“Moonraker” (007／ムーンレイカー), Original Japanese Soundtrack Promotional Poster 1979, Rare B2 Size (51 × 73 cm) S196

This is an original Japanese B2 soundtrack promotional poster, produced in 1979 for the Japanese release of the soundtrack to the James Bond film Moonraker (007／ムーンレイカー), starring Roger Moore as James Bond.

Unlike the standard Japanese theatrical poster, this scarce variant was created specifically around the film’s music release, with the lower-right corner carrying the Japanese LP catalogue number FML-125, together with the credit 「歌）シャーリー・バッシー」 — “Vocals: Shirley Bassey.” The Japanese FML-125 release corresponds to the original 1979 Moonraker soundtrack LP, featuring John Barry’s score and Bassey’s celebrated title song.

This is the first time we have had this rare soundtrack version in stock.

Poster design

The poster presents the magnificent Dan Goozee artwork in an unusually clean and almost completely uninterrupted form. Goozee created the principal illustrated campaign artwork for Moonraker, beginning an important run of James Bond poster commissions that would later include Octopussy and A View to a Kill.

At the centre, Roger Moore’s James Bond stands in a brilliant silver astronaut suit, laser weapon in hand, transforming the familiar tuxedoed secret agent into a space-age hero. Around him unfolds an extraordinary late-1970s science-fiction panorama: glamorous female figures, the immense interior structure of the space station, astronauts floating in zero gravity, and Moonraker shuttles streaking through a deep, star-filled cosmos.

The composition is exceptionally ambitious, using the enormous circular architecture of the orbital station to frame Bond while drawing the eye outward towards the stars. The black-and-silver mechanical environment is punctuated by crisp whites, flesh tones and brilliant points of reflected light, giving the artwork an almost chrome-like finish.

What makes this soundtrack version particularly attractive is the absence of the extensive Japanese theatrical advertising copy normally printed across cinema posters. Almost the entire B2 sheet is given over to the artwork itself, allowing Goozee’s full composition to dominate without visual interruption.

Only the compact red title appears at lower right:

007 ムーンレイカー

together with:

FML-125
（歌）シャーリー・バッシー

and the United Artists logo.

The result is unusually elegant for a Bond poster: essentially a large-format presentation of the key artwork with only the minimum music-release identification.

Soundtrack significance

Moonraker marked another major collaboration between the Bond series and composer John Barry, whose score accompanied the film’s extravagant shift from terrestrial espionage into full-scale space adventure.

The title song was performed by Shirley Bassey, making Moonraker her third official James Bond title theme, after Goldfinger and Diamonds Are Forever. The song was composed by John Barry with lyrics by Hal David, and both the main-title and end-title versions appeared on the original soundtrack album.

That direct connection between the poster, FML-125 soundtrack release, Bassey and Barry gives this piece strong crossover appeal for collectors of James Bond, original film music, vinyl ephemera and Japanese graphic design.

Rare soundtrack promotional issue

While original Japanese theatrical B2 posters for Moonraker do appear on the market, this soundtrack-specific promotional version is considerably more unusual.

These posters were produced to support the contemporary music release rather than the film’s standard cinema campaign and were therefore associated with a much narrower promotional purpose. The surviving population is correspondingly small, particularly compared with conventional theatrical sheets.

For a collector who already owns the familiar Japanese Moonraker cinema poster, this is a particularly interesting companion piece — the same spectacular Bond imagery presented in a far cleaner, music-focused format.

It is over 47 years old!

Condition

Excellent+.

An exceptionally strong example with rich blacks, brilliant metallic highlights, excellent colour saturation and remarkably clean overall presentation.

The artwork remains crisp throughout, with the space-station architecture, figures and star field retaining excellent detail. The reverse is also very clean overall, with only very light age / storage handling and subtle paper character visible on close inspection.

There are no major condition issues affecting the artwork, title or margins, and the poster retains tremendous visual impact.

Once framed, it will display exceptionally well.

Please review the front and reverse photographs carefully—they show the exact poster for sale.

This is not a reproduction or reprint.
Certificate of Authenticity included.