Never Say Never Again (soundtrack)

James Horner was both director Irvin Kershner's and producer Jack Schwartzman's first choice to compose the score, after they were impressed with his work on Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. Horner, who worked in London for most of the time, was unavailable, according to Kershner, though Schwartzman later claimed Sean Connery vetoed him. Frequent Bond composer John Barry was invited, but declined out of loyalty to Eon.^[2] The music for Never Say Never Again was ultimately written by Michel Legrand, who composed a score similar to his work as a jazz pianist.^[3] For legal reasons, the filmmakers were not allowed to use a "James Bond Theme".^[4]

Legrand also wrote the main theme "Never Say Never Again", which featured lyrics by Alan and Marilyn Bergman — who had also worked with Legrand on the Academy Award-winning song "The Windmills of Your Mind"^[5] — and was performed by Lani Hall^[4] after Bonnie Tyler, who disliked the song, had reluctantly declined.^[6] Phyllis Hyman also recorded a potential theme song, with music written by Stephen Forsyth and lyrics by Jim Ryan, but the song — an unsolicited submission — was passed over, given Legrand's contractual obligations with the music.^[7]

The score has been criticised as "anachronistic and misjudged",^[8] "bizarrely intermittent"^[9] and "the most disappointing feature of the film".^[4]