Search - David Robbins, Marc Blitzstein :: Cradle Will Rock: Music from the Motion Picture Soundtrack

Cradle Will Rock: Music from the Motion Picture Soundtrack
David Robbins, Marc Blitzstein
Cradle Will Rock: Music from the Motion Picture Soundtrack
Genres: Pop, Soundtracks
 
  •  Track Listings (22) - Disc #1

Sure, Cradle Will Rock is about politics, but at its most convincing level, the movie is a showcase for its namesake--Marc Blitzstein's Federal Theater Project-funded operetta from 1937. In the film, we see the long- for...  more »

     
   
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CD Details

All Artists: David Robbins, Marc Blitzstein
Title: Cradle Will Rock: Music from the Motion Picture Soundtrack
Members Wishing: 0
Total Copies: 1
Label: RCA
Original Release Date: 12/14/1999
Release Date: 12/14/1999
Album Type: Soundtrack
Genres: Pop, Soundtracks
Style:
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPC: 090266357727

Synopsis

Amazon.com
Sure, Cradle Will Rock is about politics, but at its most convincing level, the movie is a showcase for its namesake--Marc Blitzstein's Federal Theater Project-funded operetta from 1937. In the film, we see the long- forgotten musical rehearsed, dissected, critiqued, and convincingly performed by the movie's cast (even the musicians seen in the film are the actual performers on the soundtrack). This disc features many of the musical's best moments and David Robbins's equally impressive melting pot of an instrumental score, which includes folk songs, gypsy music, klezmer, and jazz. But there are also a few surprises: Polly Jean Harvey gives a noir-ish and impassioned version of Cradle's "Nickel Under the Foot," while Eddie Vedder and Susan Sarandon's duet on "Croon Spoon" is only slightly less convincing. Broadway star Audra McDonald, though, shows us how Blitzstein's "Joe Worker" would sound on the Great White Way today. It's a great package, but the music featured in the film--for starters, the infectious and cute "Honolulu" and Emily Watson's endearing performance of "Moll's Song"--is the real highlight. - -Jason Verlinde

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CD Reviews

"Cradle" does rock.
Alex Gradet | New York, NY | 12/16/1999
(4 out of 5 stars)

"The soundtrack to Tim Robbins' excellent, frenetic "Cradle Will Rock" is, well, excellent, and a little frenetic. David Robbins' score, a hybrid of klezmer, gypsy, and Eastern European, eschews the heavy-handedness and sentimentality the partnership of a less skilled director and composer might leap to for such portentous material as the movie discusses - but the real gem of the CD is the cache of songs from Marc Blitzstein's titular musical. Putting a brassy spin on the style made famous by Kurt Weill and Bertolt Brecht, Blitzstein's songs run the gamut from haunting and moody ("Joe Worker," sung by the fabulous Audra MacDonald), to upbeat and catchy ("Let's Do Something"), to blithe and charming ("Honolulu") - not to mention timeless, as shown by performances of Blitzstein songs by Polly Jean Harvey (an excellent, brooding "Nickel Under the Foot") and the less-well-executed duet of Eddie Vedder and Susan Sarandon (both are talented singers - neither seems to be able to handle the intricacy of "Croon Spoon"). One complaint is that the CD only includes the "Cradle" songs featured in the film - perhaps for context's sake, the inclusion of the entire Blitzstein score would have lent greater meaning to the songs herein. And the inclusion of Emily Watson's rendition of "I'm Checkin' Home Now" proves Watson a great actress, but a lousy singer. But aside from that, this is a terrific, vibrant CD, the demerits of which don't detract from the overall quality."
For any Broadway fan!
jbhapgood2 | 12/22/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is an excellent done recording featuring actors known for movies (Susan Sarandon, Joan Cusack, Emily Watson, Hank Azaria) and Broadway Actors (The FABULOUS ERIN HILL and AUDRA MCDONALD).This music is wonderful~!"
An amazing piece of work!
Ginevra M | Oceanside, New York United States | 05/23/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)

"I originally bought this C.D. because I'd been waiting for the movie to come out for a year. I got hooked in two seconds! The songs are so great, especially the ones performed by the theatre folk. Even the actors who sing on this C.D. do a great job. The duet between Susan Sarandon and Eddie Vader has become one of my favorite duets. Good job, Tim Robbins! (and David Robbins for doing the music)"