John Barry

An uncredited John Barry ghostwrote the famed Bond theme first heard in Dr. No, and when the producers found out, they wisely handed the rest of the series over to the young composer. Both the film From Russia with Love and its score are vast improvements over the first movie. Matt Monro croons the title tune, and such lushly melodic Barry numbers as "Spectre Island" and "Bond Meets Tania" would be used as templates for the rest of the series. Anyone hosting a tense clambake or violent summer barbecue should have "James Bond with Bongos" cued up and ready to go.