Live and Let Die
Live and Let Die
[Verse]
When you were young and your heart
Was an open book
You used to say live and let live
(You know you did, you know you did, you know you did)
But if this ever changing world in which we’re living
Makes you give in a cry
[Chorus]
Say live and let die
(Live and let die)
Live and let die
(Live and let die)
[Bridge]
What does it matter to ya?
When you got a job to do
You got to do it well
You got to give the other fella hell
[Verse]
You used to say live and let live
(You know you did, you know you did, you know you did)
But if this ever changing world in which we’re living
Makes you give in a cry
[Chorus]
Say live and let die
(Live and let die)
Live and let die
(Live and let die)
Song Length: 3:10
Writer: Paul James McCartney IPI/CAE 00018873266
Writer: Linda Louise McCartney IPI/CAE 00055458857
Publisher: EMI United Partnership LTD IPI/CAE 00160556775
Publisher: MPL Communications Inc 00088721248
Chris Hellstrom: Drum Programming, Synths, Orchestration
Jody Whitesides: Vocals, Piano, Orchestration
Recording Info:
Recording Notes:
Cover Art: Jody Whitesides
Animated Cover Art: Jody Whitesides
Recording Engineer: Chris Hellstrom
Recording Engineer: Jody Whitesides
Mixing Engineer: Chris Hellstrom
Mastering Engineer: Jody Whitesides
Atmos Mixing Engineer: Jody Whitesides
Atmos Mastering Engineer: Jody Whitesides
Vocal Engineer: Jody Whitesides
Producer: Chris Hellstrom
Producer: Jody Whitesides
Mixed at: Hellstrom Studio in Hollywood CA
Mixed in: Logic Pro with Apollo interfaces
Mastered in LUNA with Apollo interfaces
Atmos Mixed at: Snow Park Studio in Park City UT
Atmos Mixed in: Logic Pro with Apollo interfaces
Atmos Mastered in LUNA with Apollo interfaces
Atmos Monitor Speakers: KRK V4 mkII
Drums: Programmed using Damage sounds from Native Instruments
Additional Programming using RMX sounds from Spectrasonics for risers
Additional Programming using Orchestral Drum sound from Logic Pro
Vocal: All vocals were recorded using a Telefunken C-12.
Mic Pre: GrooveTubes ViPre
Mic Compressor: LA-2A from Universal Audio
Mic EQ: Neve 1072 from Universal Audio
Chris writes that he used for the vocal mix: Slate Digital VMR. Console emulations, eq’s (Neve) and compressors (FG-116 & FG-401) were all from Slate Digital. There was also some bus processing using Slate Digital, mainly some Air EQ and a combination of Focusrite Red and Vari-Mu compression.
Synths: Alchemy from Logic Pro
ES2 from Logic Pro
Retro Synth from Logic Pro
Iris 2 from iZotope
Misc Instruments: Orchestral samples from Logic Pro
Song Story:
By far and away I (Jody Whitesides) consider this to be the absolute best James Bond movie theme song of all time. Bar none. Hands down. It is incredibly iconic and far more original than about any other Bond theme ever (except for the actual James Bond theme). Top that end, I was doing a lot of production work with one of my best friends, Chris Hellstrom. I had this bizarre idea that he and I should do a bunch of cover songs of #1 hits and other iconic songs, but darker and more marauding than the originals.
The first one we tackled and finished is this one that you’re reading about right now, Live and Let Die.
Ever since I was a young lad and James Bond was, in my world, Roger Moore. Probably the campiest of all the Bonds. And yet as a kid who was too young to see it in theaters, I did manage to see it years later on HBO. From the get go I was hooked. One thing I appreciate about the older Bond movies is how their intros were shorter and much more immediate to getting into the movie. I really wish the more modern Bond movies would go back to this formula.
Back to the music. I have this dream that in the future I will be sought out and tasked with writing a theme for a James Bond movie. When that happens my only stipulation that I will set upon myself is to write a theme that is unlike all other Bond themes to date. The goal of course it to reach some sort of iconic value that would hopefully rival Live and Let Die.
Until that day, this vastly different version will have to suffice.
From Chris: Doing a cover of a Paul McCartney song can be challenging. The idea, from my perspective, was to do something completely different. The plan was making an atmospheric version that was much darker and heavier. We axed the guitars (pun intended) and other traditional instruments, and rearranged it with synths and percussion. Jody did a great job with the vocals, and there are a lot of them!
Through the years, Jody and I have done a lot of work together, and this cover is definitely one I’m the most proud of.
Factoids:
1. I have a younger musical friend who heard this version and told me: “Damn that’s an extremely cool cover of Guns ‘n’ Roses.” Ah, ignorance is bliss – right?
Copyright: 2026/03/27
ISRC: USONR2520001
ISWC: T0702687635
SESAC Song ID:
Harry Fox ID:
Harry Fox Publisher ID:
UPC: 656465062208