Licence to Kill (song)

"Licence to Kill" is a song by American singer Gladys Knight, written and recorded for the James Bond film Licence to Kill, taken from the soundtrack of the film's same name. The song was written by Narada Michael Walden, Jeffrey Cohen and Walter Afanasieff, and produced by Walden and associate production helmed by Afanasieff.

This article is about the James Bond song by Gladys Knight. For the song License to Kill by Bob Dylan, see License to Kill (Bob Dylan song).
"Licence to Kill"
Standard international artwork featuring Timothy Dalton as James Bond (vinyl edition pictured)
Single by Gladys Knight
from the album Licence to Kill soundtrack
B-side"Pam"
ReleasedMay 30, 1989 (1989-05-30)[1]
Studio
Length5:15
LabelMCA
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Gladys Knight singles chronology
"Loving On Borrowed Time"
(1986)		 "Licence to Kill"
(1989)		 "If I Knew Then What I Know Now"
(1990)
James Bond theme singles chronology
"The Living Daylights"
(1987)		 "Licence to Kill"
(1989)		 "GoldenEye"
(1995)

"Licence to Kill" was released as the soundtrack's lead single on May 30, 1989, by MCA Records. The song became a top-10 hit in the United Kingdom, peaking at number six and becoming Knight's last charting solo single there. In Europe, the song peaked atop the Swedish Singles Chart for eight weeks (four chart periods at the time) and reached the top five in seven other European countries. It also peaked at number 79 on Canada's RPM 100 Singles chart but did not appear on the US Billboard Hot 100.

Critical reception

Jerry Smith from Music Week wrote, "Gladys Knight beats all-comers for the dubious pleasure of singing the theme to the latest Bond movie, written and produced by Narada Michael Walden, and basically a pastiche of the best of the previous themes. It can't really fail."[2] Pat Sharp for Smash Hits felt "Licence to Kill" "sounds very dramatic and James Bond-y".[3]

Track listings
  • 7-inch single[4]
A. "Licence to Kill" – 4:11
B. "Pam" (performed by Michael Kamen and the National Philharmonic Orchestra)
  • 12-inch single[5]
A1. "Licence to Kill" (extended version)
B1. "Pam" (performed by Michael Kamen and the National Philharmonic Orchestra)
B2. "Licence to Kill"

Personnel

Charts

Cover versions

In 2017, musician and producer Fernando Perdomo collaborated with former Pink Floyd backing vocalist and Blue Pearl lead singer Durga McBroom recording the song for the multi-artist compilation album Songs, Bond Songs: The Music of 007.[30]

References
  1. "7" Single – Gladys Knight". 007collector.com. Archived from the original on December 18, 2018. Retrieved July 10, 2022.
  2. Smith, Jerry (May 27, 1989). "Singles" (PDF). Music Week. p. 21. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
  3. Sharp, Pat (May 17, 1989). "Singles". Smash Hits. p. 59. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
  4. Licence to Kill (UK 7-inch vinyl disc). Gladys Knight. MCA Records. 1989. MCA 1339.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  5. Licence to Kill (UK 12-inch vinyl disc). Gladys Knight. MCA Records. 1989. MCAT 1339.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  6. "Gladys Knight – Licence to Kill" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
  7. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 6429." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
  8. "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 6457." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
  9. "Top 3 Singles in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 6, no. 35. September 2, 1989. p. VII. Retrieved March 27, 2018.
  10. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 6, no. 35. September 2, 1989. p. IV. Retrieved July 7, 2020.
  11. Pennanen, Timo (2021). "Gladys Knight". Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021 (PDF) (in Finnish). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 133. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  12. "Gladys Knight – Licence to Kill" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
  13. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Licence to Kill". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
  14. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 29, 1989" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
  15. "Gladys Knight – Licence to Kill" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
  16. "Gladys Knight – Licence to Kill". VG-lista. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
  17. "Gladys Knight – Licence to Kill". Singles Top 100. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
  18. "Gladys Knight – Licence to Kill". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
  19. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
  20. "Gladys Knight and the Pips Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved June 11, 2019.
  21. "Gladys Knight and the Pips Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 11, 2019.
  22. "Offiziellecharts.de – Gladys Knight – Licence to Kill" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
  23. "Jaaroverzichten 1989" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved October 24, 2018.
  24. "Eurochart Hot 100 of 1989" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 6, no. 51. 23 December 1989. p. 6. Retrieved 17 January 2020 – via World Radio History.
  25. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1989". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved March 14, 2021.
  26. "Jaaroverzichten 1989" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved October 24, 2018.
  27. "Swiss Year-End Charts 1989" (in German). Retrieved October 24, 2018.
  28. "Year End Singles". Record Mirror. January 27, 1990. p. 44.
  29. "Top 100 Singles–Jahrescharts 1989" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved October 24, 2018.
  30. "Songs, Bond Songs: The Music of 007"
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