Customer Reviews

Bobby

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

When we watch movies, the plot and the pictures make us think. Music cuts through all that and touches our soul. The songs on this soundtrack were intended to evoke the era and a measure of compassion for the second tragedy to befall the Kennedy family, and the third tragedy to befall our country in the same period of time. The songs are frequently melancholy and capture a spirit that mere words can only describe.

This CD opens with short speech by Robert Kennedy. This introduction provides a reference for the remainder of the CD.

Mary J. Blige and Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin open this collection with a marvelous gospel song, "Never Gonna Break My Faith," with the Harlem Boys Choir providing backing vocals. This song was written by Bryan Adams, Eliot Kennedy and Andrea Remanda for this movie. Fans of Blige and Franklin will love this song. Awesome new song, classic sound; need I say more?

The 1965 Smokey Robinson and the Miracles classic "Tracks of My Tears" is next. The Supremes 1964 hit "Come See about Me" follows. I am unfamiliar with the 1966 Shorty Long song "Function at the Junction," though the style of the song places it solidly in the 1960's. The original version of "Grazin' in the Grass," an instrumental by Hugh Masekela, is the sixth track on this CD. I am much more familiar with the vocal version by Friends of Distinction than this original version. "I Was Made to Love Her" is the seventh track on this CD and was a 1967 release by music miracle Stevie Wonder.

The mid-1960's was an era of musical revolution. The Moody Blues released "Days of Future Passed" in 1967, heralding the beginning of art rock and progressive rock. "Forever Afternoon (Tuesday?)" was one of the hits from that ground-breaking album. The Los Bravos song "Black Is Black" follows. Los Bravos is unique in their own way as they are a Spanish rock group with a hit song in the U.S.

Marvin Gaye's 1965 song "Ain't That Peculiar," which was written by Smokey Robinson, and three Miracles, is the tenth track. Another Aretha Franklin hit, 1965's "Baby I Love You," follows.

Demi Moore manages to shock everyone by belting out a unique and well done version of "Louie Louie." Who knew? I was expecting anything but a highly interpretive song that makes me reconsider my opinion of Ms. Moore. Ms. Moore's version is much slower than the original, but the style is very retro and could easily have been from the late 1950's or the early 1960's.

The Mark Isham instrumental "No One Left but Bobby" just tears my heart out. I must be getting old; I keep thinking what might have been.

Simon & Garfunkel are the final song on this CD. What song could it have been but "The Sounds of Silence"?

The closing track is the now ironic speech by Bobby Kennedy, "On the Mindless Menace of Violence," backed by the Mark Isham instrumental, "The Mindless Menace of Violence." This track is a fitting and poignant coda to this album that captures the essence of tragedies the United States faced in the 1960's. Those tragedies are embodied in the deaths of John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King, and Bobby Kennedy, but they extend to so much more: the tragedy of Viet Nam, the tragedy of Kent State, the tragedy of segregation and race riots. We all fondly remember hippies, flower power and the summer of love, but many of us have forgotten the pain we experienced as our country grew outside the tidy little world of a chicken in every pot and a television in every living room. It is painful to remember, but before we walk down these roads again, we should.

Though not in the album, Senator Edward (Ted) Kennedy concluded his eulogy for his brother by quoting George Bernard Shaw, "Some men see things as they are and say `Why?' I dream things that never were and say, `Why not?'" Please think about this phrase when you listen to this album. Then go out and make the future a better place.

They're missing Brian Adams' version of "Never Gonna Break My Faith," which closed the movie trailer.

Now, I personally think that 'Retha Franklin's version is the better one and may well be the nominee for the Song of the Year at the 2007 Oscars, but I want the Henley too. Why even put it on the trailer if you're not going to include it in the album?

One big surprise was how well Demi Moore sang on "Louie, Louie." Much of the rest of the tracks were so evocative of the time--and the story to tell. Though I have not seen the movie, I almost wonder if I am not going to like the soundtrack better.

I'm still giving 5 stars, but for me, the soundtrack is NOT complete!

I can never understand why record companies consider already released music as a soundtrack. The movie contain great music composed by Marc Isham, with trumpet solos by the accomplished Tim Morrison. Tim Morrison was the solo trumpet in JFK, Born on the Fourth of July, Saving Private Ryan, and Apollo 13, to name a few.

It is a real shame that they did not include more of the score in this soundtrack.

This is a very good musical snapshot of what was going on in the summer of 1968, so I can pretty much unconditionally recommend this soundtrack to both all who were there, and all who appreciate the great, great music of the psychedelic age. I'll concur with the other reviewer: it would have been nice to have Don Henley's version of the song as well as Aretha's version. Also would have been nice to have included Cream's "Spoonful," which featured in a segment of the movie that was hysterically funny. While the subject matter is certainly not to be laughed at--and neither is the illicit usage of drugs--I have to tell those of you who haven't seen the movie yet this: The scenes with the two kids who are dropping acid for the first time are a scream, and add what I felt was some very welcome comic relief to a movie that tells us unflinchingly what is yet to come. The soundtrack is excellent, and the movie is superb...don't miss out on either one.

Inspirational, great music from the 60's and the new song by Aretha is awesome. The speech by Bobby Kennedy is timeless. Wish everyone would listen and buy. Price was fantastic. I am most satisfied.

Good cuts. But without the movie to place the music into action they are just songs. Good songs. But played with the images and dialogue and they were worth buying. Played without. . . .better to go to Ebay and get the only the ones you want.

Truly enjoyable sounds of the late 60s ... and who knew Demi Moore could sing?!

THIS WILL BE PLAYING IN MY CAR FOR AT LEAST THE NEXT SIX MONTHS AND
I WILL BE SEEING THE MOVIE IN MY HEAD. I WORKED ACROSS THE STREET FROM
THE HOTEL ON WILSHIRE WHEN THIS HAPPENED. I HAD BEEN TO THE HOTEL SEVERAL TIMES WITH CO-WORKERS AND CLIENTS. AFTER THAT NIGHT I NEVER WENT BACK.
MY ONLY COMPLAINT IS THAT ALL THE SONGS IN THE MOVIE WERE NOT INCLUDED ON THE SOUNDTRACK. WHY WOULD ANYONE WANT A SOUNDTRACK OF A MOVIE WITH HALF
THE MUSIC ON IT ? MAYBE THEY SHOULD REMAKE THE SOUNDTRACK AND INCLUDE
THE HURDY GURDY MAN ......"Down through all eternity, the crying of
humanity,'tis then when the Hurdy Gurdy man came singing songs of love"
Michael

This soundtrack has some great classic songs that definitley fit the 1960's motif of this surprisingly good film...but I would five stars just for the fabulous "Never Gonna Break My Faith" by Aretha Franklin and Mary J. Blige with the Harlem Boys Choir. This song was written for the film and when it played over the ending it totally encapsulated how I felt about Bobby Kennedy and the tragic events of 1968. This song is going to win the Oscar, trust me. By the way, contrary to some of the other reviews here, Don Henley had nothing to do with this song. It was written by Bryan Adams (yes, THAT Bryan Adams) and I've only heard a version with his vocals on one of the trailers for the film. His version was not used in the film and, therefore, is not included on the soundtrack.

You'll be hearing these songs for many years to come. This collection have you reliving a time and spirit that we almost forgot about. They'll chill you to the bone and warm you at the core.