Licence to Kill (song)
"Licence to Kill" is a 1989 song by Gladys Knight, written and recorded for the James Bond film Licence to Kill, also from 1989. It was written by Narada Michael Walden, Jeffrey Cohen and Walter Afanasieff. Released as a single in May 1989, the song became a top-ten hit in the United Kingdom, peaking at number six and becoming Knight's last charting solo single there. The song charted very strongly in Europe, peaking atop the Swedish Singles Chart for eight weeks and reaching the top five in seven other European countries. It also peaked at number 79 on Canada's RPM Top Singles chart but did not appear on the US Billboard Hot 100.Track listing
7" Single
- A. "Licence to Kill" - 4:11
- B. "Pam" - 3:50
12" Single
- A. "Licence to Kill" - 5:13
- B1. "Pam" - 3:50
- B2. "Licence to Kill" - 4:11
Personnel
- Gladys Knight: vocals
- Walter Afanasieff: songwriter, producer, arranger, orchestrator, keyboards, drum programming, percussion, Moog bass, synthesizer
- Narada Michael Walden: songwriter, producer, arranger
- Jeffrey Cohen: songwriter
- Michael Kamen: orchestrator
- Gary Grant, Jerry Hey: horns
- Greg "Gigi" Gonaway: Paiste cymbals
- Ren Klyce: Fairlight synthesizer programming
- Claytoven Richardson, Jeanie Tracy, Karen "Kitty Beethoven" Brewington, Melisa Kary, Sandy Griffith, Skyler Jett: background vocals
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end 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.
