Soundtracks (CD’s)

SUMMARY: RUNNING TIME: 50 Min.

Produced in Canada (probably in 1990), this obscure cover album consists of twelve familiar movie tunes. Neither the original artists nor the individual “Movie Music” cover artists are acknowledged. The twelve tracks are:

*1. “It Must Have Been Love”* *Roxette* 4:26	*Pretty Woman (1990)*
*2. “Blaze of Glory”* *Jon Bon Jovi* 5:56	*Young Guns II (1990)*
*3. “Hearts in Trouble”* *Chicago* 5:00	*Days of Thunder (1990)*
*4. “Double Back”* *ZZ Top* 3:51	*Back to the Future III (1990)*
*5. “On Our Own”* *Bobby Brown* 4:06	*Ghostbusters II (1989)*
6. “Against *All Odds”* *Phil Collins* 3:25	*Against All Odds (1984)*
7. *“Still Cruising”* *The Beach Boys* 3:36	*Lethal Weapon 2 (1989)*
8. *“Partyman”* *Prince* 3:12	*Batman (1989)*
9. “Surrender to Me” *Ann Wilson & Robin Zander* 4:03	*Tequila Sunrise (1988)*
10. “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” *Bobby McFerrin* 3:56	*Kokomo (1988)*
11. “That’s What I Said” *MC Hammer* 4:17	*Rocky V (1990)*
12. *“Glory of Love”* *Peter Cetera* 4:18	*The Karate Kid II (1986)*

REVIEW:

It’s reminiscent of an American Idol movie tunes night. In that sense, Best of the Movies, Vol. 2 tills from half-full to half-empty, depending upon the song. Tracks # 1, 4, 7, 8, and 9 pass muster in terms of professional karaoke and tread close in spirit to the original artists. Considering that Prince’s vocal style wouldn’t be easy to replicate, the “Partyman” performer, for instance, does a good job — yet, the impersonator briefly channeling Jack Nicholson’s Joker in its intro does a laughable job.

As for the second-tier tracks (# 2, 5-6, 10, and 12), the vocal work is decent, but the main value is their replicated themes. This album’s weakest efforts are: the rapping Track 11 which doesn’t age well, no matter its performer — and Track 3’s lyrics, which, despite its likable melody, rates among the most hackneyed love songs in Hollywood history.

At best, this glorified karaoke project might be a decent garage sale find … or to pass on as a white elephant gift.

PACKAGING:

The CD acknowledges which film each track is attributed to. No further information was available.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 3 Stars

SUMMARY: RUNNING TIME: 52 Min.

This 1995 New Age album features nature sounds as a backdrop to instrumental covers of ten Andrew Lloyd Webber stage melodies. Featuring an acoustic grand piano, keyboards, bass, percussion, and/or saxophone, the tracks are:

Track 1: “Music of the Night” [Phantom of the Opera] 5:09

Barred owls, chuck-wills-widow, limpkins, and other unidentified nocturnal creatures provide background vocals.

Track 2: “All I Ask of You” [Phantom of the Opera] 5:32

The Pacific Ocean is heard as its backdrop.

Track 3: “Pie Jesu” [Requiem] 5:47

Coyotes and loons offer background vocals.

Track 4: “I Don’t Know How to Love Him” [Jesus Christ Superstar] 4:51

The calling of herring and black-backed gulls above the Atlantic Ocean accompany this theme.

Track 5: “Memory” [Cats] 5:12

A summer thunderstorm is the theme’s accompaniment.

Track 6: “Don’t Cry for Me, Argentina” [Evita] 5:32

An unnamed tropical island’s rainforest narrates this melody.

Track 7: “Wishing You Were Somehow Here” [Phantom of the Opera] 5:14

The Pacific Ocean is again the backdrop.

Track 8: “Any Dream Will Do” [Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat] 5:11

Northern mockingbirds, northern cardinals, a mourning dove, and other songbirds are the vocalists.

Track 9: “Think of Me” [Phantom of the Opera] 4:27

The Hawaiian surf is its accompaniment.

Track 10: “Close Every Door” [Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat] 6:00

A southern marsh’s thunderstorm concludes this album.

REVIEW:

Translating Lloyd Webber instrumentals into a nature CD may seem obvious, but NatureQuest’s tranquil effort works for it is — it’s just indistinctive. At times almost hauntingly serene, this album offers a decent option to help lapse into a nap/good night’s sleep, or to accompany meditative yoga. An extra twenty minutes added on to the running time would have been appreciated. To its credit, Andrew Lloyd Webber Naturally provides an obscure musical treat.

PACKAGING:

The CD and its casing accurately lists the track names and attributable shows, though the running times aren’t included. Including a nice intro and musician credits re: NatureQuest, the simple insert effectively describes this low-key CD.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 6 Stars