SOUNDTRACKS
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Soundtracks are a lot more than movie music...
...or so I'm ready to argue as a 30 year devotee of this sorely under appreciated genre. So, in an effort to do my part, each week
I'll be making recommendations of soundtracks current and vintage, make a fuss over long awaited soundtrack scores finally getting
a well deserved release, and in general, make some noise about this often overlooked category. Beyond my long experience as a
listener and as a pianist and songwriter, both of which I've put to use in writing a quarterly soundtrack column for the Chicago
Tribune, I can only offer my recommendations. You'll discern my taste soon enough and upfront I'd like to make it clear that I'll
focus most heavily on SCORE soundtracks. In the end, all criticism is subjective but if I can point a listener toward a little heard
soundtrack or strongly advise you to either ORDER IMMEDIATELY or SKIP ALTOGETHER, all the better.
...or so I'm ready to argue as a 30 year devotee of this sorely under appreciated genre. So, in an effort to do my part, each week
I'll be making recommendations of soundtracks current and vintage, make a fuss over long awaited soundtrack scores finally getting
a well deserved release, and in general, make some noise about this often overlooked category. Beyond my long experience as a
listener and as a pianist and songwriter, both of which I've put to use in writing a quarterly soundtrack column for the Chicago
Tribune, I can only offer my recommendations. You'll discern my taste soon enough and upfront I'd like to make it clear that I'll
focus most heavily on SCORE soundtracks. In the end, all criticism is subjective but if I can point a listener toward a little heard
soundtrack or strongly advise you to either ORDER IMMEDIATELY or SKIP ALTOGETHER, all the better.
These three discs are just a
taste of the shagarific 60s
soundtrack music that's out
there ready for groovin' and
fruggin'!
taste of the shagarific 60s
soundtrack music that's out
there ready for groovin' and
fruggin'!
Last week I promised to recommend a song compilation soundtrack after receiving several
email requests to do so. Though the most obvious are the 70s blockbusters Saturday Night
Fever and Grease, those are just the tip of the iceberg and the movie song compilation discs
continue to sell better than score soundtracks -- much to my annoyance, score enthusiast that
I am.
But a promise is a promise -- so here goes. Almost 10 years after its release, I continue to
find great pleasure in the soundtrack to the original Austin Powers movie. The Mike Myers spy
spoof was a visual delight -- and a musical one, too. Heading his own groovy 60s band, the
Ming Teas (featured on the album), Myers also memorably opens the film with the catchy
Quincy Jones standard "Soul Bossa Nova." The disc contains that and a host of other 60s
classics (including lots of Bacharach). Though I'm not wildly enthusiastic about the new
versions of the Bacharach standards (Susanna Hoffs is NO Dusty Springfield), there's nothing
as pleasurable as "Mas Que Nada" by Brasil '66 and the 60s inspired "Female of the Species"
by Space (though the original mix is preferred). There's also a nice score track by the film's
composer George Clinton.
Listening to the Austin Powers soundtrack always puts me in mind of Marvin Hamlisch's first film
score for 1968's The Swimmer. Featuring a gorgeous love theme and lots of tracks that could
only have come from the decade of cartoon pop music, the young Hamlisch delivered a winner
his first time out. This score has NOT been released on CD and the soundtrack LP is hard to
find. But though short -- it clocks in at around 30 minutes -- is well worth it. Try surfing this
website and email the web master about its availability. I've had GREAT luck with this site in
finding out of print soundtracks.
Finally this week, a song compilation soundtrack that's NOT a soundtrack but SHOULD have
been. This is Kaleidoscope World, the brilliant 1989 CD from the English duo Swing Out Sister.
Featuring all original material, this disc is a MUST for anyone who loves 60s pop ear candy.
There are obvious homages to Bacharach, Mancini, Tony Hatch, singers Petula Clark, Dusty
Springfield, and scores of others. "You on My Mind," "Forever Blue" and "Heart For Hire" are
standouts while the final track, the instrumental "Kaleidoscope World" that gives the CD its title
sounds like it came directly from the soundtrack of a 60s comedy spy thriller like Charade or
Arabesque. It perfectly captures the orchestrations of the era of muted trumpets, heavy strings
backing those bossa flavored songs so identifiable with the period. Yeah baby!
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Don't forget to check out previous soundtrack recommendations by visiting the ARCHIVES
Next Week: TBD!
email requests to do so. Though the most obvious are the 70s blockbusters Saturday Night
Fever and Grease, those are just the tip of the iceberg and the movie song compilation discs
continue to sell better than score soundtracks -- much to my annoyance, score enthusiast that
I am.
But a promise is a promise -- so here goes. Almost 10 years after its release, I continue to
find great pleasure in the soundtrack to the original Austin Powers movie. The Mike Myers spy
spoof was a visual delight -- and a musical one, too. Heading his own groovy 60s band, the
Ming Teas (featured on the album), Myers also memorably opens the film with the catchy
Quincy Jones standard "Soul Bossa Nova." The disc contains that and a host of other 60s
classics (including lots of Bacharach). Though I'm not wildly enthusiastic about the new
versions of the Bacharach standards (Susanna Hoffs is NO Dusty Springfield), there's nothing
as pleasurable as "Mas Que Nada" by Brasil '66 and the 60s inspired "Female of the Species"
by Space (though the original mix is preferred). There's also a nice score track by the film's
composer George Clinton.
Listening to the Austin Powers soundtrack always puts me in mind of Marvin Hamlisch's first film
score for 1968's The Swimmer. Featuring a gorgeous love theme and lots of tracks that could
only have come from the decade of cartoon pop music, the young Hamlisch delivered a winner
his first time out. This score has NOT been released on CD and the soundtrack LP is hard to
find. But though short -- it clocks in at around 30 minutes -- is well worth it. Try surfing this
website and email the web master about its availability. I've had GREAT luck with this site in
finding out of print soundtracks.
Finally this week, a song compilation soundtrack that's NOT a soundtrack but SHOULD have
been. This is Kaleidoscope World, the brilliant 1989 CD from the English duo Swing Out Sister.
Featuring all original material, this disc is a MUST for anyone who loves 60s pop ear candy.
There are obvious homages to Bacharach, Mancini, Tony Hatch, singers Petula Clark, Dusty
Springfield, and scores of others. "You on My Mind," "Forever Blue" and "Heart For Hire" are
standouts while the final track, the instrumental "Kaleidoscope World" that gives the CD its title
sounds like it came directly from the soundtrack of a 60s comedy spy thriller like Charade or
Arabesque. It perfectly captures the orchestrations of the era of muted trumpets, heavy strings
backing those bossa flavored songs so identifiable with the period. Yeah baby!
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Don't forget to check out previous soundtrack recommendations by visiting the ARCHIVES
Next Week: TBD!