Live and Let Die was a Bond films with many changes. There was the new Bond, Roger Moore; a more contemporary opening song with former Beatle, Paul McCartney, and his band Wings singing the song; and no John Barry to compose the score. Taking the reins for Barry in this case was ex-Beatle manager George Martin. At the time it may have seemed to have been a good idea but in the end, the score that was turned out was a big disappointment to Bond fans. Seeing as how it was the heart of the 70's, and disco being as popular as it was at the time, George Martin decided to give the score to Live and Let Die a disco feel. By this I don't mean that it sounds like For Your Eyes Only, no, I mean that its real disco.
This was the first time in a long time that John Barry had not scored a Bond film and so the sudden change is music is apparent. I'm trying to think of something nice to say since after all, following up Barry's work is easier said than done. I guess one of the better tracks is Bond Meets Solitaire which starts off nicely and then leads into a disco version of the Bond theme. Listening to it, it's kind of hard not to picture Bond in bellbottoms and sporting a bad haircut. A better version is Bond Drops In that covers the scene where Bond flies a hang glider to Solitaire's Island. It then leads into the Bond theme again and then softens a bit then again leads into the Bond theme. The pattern seems endless at times.
As far as the action goes, Tresspassers Will Be Eaten fits the bill. It is slightly upbeat and tense and covers the part where Bond is surrounded by crocodiles. The last track seemed to have been added to maintain continuity with the rest of the Bond films. It is a 70's take on the Bond theme. It would have been better if they had maintained the sound of theme the way Barry does. The sole saving grace on this soundtrack is the great title song sung by Paul McCartney and Wings. Live and Let Die is a favorite among Bond fans and the version done by McCartney and Wings has been and always will be the best. There is another version on the soundtrack as well, sung by Arnau, this version pales in comparison to the title version. The Guns N' Roses version recorded many years later is even worse. Unless you're a collector of all things Bond, I don't think you should spend time looking for this soundtrack. If you want the song badly enough, get the 30th Anniversary compilation of the soundtrack.
Total time: 32:28
1: Live and Let Die (Main Title) (3:10) - Paul McCartney and Wings
2: Just A Closer Walk with Thee/New Second Line (2:13)
3: Bond Meets Solitaire (2:15)
4: Whisper Who Dares (1:42)
5: Snakes Alive (2:24)
6: Baron Samedi's Dance of Death (1:15)
7: San Monique (1:57)
8: Fillet of Soul-New Orleans/Live and Let Die/Fillet of Soul-Harlem (3:17) - Arnau
9: Bond Drops In (3:28)
10: If He Finds It, Kill Him (1:21)
11: Trespassers Will Be Eaten (2:45)
12: Solitaire Gets Her Cards (1:49)
13: Sacrifice (2:30)
14: James Bond Theme (1:28)