Live and Let Die (song)
Updated: 12/11/2025, 1:08:17 PM Wikipedia source
"Live and Let Die" is the theme song of the 1973 James Bond film of the same name and its accompanying soundtrack album, performed by the British–American rock band Wings. Written by English musician Paul McCartney and his wife Linda McCartney, it reunited McCartney with former Beatles producer George Martin, who produced the song and arranged the orchestra. McCartney was contacted to write the song by the film's producers Harry Saltzman and Albert R. Broccoli before the screenplay was finished. Wings recorded "Live and Let Die" during the sessions for Red Rose Speedway in October 1972 at AIR Studios. It was also the first rock song to open a Bond film. Another version by B. J. Arnau also appears in the film. Upon release, "Live and Let Die" was the most successful Bond theme up to that point, reaching No. 1 on two of the three major US charts (though it only reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100) and No. 9 on the UK Singles Chart. The song also received positive reviews from music critics and continues to be praised as one of McCartney's best songs. It became the first Bond theme song to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song, but ultimately lost the award to Barbra Streisand's "The Way We Were" from the film of the same name at the 46th Academy Awards. It won Best Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s) at the 16th Annual Grammy Awards in 1974. Wings performed "Live and Let Die" live during their concert tours and McCartney continues to play it on his solo tours, often using pyrotechnics during the instrumental breaks. It has been covered by several bands, including Guns N' Roses, whose version appears on their 1991 album Use Your Illusion I. One of the more popular covers of the song, their version was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance at the 35th Annual Grammy Awards in 1993. In 2012, McCartney was awarded the Million-Air Award from Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI), for more than 4 million performances of the song in the US.
Infobox
B-side
"I Lie Around"
Released
1 June 1973
Studio
AIR (London, UK)
Genre
Symphonic rock hard rock
Length
3:12
Label
Apple
Songwriters
Paul McCartneyLinda McCartney
Producer
George Martin
Tables
· Charts › Weekly charts
Australia (Kent Music Report)
Australia (Kent Music Report)
Chart (1973)
Australia (Kent Music Report)
Peakposition
5
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)
Chart (1973)
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)
Peakposition
32
Canada (RPM 100 Top Singles)
Canada (RPM 100 Top Singles)
Chart (1973)
Canada (RPM 100 Top Singles)
Peakposition
2
Japan (Oricon)
Japan (Oricon)
Chart (1973)
Japan (Oricon)
Peakposition
25
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)
Chart (1973)
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)
Peakposition
27
Netherlands (Single Top 100)
Netherlands (Single Top 100)
Chart (1973)
Netherlands (Single Top 100)
Peakposition
29
New Zealand (Listener)
New Zealand (Listener)
Chart (1973)
New Zealand (Listener)
Peakposition
20
Norway (VG-lista)
Norway (VG-lista)
Chart (1973)
Norway (VG-lista)
Peakposition
2
UK Singles (OCC)
UK Singles (OCC)
Chart (1973)
UK Singles (OCC)
Peakposition
9
US Billboard Hot 100
US Billboard Hot 100
Chart (1973)
US Billboard Hot 100
Peakposition
2
US Billboard Easy Listening
US Billboard Easy Listening
Chart (1973)
US Billboard Easy Listening
Peakposition
8
US Cash Box Top 100
US Cash Box Top 100
Chart (1973)
US Cash Box Top 100
Peakposition
1
US Record World Singles Chart
US Record World Singles Chart
Chart (1973)
US Record World Singles Chart
Peakposition
1
West Germany (GfK)
West Germany (GfK)
Chart (1973)
West Germany (GfK)
Peakposition
31
| Chart (1973) | Peakposition |
| Australia (Kent Music Report) | 5 |
| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia) | 32 |
| Canada (RPM 100 Top Singles) | 2 |
| Japan (Oricon) | 25 |
| Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) | 27 |
| Netherlands (Single Top 100) | 29 |
| New Zealand (Listener) | 20 |
| Norway (VG-lista) | 2 |
| UK Singles (OCC) | 9 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 2 |
| US Billboard Easy Listening | 8 |
| US Cash Box Top 100 | 1 |
| US Record World Singles Chart | 1 |
| West Germany (GfK) | 31 |
· Charts › Year-end charts
Australia
Australia
Chart (1973)
Australia
Rank
36
Canada
Canada
Chart (1973)
Canada
Rank
39
US Cash Box Top 100
US Cash Box Top 100
Chart (1973)
US Cash Box Top 100
Rank
33
US Billboard Hot 100
US Billboard Hot 100
Chart (1973)
US Billboard Hot 100
Rank
56
| Chart (1973) | Rank |
| Australia | 36 |
| Canada | 39 |
| US Cash Box Top 100 | 33 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 56 |
· Certifications
United Kingdom (BPI)
United Kingdom (BPI)
Region
United Kingdom (BPI)
Certification
Silver
Certified units/sales
200,000‡
United States (RIAA)
United States (RIAA)
Region
United States (RIAA)
Certification
Gold
Certified units/sales
1,000,000^
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
Region
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
| United Kingdom (BPI) | Silver | 200,000‡ |
| United States (RIAA) | Gold | 1,000,000^ |
| ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
· Guns N' Roses version › Charts › Weekly charts
Australia (ARIA)
Australia (ARIA)
Chart (1991–1992)
Australia (ARIA)
Peakposition
10
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)
Chart (1991–1992)
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)
Peakposition
27
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)
Chart (1991–1992)
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)
Peakposition
20
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)
Chart (1991–1992)
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)
Peakposition
7
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)
Chart (1991–1992)
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)
Peakposition
1
France (SNEP)
France (SNEP)
Chart (1991–1992)
France (SNEP)
Peakposition
39
Germany (GfK)
Germany (GfK)
Chart (1991–1992)
Germany (GfK)
Peakposition
33
Greece (IFPI)
Greece (IFPI)
Chart (1991–1992)
Greece (IFPI)
Peakposition
10
Ireland (IRMA)
Ireland (IRMA)
Chart (1991–1992)
Ireland (IRMA)
Peakposition
5
Luxembourg (Radio Luxembourg)
Luxembourg (Radio Luxembourg)
Chart (1991–1992)
Luxembourg (Radio Luxembourg)
Peakposition
6
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)
Chart (1991–1992)
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)
Peakposition
12
Netherlands (Single Top 100)
Netherlands (Single Top 100)
Chart (1991–1992)
Netherlands (Single Top 100)
Peakposition
13
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)
Chart (1991–1992)
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)
Peakposition
1
Norway (VG-lista)
Norway (VG-lista)
Chart (1991–1992)
Norway (VG-lista)
Peakposition
3
Portugal (AFP)
Portugal (AFP)
Chart (1991–1992)
Portugal (AFP)
Peakposition
3
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)
Chart (1991–1992)
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)
Peakposition
15
Spain (AFYVE)
Spain (AFYVE)
Chart (1991–1992)
Spain (AFYVE)
Peakposition
14
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)
Chart (1991–1992)
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)
Peakposition
19
UK Singles (OCC)
UK Singles (OCC)
Chart (1991–1992)
UK Singles (OCC)
Peakposition
5
UK Airplay (Music Week)
UK Airplay (Music Week)
Chart (1991–1992)
UK Airplay (Music Week)
Peakposition
17
US Billboard Hot 100
US Billboard Hot 100
Chart (1991–1992)
US Billboard Hot 100
Peakposition
33
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)
Chart (1991–1992)
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)
Peakposition
20
US Cash Box Top 100
US Cash Box Top 100
Chart (1991–1992)
US Cash Box Top 100
Peakposition
26
| Chart (1991–1992) | Peakposition |
| Australia (ARIA) | 10 |
| Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40) | 27 |
| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders) | 20 |
| Europe (Eurochart Hot 100) | 7 |
| Finland (Suomen virallinen lista) | 1 |
| France (SNEP) | 39 |
| Germany (GfK) | 33 |
| Greece (IFPI) | 10 |
| Ireland (IRMA) | 5 |
| Luxembourg (Radio Luxembourg) | 6 |
| Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) | 12 |
| Netherlands (Single Top 100) | 13 |
| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) | 1 |
| Norway (VG-lista) | 3 |
| Portugal (AFP) | 3 |
| Sweden (Sverigetopplistan) | 15 |
| Spain (AFYVE) | 14 |
| Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) | 19 |
| UK Singles (OCC) | 5 |
| UK Airplay (Music Week) | 17 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 33 |
| US Mainstream Rock (Billboard) | 20 |
| US Cash Box Top 100 | 26 |
· Guns N' Roses version › Charts › Year-end charts
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)
Chart (1992)
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)
Position
27
| Chart (1992) | Position |
| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) | 27 |
· Guns N' Roses version › Certifications
Australia (ARIA)
Australia (ARIA)
Region
Australia (ARIA)
Certification
Gold
Certified units/sales
35,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)
New Zealand (RMNZ)
Region
New Zealand (RMNZ)
Certification
Platinum
Certified units/sales
30,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)
United Kingdom (BPI)
Region
United Kingdom (BPI)
Certification
Gold
Certified units/sales
400,000‡
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
Region
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
| Australia (ARIA) | Gold | 35,000‡ |
| New Zealand (RMNZ) | Platinum | 30,000‡ |
| United Kingdom (BPI) | Gold | 400,000‡ |
| ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
· Guns N' Roses version › Release history
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Region
United Kingdom
Date
9 December 1991
Format(s)
7-inch vinyl12-inch vinylCDcassette
Japan
Japan
Region
Japan
Date
5 February 1992
Format(s)
Mini-CD
| Region | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) | Ref. |
| United Kingdom | 9 December 1991 | 7-inch vinyl12-inch vinylCDcassette | ||
| Japan | 5 February 1992 | Mini-CD |
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