This score is the first Bond score credited to John Barry and as such it established the standards for all Bond films to come. Like Dr. No, Barry doesn't open the main titles with a vocal song, rather he goes for an orchestral opening. The rendition of From Russia With Love is stunning and the way Barry interweaves the Bond theme into it is great, (Barry would do the same type of thing with On Her Majesty's Secret Service years later.
Barry doesn't go all out on this score, like he would on later soundtracks, simply because this was the first time he was scoring a Bond film on his own, (I don't even want to associate him with Dr. No). Nonetheless, Barry writes such darn good music. The Golden Horn is one of the scores more interesting pieces while the action in Man Overboard/SMERSH in Action is intense as ever.
This also marks the first time that 007 is used in a Bond film. Barry's answer to Monty Norman's James Bond Theme, 007 was used in many of the Bond films that Barry scored, I believe the last one to use this composition was Moonraker. While the orchestral version, 007 is good, it has been heard on several different albums, a better rendition is the one heard in the film which is included in the last track 007 Takes the Lector. As for the song heard over the end credits From Russia With Love is a good song but its age shows, or rather can be heard. Later Bond songs would be an improvement, especially Goldfinger but I mean come on, this was Barry's first Bond score. If you can lay your hands on this one, do it.
Total time: 36:57
1: James Bond is Back / From Russia with Love / James Bond Theme (2:24)
2: Tania Meets Klebb (1:27)
3: Meeting in St. Sophia (1:06)
4: The Golden Horn (2:28)
5: Girl Trouble (2:25)
6: Bond Meets Tania (1:18)
7: 007 (2:45)
8: Gypsy Camp (1:15)
9: Death of Grant (2:00)
10: From Russia with Love (2:25) - Matt Monroe
11: SPECTRE Island (1:15)
12: Guitar Lament (1:09)
13: Man Overboard / SMERSH in Action (2:18)
14: James Bond with Bongos (2:29)
15: Stalking (2:01)
16: Leila Dances (1:57)
17: Death of Kerim (2:29)
18: 007 takes the Lector (3:00)