The Cotton Club: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack [Soundtrack]

the cotton club: original motion picture soundtrack [soundtrack]

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com essential recording
While director Francis Coppola's potboiling crime drama set against the gloriously tumultuous backdrop of Harlem's famed Cotton Club nightspot of the '20s and '30s didn't quite come together as a cinematic whole, John Barry's efforts at supervising, scoring, and recreating the energetic jive and wail of the era very nearly carry the day. The opportunity was likely a dream come true for the former jazzman turned film scorer; his adaptations of standards by Ellington and Cab Calloway are reverent yet energetic, infused by original music that weaves it into an accessible and rewarding tapestry of time, place, and art. So-so film, great soundtrack. --Jerry McCulley

The Cotton Club: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack,Various Artists,John Barry,Geffen Gold Line Sp.,Film Music,Original Score,Pop,Soundtrack,Soundtracks,Soundtracks & Film Scores,Trad Jazz

The Cotton Club: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack [Soundtrack]

Average customer rating:

The Cotton Club soundtrack on CD: POW !!!
The Cotton Club: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Tales Of The Jazz Age
The Cotton Club Soundtrack
An "A" for Quality; a "C" for Quantity

The Cotton Club: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Various Artists , and John Barry
Manufacturer: Geffen Gold Line Sp.
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000000OXV
Release Date: 1997-09-23

Tracks:

The Mooche
Cotton Club Stomp #2
Drop Me Off In Harlem
Creole Love Call
Ring Dem Bells
East St. Louis Toodle-O
Truckin'
ILL Wind
Cotton Club Stomp #1
Mood Indigo
Minnie The Moocher
Copper Colored Gal
Dixie Kidnaps Vera
The Depression Hits / Best Beats Sandman
Daybreak Express Medley

Amazon.com essential recording

While director Francis Coppola's potboiling crime drama set against the gloriously tumultuous backdrop of Harlem's famed Cotton Club nightspot of the '20s and '30s didn't quite come together as a cinematic whole, John Barry's efforts at supervising, scoring, and recreating the energetic jive and wail of the era very nearly carry the day. The opportunity was likely a dream come true for the former jazzman turned film scorer; his adaptations of standards by Ellington and Cab Calloway are reverent yet energetic, infused by original music that weaves it into an accessible and rewarding tapestry of time, place, and art. So-so film, great soundtrack. --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews:

The Cotton Club soundtrack on CD: POW !!!.......2007-03-19

The CD soundtrack from the movie The Cotton Club delivers quite a punch; with music by greats like Duke Ellington, Harold Arlen and Cab Calloway you just can't go wrong. This CD brings back memories of the film I watched a few months ago as well as the days when I used to sneak into my mother's closet, pull out her old 78s and listen to them on the record player all by myself. Only this time around the music sounds clearer than ever before thanks to digital remastering and clever musical arrangements by Bob Wilber, Sy Johnson, David Berger and Randy Sandke. Wonderful!

The CD track set opens with "The Mooche" by Duke Ellington and Irving Mills. The arrangement uses the horns to create a dramatic and haunting effect for this instrumental number. The temple blocks played by Chuck Riggs serve to highlight the beat of the number. "The Mooche" is followed by "Cotton Club Stomp #2;" this number moves much, much faster but the music by Duke Ellington makes it shine no matter what.

"Creole Love Call" features the haunting cries of Priscilla Baskerville; with the horns so well done you won't forget this number soon.

One of the most beautiful ballads on this CD is "Ill Wind" written by Ted Koehler and Harold Arlen. Lonette McKee sings "Ill Wind" with all her heart and might; and her voice imparts a sense of intimacy to the listener that I rarely experience. Lonette sings this to perfection!

"Minnie The Moocher" has that "vamp-like 1920s" beat from the 1920s and 1930s; Cab Calloway and Irving Mills weave a routine straw-like number into solid gold. Larry Marshall sings this song with panache and he also uses his voice to express the romantic experiences of "Minnie The Moocher." The chorus does a great job of backing Larry up as well. In addition, "Copper Colored Gal" is a lively, upbeat number that offers a great beat and an infectious melody--now why is this song so short? "Copper Colored Gal" works perfectly; and that's why I wish Benny Davis had added an extra verse to this number.

The album ends with "Daybreak Express Medley" with music by Duke Ellington once again. This bouncy, fast paced and dramatic number provides a musical flourish to mark the end of this album. And how it ends all too soon!

The liner notes give you the songs credits; and the art work includes stills from the motion picture as well.

Fans of great music from 1920s and 1930s America will thrill to this CD. Each and every musical number, instrumental or ballad, offers a fresh, crisp sound and beat that makes you want to beg for more. Duke Ellington fans will also enjoy this CD.

The Cotton Club: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack.......2007-02-20

This is magnificant music, expecially Duke Ellington's rendition of Mood Indigo. Can't find that quality now.

Tales Of The Jazz Age.......2007-02-11

Francis Ford Coppola's $47 million crime drama was a failure at the box office, but it did produce this outstanding soundtrack from John Barry.

Barry - a former jazz artist turned movie scorer - captures the essence of the 1920s-1930s music scene in The Cotton Club through adapting standards from legends like Duke Ellington & Cab Calloway and using original songs.

Several of the song titles also capture the overt racism of the times. It must be remembered that The Cotton Club was a venue for blacks to perform, not to enter through the front door. The nightclub was designed for white patrons and - as the best, but not only, example - with it came all the degrading trappings for the female dancers and employees.

The soundtrack works so well because the songs are period pieces whose performances - and titles - are taken directly from the era. Unlike the movie, The Cotton Club: Original Movie Soundtrack actually does a great job in telling tales from the jazz age.

The Cotton Club Soundtrack.......2007-01-14

I love the music from this film. The only drawback is that Richard Gere's coronet solo of "Am I Blue?" isn't on it. I suspect this has something to do with royalties. If you liked the film, you'll enjoy this cd.

An "A" for Quality; a "C" for Quantity.......2002-11-23

What a relief to hear so much of the instrumental music in the glorious score of "The Cotton Club" without the annoying cutoffs of the songs, and cutaways from the performers to the often-gory and sometimes-boring "story!" I own the Video of the film and have watched it many times, skipping from one musical number to another, feeling frustrated that I can't hear the MUSIC the way it was meant to be heard. I mean, those musicians were knocking themselves out to please the listeners and dancers and I thought the movie wasted their talents by putting them in the background so much of the time.

Like other reviewers here, I am mightily impressed by the faithfulness of the arrangements of songs created by some of the greats--Arlen and Ellington, in particular. The excellence of the music's realization truly comes through on the CD.

The vocal productions frequently do not match the high level of the instrumental work, but it is wonderful to hear all the lyrics of so many classics of the "Cotton Club" era. And, Gregory Hines's rendition of "Copper Colored Gal" is a special treat for those of us who love his singing even when we can't watch his dancing!

Overall, I'd say "The Cotton Club" Soundtrack CD is a welcome addition to any collection of original Elligton and Calloway tunes. I also think the CD can provide a terrific introduction of the music to anyone who hasn't been fortunate enough to discover it yet. I only wish the CD contained more of it.

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