It’s been a while since I’ve posted here and for that – for all of you who expect to start your day only AFTER reading a thoughtful contribution on “WGY Unfiltered” – I truly apologize (he wrote with tongue firmly planted in cheek.)

Anyway, I’m a James Bond fan and looking forward to the new movie later this year, “Skyfall.” A few years back, my buddy, photographer Ric Easton shared his entire 007 Collection with me. I watched them all, in order, while recovering from one of my (too) many surgeries and ailments. But it was a nice way to pass the time.

Now comes the new poll about the theme songs, which are almost as important at the Bond Girls themselves – well, not quite.

So, in a new list, and boy media guys love lists, "Live And Let Die" gets the nod as the best James Bond theme song ever. The Paul McCartney and Wings hit from 1973 was the title track to the 8th film in the Bond franchise, which starred Roger Moore as agent 007. Carly Simon's "Nobody Does It Better," from "The Spy Who Loved Me," follows at #2, and the Shirley Bassey classic "Goldfinger" is third.

Bassey's "Diamonds Are Forever" also makes the top-10, coming in at #7. Duran Duran's "A View To A Kill" earns 4th place, and Jack White and Alicia Keys' "Another Way To Die" from "Quantum of Solace" rounds out the top-five.  The title song to 1999's "The World Is Not Enough" from Garbage ranks sixth. Nancy Sinatra's "You Only Live Twice," Sheena Easton's "For Your Eyes Only," and Chris Cornell's "Casino Royale" song, "You Know My Name," complete the list.

The UK's BBC Radio 2 and Radio 5 compiled the list based on a listeners poll in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the first Bond film. "Dr. No" had its premiere in London in October 1962 but I have no idea what its theme song is.

Say what you will about the best Bond actor but Roger Moore has the best theme songs, at least according to this list. I can’t argue with the top three but for me, it may be Sheena Easton’s “For Your Eyes Only” that Casey Kasem played week after week on his AT40 when I was growing up or the Duran Duran theme "A View to a Kill" and Grace Jones and Christopher Walken battling Moore.

I can’t even remember the one from Quantum of Solace or The World is Not Enough at all. And I think Chris Cornell’s “You Know My Name” from Casino Royale is underrated. And then there’s George Lazenby’s On Her Majesty’s Secret Service but, come to think of it, I can’t remember the song, and most can’t remember the man to succeed Sean Connery – before Connery came back.

Here’s the list:
1. Live and Let Die: Paul McCartney and Wings, 1973
2. Nobody Does It Better: (The Spy Who Loved Me), Carly Simon, 1977
3. Goldfinger, Shirley Bassey, 1964
4. A View to a Kill: Duran Duran, 1985
5. Another Way to Die: (Quantum of Solace), Alicia Keys and Jack White, 2008
6. The World Is Not Enough: Garbage, 1999
7. Diamonds Are Forever: Shirley Bassey, 1971
8. You Only Live Twice: Nancy Sinatra, 1967
9. For Your Eyes Only: Sheena Easton, 1981
10. You Know My Name (Casino Royale), Chris Cornell, 2006

-John Craig john@wgy.com