An unreleased demo recording of a song Coldplay's Chris Martin reportedly intended for the 1999 James Bond film The World Is Not Enough is being auctioned, along with other formative recordings from the band's earliest years. The auction, hosted by Wax Poetics, features an archive of recordings made before the band's second EP The Blue Room, released in October 1999.
The track, also titled The World Is Not Enough, is sold as a single recording on cassette tape, featuring Martin singing with acoustic guitar backing. It has never been released, and it remains unknown if it was ever submitted for the Pierce Brosnan-starring film, whose official theme was recorded by Garbage. Coldplay have previously acknowledged their admiration for James Bond music, stating on their website that the song Spies from their 2000 debut album Parachutes was influenced by Bond composer John Barry, with a Bond film in mind—referring to The World Is Not Enough.
Original Master Tapes and Unheard Versions
The auction includes original master tapes recorded for The Blue Room, the band's first release for Parlophone, which they signed to in April 1999 while studying at University College London. Their self-released debut EP Safety had come out in 1998. The tapes are described in the auction listing as “one of the most significant and direct surviving documents of Coldplay’s formative years.” They feature unheard alternate versions of three tracks that later appeared on Parachutes—Spies, We Never Change, and Shiver—as well as an unheard version of Bigger Stronger from The Blue Room.
Earlier Recordings and Rare Promos
Other lots include a cassette marked Coldplay Tracks with recordings of nine songs, including rehearsals of Shiver and We Never Change and the previously unheard Ode to Deodorant. Another cassette, Coldplay: 5 Tracks, features developmental recordings from their early catalogue, and a third contains live recordings from an early gig in Chester. Also available are rare promo versions of The Blue Room on CD and vinyl.
Beyond Coldplay, the auction includes material from other bands produced by Chris Allison, such as the Beta Band, with tapes documenting early EPs and their debut album, as well as Steve Mason's solo project King Biscuit Time. There is also a wealth of material from the Wedding Present, including archival recordings for their 1987 debut album George Best, 1988 EP Ukrainian John Peel Sessions, and 1989 second album Bizarro.
Charity Contribution
Allison is donating a portion of the auction proceeds to the music education initiative Restore the Music.
