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The Great Debaters Soundtrack (2007)
Various
Atlantic Records |
Review of The Great Debaters Soundtrack
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This is not your average
movie soundtrack, but it should be. The music is just amazing.
With a bit of blues, folk, jazz, gospel and even some honky-tonk. Its
got many of the classics that would have been playing in a blues club in
the twenties and thirties. Just good damn music. The sound
of that long ago era is recreated on this soundtrack, with credits due
to modern crooners and bands such as Alvin "Youngblood" Hart and the
Carolina Dew Drops. Other highlights include the sensational
Sharon Jones (who, believe it or not is from Brooklyn), and David Berger
and the Sultans of Swing. To get the gospel just right, some of
the gospel selections includes the choir Billy Rivers and the Angelic
Voices of Faith.
The album sets the mood of the time. My thoughts keep flooding
back to stories I have heard of the time, to images smoke filled rooms
and to select scenes from
TV and movies. For instance, "Delta Serenade" brings me into a small
Cafe' such as the one in Casablanca, while "That's What My Baby Likes"
transports me two decades later to Liverpool where a young Keith and
Mick are trying to practice some of these old blues hits. Then I
can see almost imagine a young James belting out some of these songs
when he was still only the child of soul, listening to songs of his own
parent's era. Then there is that ever-present image of a twenty year old
McKinley Morganfield cranking out some of these tunes in the muddy
waters of yesteryear or Duke belting out a distinctive audible treat the
audience.
First off, this album is not for everyone. If you are into today's
hip hop, pop and most miscategorized R&B, you probably will not
appreciate this music, although this is the basis for ALL of today's
popular music. Without Duke Ellington, Blind Willie Johnson, and
others of their generation, there would not have been the
Rolling Stones,
James Brown or even the
Beatles, which would not have allowed
for today's 50 Cent,
Chris Brown,
OutKast or even a
Britney Spears. This
soundtrack uncovers the roots of today's music and recreates it so that
we may enjoy it as it was meant to be enjoyed, even in today's over
synthesized sounds of today. I also have to admit, gospel is not
my favorite genres of music, and there are a few of these on the
soundtrack, and although they are well produced and sound pretty good,
they are still gospel songs, and some do not provide you that look back
in time. Speaking of traveling back in time, there are a few actual
period pieces, such as "The Shout" by piano legend Art Tatum and "Begrussung"
by legendary singer Marian Anderson.
This album quality collection of timeless period songs performed by
modern musicians who understand the "feel" of those long ago times.
Highly recomended. |
Press Release
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The Great Debaters Soundtrack
Atlantic Records
In Stores 12/11
Pre-order Soundtrack
Here
ABOUT THE SOUNDTRACK
Atlantic Records has announced details of "THE GREAT
DEBATERS - MUSIC FROM & RECORDED FOR THE MOTION PICTURE," the original
motion picture soundtrack to the forthcoming Weinstein Company theatrical
release. Due in stores on December 11th, the album features an extraordinary
roster of modern artists - including Sharon Jones, Alvin 'Youngblood'
Hart, and the Carolina Chocolate Drops - performing pre-1935 blues,
folk, jazz, and gospel classics. Directed by and starring Academy Award®-winner
Denzel Washington, The Great Debaters is set to
open in theaters nationwide on December 25th.
The pre-1935 songs were hand picked by Denzel Washington for the various on
camera scenes from over 1000 songs from the period. Recorded largely at Memphis'
world-renowned Ardent Studios, "THE GREAT DEBATERS - MUSIC
FROM & RECORDED FOR THE MOTION PICTURE" centers around Grammy
Award-winning blues singer/guitarist Alvin 'Youngblood' Hart
and Brooklyn-based soul sensation Sharon Jones, who are
featured both as solo performers and in collaboration with The Carolina
Chocolate Drops. Among the album's many highlights is a version of the
traditional "Step It Up and Go," performed by Hart and legendary Hi Rhythm
Section guitarist Teenie Hodges (Al Green, Ann Peebles). In
addition, Hart unites with traditional African-American string band, the
Carolina Chocolate Drops, for a series of songs, including a stunning
take on Blind Willie Johnson's "Nobody's Fault But Mine"
and the exciting Mississippi Sheiks hit, 'Blood In My Eyes
For You."
Elsewhere, Jones pairs with Memphis' acclaimed community choir, Billy
Rivers and the Angelic Voices of Faith, for soaring renditions of such
classic spirituals as "We Shall Not Be Moved" and "Up Above My
Head." "THE GREAT DEBATERS - MUSIC FROM & RECORDED
FOR THE MOTION PICTURE" also features jazz favorites like Duke
Ellington's "Delta Serenade," performed by the esteemed New York-based big band,
David Berger and the Sultans of Swing. The collection is
rounded off by period recordings from such luminaries as Marian Anderson,
Art Tatum, and the Delmore Brothers.
"THE GREAT DEBATERS - MUSIC FROM &
RECORDED FOR THE MOTION PICTURE" was produced by
G. Marq Roswell & Denzel Washington. G. Marq Roswell is known
for his work as music supervisor on over 50 films.
ABOUT THE FILM
"Believe in the power of words"
From two-time Academy Award winner Denzel Washington and an
ensemble cast lead by Washington that includes Academy Award® winner
Forest Whitaker, comes "The Great Debaters." Inspired
by a true story, "The Great Debaters" chronicles the journey of
Professor Melvin Tolson (Denzel Washington), a brilliant but
volatile debate team coach who uses the power of words to shape a group of
underdog students from a small African American college in the deep south into a
historically elite debate team. A controversial figure, Professor Tolson
challenged the social mores of the time and was under constant fire for his
unconventional and ferocious teaching methods as well as his radical political
views.
In their pursuit for excellence, Tolson's debate team receives
a groundbreaking invitation to debate Harvard University's championship team.
The film is directed by Denzel Washington and stars Washington,
Forest Whitaker, Jurnee Smollett, Nate Parker, Denzel Whitaker, and
Kimberly Elise. "The Great Debaters" was written by Robert
Eisele and Tom Epperson and produced by Todd
Black, Kate Forte, Oprah Winfrey and Joe Roth.
Presented by The Weinstein Company, "The Great
Debaters," will be released by MGM on December 25th.
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Tracks
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Song Title |
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1. "My Soul Is A Witness" - Alvin 'Youngblood' Hart & Sharon Jones
2. "That's What My Baby Likes" -
Sharon Jones, Alvin Youngblood Hart & Teenie Hodges
3. "I've Got Blood In My Eyes For
You" - The Carolina Chocolate Drops & Alvin 'Youngblood' Hart
4. "Step It Up and Go" - Alvin 'Youngblood' Hart & Teenie Hodges
5. "It's Tight Like That" - Sharon Jones, Alvin Youngblood Hart & Teenie
Hodges
6. "Busy Bootin'" - Alvin 'Youngblood' Hart & The Carolina Chocolate
Drops
7. "City Of Refuge" - Alvin 'Youngblood' Hart & The Carolina Chocolate
Drops
8. "Two Wings" - Alvin 'Youngblood' Hart, Sharon Jones w/Billy Rivers
and the Angelic Voices of Faith
9. "Delta Serenade" - David Berger & The Sultans of Swing
10. "Rock n' Rye" - David Berger & The Sultans of Swing
11. "Wild About That Thing" - Sharon Jones, Alvin Youngblood Hart, &
Teenie Hodges
12. "Nobody's Fault But Mine" - Alvin 'Youngblood' Hart & The Carolina
Chocolate Drops
13. "How Long Before I Change My Clothes" - Alvin 'Youngblood' Hart
14. "We Shall Not Be Moved" - Sharon Jones w/Billy Rivers and the
Angelic Voices of Faith
15. "Up Above My Head" - Sharon Jones w/Billy Rivers and the Angelic
Voices of Faith
16. "The Shout" - Art Tatum
17. "Begrussung" - Marian Anderson |
Related Links
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Audio Clips
Two Wings: Alvin "Youngblood" Hart feat. Billy Rivers & The
Angelic Voices Of Faith
Real:
http://streamos.atlrec.com/real/atlantic/thegreatdebaters/audio/two_wings.ram
Windows:
http://streamos.atlrec.com/wmedia/atlantic/thegreatdebaters/audio/two_wings.wax
I've Got Blood In My Eyes For You: The Carolina Chocolate Drops
& Alvin "Youngblood" Hart
Real:
http://streamos.atlrec.com/real/atlantic/thegreatdebaters/audio/ive_got_blood_in_my_eyes_for_you.ram
Windows:
streamos.atlrec.com/wmedia/atlantic/thegreatdebaters/audio/ive_got_blood_in_my_eyes_for_you.wax
Step It Up and Go: Alvin "Youngblood" Hart & Teenie Hodges
Real:
http://streamos.atlrec.com/real/atlantic/thegreatdebaters/audio/step_it_up_and_go.ram
Windows:
http://streamos.atlrec.com/wmedia/atlantic/thegreatdebaters/audio/step_it_up_and_go.wax
Thats What My Baby Likes:
Sharon Jones feat.
Alvin Youngblood Hart and Teenie Hodges
Real:
http://streamos.atlrec.com/real/atlantic/thegreatdebaters/audio/thats_what_my_baby_likes.ram
Windows:
http://streamos.atlrec.com/wmedia/atlantic/thegreatdebaters/audio/thats_what_my_baby_likes.wax
Up Above My Head: Sharon Jones feat. Billy
Rivers and the Angelic Voices of Faith
Real:
http://streamos.atlrec.com/real/atlantic/thegreatdebaters/audio/up_above_my_head.ram
Windows:
http://streamos.atlrec.com/wmedia/atlantic/thegreatdebaters/audio/up_above_my_head.wax |
Click Above to Purchase
The Great Debaters Soundtrack |
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This review was written by
Ian Ripley. Copyright
2007, All Rights Reserved. |
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