Brassed Off!: Original Soundtrack From The Miramax Motion Picture [Soundtrack]

Trevor Jones | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 20, 1997)
• Original Release Date: May 20, 1997
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Soundtrack
• Label: RCA Victor
• ASIN: B000003G8M
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #30,144 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Death Or Glory - Grimethorpe Colliery Band

2. A Sad Old Day - Trevor Jones

3. Floral Dance - Grimethorpe Colliery Band

4. Aforementioned Essential Items - Trevor Jones

5. En Aranjuez Con Tu Amor - Paul Hughes

6. Years Of Coal - Trevor Jones

7. March Of The Cobblers - Grimethorpe Colliery Band

8. There's More Important Things In Life - Trevor Jones

9. Cross Of Honor - Grimethorpe Colliery Band

10. Jerusalem - Grimethorpe Colliery Band

11. Florentiner March - Grimethorpe Colliery Band

12. Danny Boy - Grimethorpe Colliery Band

13. We'll Find A Way - Trevor Jones

14. Clog Dance - Grimethorpe Colliery Band

15. Colonel Bogey - Grimethorpe Colliery Band

16. All Things Bright And Beautiful - Grimethorpe Colliery Band

17. William Tell Overture - Shaun Randall

18. Honest Decent Human Beings - Trevor Jones

19. Pomp And Circumstance - Grimethorpe Colliery Band

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Brassed Off covers some of the same subject matter as the more popular The Full Monty, released a year later in 1997, but the soundtracks are polar opposites. Brassed Off tells the story of a group of Yorkshire coal miners who face an end to their livelihood when it appears their mine is going to be shut down. To keep some semblance of normalcy in their lives, the miners play in the colliery band, and these performances make up the bulk of the soundtrack, a mix of traditional brass-band music, transcriptions (Rodrigo's Concierto de Aranjuez with a solo flügelhorn replacing the guitar), and orchestral selections. Alternately rousing and touching, the soundtrack is all the more poignant because the music is played by the Grimethorpe Colliery Band, a real-life ensemble that struggled to survive when its mine was closed. --David Horiuchi

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars "Brassed Off!" launches old songs to new heights ..., September 14, 2000

By 

Paul Hickey (Reston, VA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Brassed Off!: Original Soundtrack From The Miramax Motion Picture (Audio CD)

More than just the soundtrack to an excellent movie, "Brassed Off!" stands on its own as a stunning and superb introduction to just how good orchestral music can be.

Brace yourself, however. This is not your father's oompah band. The 19 pieces on this record range from the quiet dignified beauty of "Danny Boy" to the bright cheerfulness and warmth of "Colonel Bogey" (better known as the marching song from the motion picture "The Bridge on the River Kwai"). And I guarantee that you've never heard the "William Tell Overture" played like this before. Although perhaps not something that would actually be performed at a real symphonic competition, it is one of several highlights of this album. Others would have to include the elegant and jaunty "Floral Dance" and the dramatically magnificent "En Aranjuez Con Tu Amor." The dynamics on the latter work, in particular, with its stirring sweep from a solo flugelhorn to full accompaniment by the entire instrumental section, are among the most expressive I've ever noticed anywhere.

Then there are the little surprises that stand out as well. "Death or Glory" practically hits you over the head to start this collection. "Cross of Honor" and "Jerusalem" are nicely handled with plenty of charm and spirit. And as many times as I've listened to "Pomp and Circumstance" offered up at countless formal ceremonies and graduations, it's never come across with the airy grace that it does here. "All Things Bright and Beautiful," "Florentiner March," and the "Clog Dance" have their moments, too.

Some of the shorter numbers are obviously filler, though. For instance, "Aforementioned Essential Items" sounds an awful lot like "A Sad Old Day," and as moving as the conductor's speech about "Honest Decent Human Beings" was in the film, the brief track of that title on the record lacks the same power.

In fact, the best way to appreciate this material may be to see the show first. The Grimethorpe Colliery Band has done an incredible job of making these songs seem as fresh and original as if they were written yesterday, but certain numbers are especially effective when you can recall them in the context of the scene where they appeared in the movie. Even alone, however, most of the music on this album is strong enough to show you just how deeply heartfelt a classical composition can be when it is played by an accomplished and sensitive group of people who clearly love what they are doing.

I never considered myself much of a fan of brass bands before, and the only time I'd ever heard of the Grimethorpe Colliery Band previously was on Roy Harper's great 1975 rock opus "HQ" (where they provided backup for "When an Old Cricketer Leaves the Crease"). Now, however, I'm sold. These coal miners have soul. By all means, check out "Brassed Off!" You won't be disappointed.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent brass band review, from an equally great movie, March 7, 2001

By 

Scott Johnson (Ames, Iowa) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Brassed Off!: Original Soundtrack From The Miramax Motion Picture (Audio CD)

The movie BRASSED OFF! holds much to be applauded; characters who struggle with real issues, stars who fit the story rather than the reverse, and so on. The crowning achievement of BRASSED OFF!, however, might just be the soundtrack album.

Combining incidental music by Trevor Jones with a number of old 'war horse' numbers from the brass band repertoire, BRASSED OFF! is a soundtrack which actually contributes mightily to the story of the film, rather than being simply a collection of pop songs designed strictly for profit. The movie is, after all, about a brass band!

Tracks deserving special recognition are "March of the Cobblers," "Danny Boy," and "William Tell Overture." On an album of excellent music these three are particularly outstanding. "Danny Boy" of course carries the emotional baggage with which it is consistently associated AND the added weight of a particularly touching scene from the movie. "William Tell Overture" is the championship piece the brass band chooses to play, with much style and panache, and "March of the Cobblers" is just a fun little number that sticks in one's head.

My one problem is a question of tone quality on the part of the 1st cornet/trumpet, which at times seemed a bit heavy on vibrato and a bit overbearing. This, however, is a question of taste which is debatable, and the player in question doesn't miss a note, so it isn't completely distracting.

Overall, both the movie and the soundtrack are worthwhile additions to the collections of those who enjoy brass music.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars No joke, these Blokes!, September 22, 2000

By 

Robert H. Ruby (Minneapolis, Minnesota USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Brassed Off!: Original Soundtrack From The Miramax Motion Picture (Audio CD)

Wonderful musicians who play with modesty belying their deep talent, but with knowing passion granted to the gifted few at any musical level able to grasp the true message of the composer, and pass it flawlessly to the listener on a silver platter.