Customer Reviews

Big Lebowski

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(24)
3 star:		(15)
2 star:		(10)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

While this soundtrack is GOOD, the Credence just isn't here, MAN!!! I mean, there's just no...uh, you know...the Credence just isn't um...around the um...well, the music is on, Man, but the Credence just isn't here! I mean, this could have been a simple review, man! But you have my, um...well, my emotions and contextual waves are all in a mess because there's just no CREDENCE! I mean, man...when you make a soundtrack to this film and play two of Credence Clearwater's songs during crucial times in the film...you kinda expect to pick up a record, a cylindrical object with the Credence, man! I mean, SURE! You think you've got a winner, you pack all the other stuff on there! You've even got a better remix of HOTEL CALIFORNIA by the Gypsy Kings(I hate the freakin' Eagles), and that walking song will always remind me of Maude, but I can also seem to recall between all these Kaluha-filled White Russians, there was Credence played TWICE! You would think that it would be here, but it's not, Man!!!

This could be a bit more, uh...uh, you know, it could be...uh, it might not be such a simple, uh....YOU KNOW?!?!

--Matt

Shawn Colvin's version of Viva Las Vegas, which seems to be the most difficult to find of the "missing" tracks, can be found on the 1995 Doc Pomus Tribute CD 'Till The Night Is Gone' - also somewhat difficult to find, but an excellent CD.

Tumbling Tumbleweeds is practically the theme song of the Big Lebowski, yet it didn't even make the soundtrack. Mozart's Requiem? Dead and buried on the cutting room floor with several other great tracks. Creedence? Out the backdoor. I wanted to like the album as much as the movie, but so many tracks are missing. Maybe I just liked the movie too much, perhaps there will be a Lebowski II to fill in the gargantuan gaps?

The absence of Creedence is an eastern thing, y'all -- note also that the Eagles' "Peaceful Easy Feeling", though present in the movie, is not included either. CCR and the Eagles negate each other, like matter and anti-matter (respectively).

If you liked the movie, I'm sure you'll like this soundtrack CD. If you haven't seen the movie, then it will seem like a bit of an odd mix of music. But then why would you be buying this if you haven't seen the movie? And therein lies the problem - You want this CD to remind you of the movie, but it's only got about half the songs. Plus it's missing some of the most significant songs (Tumbling Tumbleweeds, the 2 CCR songs and Viva Las Vegas). So as much as I like the movie and as much as I like this CD because of the movie, it still only gets 3 stars because it's not complete. If you want the complete movie soundtrack then you need to also obtain:

Peaceful Easy Feeling, Eagles
Piacere Sequence, Teo Usuelli
Requiem In D Minor, Mozart (Slovak Philharmonic)
Pictures At An Exhibition, Modest Mussorgsky (Concertgebouw Orchestra)
Run Through The Jungle, Creedance Clearwater Revival
Tammy, Debbie Reynolds
Standing On The Corner, Dean Martin
Tumbling Tumbleweeds, Roy Rogers and the Sons Of The Pioneers
Viva Las Vegas, Shawn Colvin
Viva Las Vegas, ZZ Top
Behave Yourself, Booker T and the MGS
I Hate You, Monks
Looking Out My Back Door, Creedance Clearwater Revival
Mucha Muchacha, Esquivel
Oye Como Ya, Santana
We Venerate Thy Cross, Rustavi Choir
Branded Theme tune

Note that the movie credits state 'Big Johnson' performs Viva Las Vegas. Clearly that's a joke (with reference to the movie). It's actually ZZ Top. And I wouldn't bother with the Branded Theme tune (especially as it's the Dude who sings a bit of it whilst drunk in the Malibu cop car). But the others are all pretty good and will give you a much more complete & memorable movie soundtrack.

I can overlook the omission of 'the Creedence' and the Eagles (I hate the f@ckin' Eagles, man). However, this soundtrack cannot be considered complete without "Venice Beach League Playoffs 1987" or some classic Autobahn.

"The Big Lebowski" is one of my all-time favorite movies, and the music is integral to its mood and tenor, as is the case with most Cohen Brothers films. While all of the music featured in the motion picture has not made it to the disc, what HAS been packaged as "The Big Lebowski" soundtrack is an excellent and engaging album.

Standout tracks include "Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)" by Kenny Rogers and the First Edition; "My Mood Swings" by Elvis Costello; and "Hotel California" by the Gypsy Kings. This is a remarkably cohesive CD for one that represents such a wide spectrum of musical styles.

Several previous reviewers have commented that some of the best tracks from the film are not made available on the disc. While this is certainly true - notable omissions include Creedence Clearwater Revival and Mozart tracks - it does not, in my opinion, diminish the album. Is there room for a "Volume 2"? Absolutely, but why not enjoy what's already available - you won't be disappointed.

I just made that up but this is in my mind just that. A great soundtrack to an even greater movie. I think the first time I really got into the Cohen brothers (I didn't go for FARGO). These guys really go all out on this one and two others that I'm aware of. (Volume two is the award winning soundtrack to OH BROTHER WHERE ART THOU and volume three is the soundtrack to THE LADYKILLERS which is a very nicely mixed collection of rap/hiphop/and gospel tunes.)

Here though, we have a different animal. The DUDE was a rocker. He liked his Creedence (which sadly is nowhere to be found on this disc- no worries) he liked smoking J's and drinking white russians. He HATED the Eagles! He was just a cool dude. A film like this needs a cool soundtrack.

We open with DYLANS MAN IN ME, great underated tune by the man and fits here perfectly. Next up we got offerings from CAPTAIN BEEFRHEART (you gotta experience this guy if you ain't already) and a fitting song from ELVIS COSTELLO.
After that we get a whole slew of just oddball stuff. (I didn't say bad, I said oddball.) Its very smart music. THE GYPSY KINGS doing HOTEL CALIFORNIA will blow your mind. KENNY ROGERS psycedelic JUST DROPPED IN... is a killer tune. The rest you just gonna have to hear for yourself.

If you liked the movie you will dig this soundtrack
and if you didn't like the movie, then you didn't see it (and you STILL will dig this soundtrack.)

THANK YOU

When I first saw the movie and heard the music I fell in love with the songs. But when I went here to see the track listing I noticed my favorite songs were missing. For example "Tumbling Tumbleweeds"-the title song isnt on here? As well as Santana's "Oye Como Va" and CCR's songs. What happened here too many legal isssues? I would have given it 2 more stars at least if "Tumbling Tumbleweeds" was on here.Too bad.

Overall the soundtrack is pretty good, but it is missing a few key tracks. Hello? I would have liked to have Tumbling Tumbleweeds and Looking out my back door, but most of the good songs are still included.