding an atomic bomb¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡

[maxmercury]

What a fascinating find. Completely wrong for a James Bond movie, but still fascinating!

[The6thSimpson]

more suited for the magnificent seven than james bond but still good song

[SenseiTohru]

John Wayne is James Bond

[bwill613]

Maybe Clint Eastwood could play James Bond except there would be no Dirty Harry if that were to happen.

[clintbronson5]

I love the man in black and the man who is SWORN to her majesty...But this would have cracked me up in the theaters :)

[pedrogps03]

Incridble song by the master johnny cash...but...for a james bond movie tom jones version fits better

[jumpingspoon]

unfortunate... two of the best bond theme songs were in the same movie.

[henrygem]

jumpingspoon- yes, you're right! Bad timing. It would have been interesting, though. By the way, I have a picture of Johnny Cash in the earlier days where he actually looks like a potential James Bond; an elegant, cool man - able to kill at any moment if needed! (Otherwise,I am a Connery fan)

Cheers! H.

[ossarider]

fantastic cut! i've heard about this, but never thought a recording actually existed. after goldfinger, i guess they were looking for a flawless theme song, an almost impossible task...though johnny cash made a great effort, you can see why it didn't fit the series, so tom jones was the best choice...even so, i loved hearing this!

[DarthSeptic]

Woot! Great song!

[craigisnotbond]

is this song on any of cash's albums?

[SuperMike1981]

This Theme is very good for a Western - Movie but not for a James Bond - Movie. Tom Jones is the best for James Bond Thunderball Theme.

[PeedG]

I'm both Johnny Cash and James Bond fan. I think you did a great job, Johnny Cash's cool voice and the iconic images of Maurice Binder, great!

[fearclownz]

I do like this song, and If 'Our Man Flint' or 'In Like Flint' could have had a song, it might have been O.K. to use something by Johnny Cash. Actually, not really, because Jerry Goldsmith's music is perfect for those films.

Thanks for sharing this rare, rare version.

[raven41179]

This is one of the strangest submissions I have ever heard to be in a Bond film. Johnny Cash is a legend, but this would not have fit in with a franchise famous for having more pop-sounding artists.

[PubliusAfricanus]

Listening to this makes me wonder if Johnny Cash even knew who James Bond was.

Seriously, WTF?

[lhirsch1]

While the producers were smart enough to not use this song, they still left Rik Van Nutter in the film.

[Johi2410]

I think Rik Van Nutter did a great job as Felix Leiter! The cool CIA american!

With the song the movie would still have been a tick cooler :-) because I am a big Cash fan- but anyways, best Bond Movie in my opinion!

[sabrooow]

This song was about to be the next James bond theme song, but in the last moment they changed it for Tom Jones. I wanted it to be Johnny cash instead.

[knarvil]

It's a more credible Bond song than "For Your Eyes Only," I'll give him that!

[Tompie913]

Not a bad song, but what on earth was Johnny Cash thinking when he even submitted it. This wouldn't make it into a Bond movie in a thousand years.

[MikeMulligan567]

WTF? I love Johnny Cash but this doesn't fit at all.

[nickrogers1969II]

This like a theme for a cowboy movie. It´s good but not for Bond.

[Johi2410]

Awesome! My favorite movie and my favorite singer of all time!! AWESOME! Boom-Chicka-Boom and Bond- both guys always keep/kept their style, Cash in music, Bond (Connery) in his inimitatable way! AWESOME!!

[sabrooow]

I really wish this song was used instead of Tom Jones. Johnny Cash is the best of all!

[JoeCamelCigg]

Yes you are right! He is the best of all! We sure miss him!

[Rodin1989]

yes you're right.you too...i miss him to.he was geniuos.

[Rodin1989]

yes you're right.you too...i miss him to.he was geniuos.

[millerswayne]

This is brilliant, but yeah it just wouldn't have meshed well with the rest of the movie.

[strikerk]

Stellar.

[kelillo]

Good experiment. Don´t listen to the people that just criticise for the fact of critisize... Good work.

[FroMarty]

wow I didnt know this existed. Its like Jonny Rivers' Secret Agent Man but better.

[LuiECuomo]

If you don't understand why I post these videos, then there's no need to reply like a stupid asshole.

[LuckyLuke199]

I actually think this sounds kind of cool.  Certainly more distinctive and memorable than the song they used.

[starschwar]

While it does a surprisingly good job of explaining the plot, it just sounds like something more suited to a western than a Bond movie.

[lumberlogs]

@starschwar Jonny Cash writes western sounding music?? Sir you astound me. Thank you for posting

[blofeld39]

Wow! This is great!