What makes Moonraker by John Barry notable?

Moonraker became notable for its ambitious blending of traditional orchestration with contemporary electronic elements, reflecting the late '70s fascination with space themes. The title track, performed by Shirley Bassey, received critical acclaim and helped solidify the trend of memorable Bond songs that define the franchise. Released in 1979, Moonraker marked John Barry's eleventh score for the James Bond franchise, following his work on The Spy Who Loved Me. At this point in his career, Barry was already established as a leading composer for film scores, particularly known for elevating the Bond series with his sophisticated orchestral arrangements.

Who is Moonraker for?

Moonraker works well if you're into concise thematic adventure journey, evocative orchestral cinematic moments and immersive space-age soundscapes.

How many songs are on Moonraker?

Moonraker has 10 tracks, running approximately 30 minutes.

Moonraker

John Barry · 1979

30 min · 10 tracks · film score

Orchestral grandeur merges with futuristic synths, crafting a lush soundscape that captures the essence of space espionage.

Spotify Apple Music

YouTube Music YouTube Deezer Bandcamp SoundCloud

Own it: Amazon eBay

Top tracks — play these first

→
Main Title - Moonraker — This opening track introduces the lush orchestration and soaring vocals that set the tone for the entire score, encapsulating the film's grandiose themes.
→
Flight Into Space — This lengthy piece captures the feeling of adventure and exploration through its dynamic orchestration, embodying the film's pivotal space sequences.
→
End Title - Moonraker — Closing out the album, this track revisits thematic material from the main title while adding a sense of resolution and nostalgia to the experience.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

Instrumental

63 /100

Treeline

Higher than 74% of albums we've rated

The score effectively combines orchestral and electronic elements, creating a cohesive and engaging listening experience.

What we noticed

Several tracks utilize dynamic shifts in tempo and intensity, particularly in 'Space Lazer Battle', which contrasts quiet moments with sudden bursts of orchestral power.
The album's pacing includes slower, atmospheric pieces like 'Bond Lured to Pyramid' that build tension before transitioning into more action-driven sequences.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 8/10
Durability 25% of the score: 6/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 7/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 8/10

Influence 4/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

concise thematic adventure journey
evocative orchestral cinematic moments
immersive space-age soundscapes
dynamic tension-filled sequences

Maybe skip if you

dislike instrumental music
prefer longer albums

Where this album fits

Career context: Released in 1979, Moonraker marked John Barry's eleventh score for the James Bond franchise, following his work on The Spy Who Loved Me. At this point in his career, Barry was already established as a leading composer for film scores, particularly known for elevating the Bond series with his sophisticated orchestral arrangements.
Stylistic neighbors: Ennio Morricone· Henry Mancini· Bernard Herrmann