Customer Reviews

Cadillac Records (Deluxe)(Music From the Motion Picture)

5 star:		(27)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

"Cadillac records" is the soundtrack to the new movie about Leonard Chess who co-founded Chess Records, the pre-eminent blues label of the Fifties and Sixties. As such, the soundtrack is dominated by the Blues, with a few Jazz tunes.

The movie stars Beyoncé as Etta James and she gets to perform a few Etta James songs; a nice restrained reading of "At last", "Trust in me", "All I could do is cry", the retro doo wop-sounding "Once in a lifetime" (an original song and rather nice), and "I'd rather go blind" (the latter oversung in my opinion, sounding rather like an American Idol wannabe's attempt to impress Simon Cowell). Much has been made by a number of critics about her subpar vocals on these songs, but I feel she actually does quite well (except for that lone clunker I mentioned), much better than she does on her latest disc, but I digress.

Mos Def plays Chuck Berry and he sings "No particular place to go", "Nadine", "Maybellene", "Promised land" and "Come on". Jeffrey Wright sounds very convincing as Muddy Waters, all gruff and soulful singing "I'm a man", "I'm your hoochie coochie man", "I can't be satisfied" as well as "Country blues" with Bill Simms Jr. Columbus Short plays Little Walter and sings the swinging "My babe" which appears again done by The King, Elvis Presley.

A few other standouts are actually new songs; the rolicking Gospel "The sound" by MaryMary, "6 O'Clock blues" by Solange and the swinging Little Stevie Wonder-channelling "Let's take a walk" by Raphael Saadiq, each originally featured on each acts latest CDs.

There are a pair of Blues/Hip Hop cuts; "Evolution of a man" by Q-Tip featuring Al Kapone which samples "I'm a man", and "Bridging the gap" by Nas (and his father Olu Dara), also previously released.

The problem with albums like these is that people will tend to compare the performances to the originals and find them coming up short. I think it is great that the Blues is being introduced to a new generation of music lovers. Looking forward to seeing the movie.

I have watched this movie a lot, enjoyed it enough to buy the Special 2 CD edition of the music from the motion picture. The music sounds superb when viewing the movie. I played the sample that was offered, and it sounded good too. I ordered it, and got it today. Beyonce, Elvis, and the Little Walter tracks were good. The rest of it did not even come close to the sound in the movie. I sure am sorry I bought it. Anyone thinking of buying it, save your money. Buy the one on the Chess label that gives the original singers of this music. I have never written a review, but I felt that I had to in this instance.

Ok like the first review i hated the rap tune on end of first disc, that said i dug the soundtrack get the 2 cd set. It was far better then the single cd. Beyonce did a great job with the Etta James tunes(fav's would be trust in me and at last), I hope the movie and big names on soundtrack will bring people to blues....where it all began. Enjoy all.

Loved the movie and love the CD even more!
Beyonce sounds even better than Etta James.

I find it amazing that with some 50 years of advances in recording technology that this soundtrack is so vapid compared to the originals. Muddy Waters was a powerhouse - Chuck Berry a musical technocrat and Etta James a presence.
When Muddy Waters sang on the original Chess masters - you knew there was someone home- his performances were ANGRY and authoritative - Jeffrey Wright's performances are fit for a tea party in the UK not for the Windy City.
It's all about soul and presence not technology and Beyonce unfortunately is no comparison to Etta James although her own compositions are good

CD was received in a timely manner and in new condition as stated. It's the soundtrack from the movie and contains all the great music (not the original artists, but just as good).

played it over & over blasting while driving, love all the songs on this cd except the last one, not really into rap

Good C-D."At Last,"is one of my wife's favorites and"I'd rather go blind,"is one of my alltime greatest songs.So this C-D has it for both you guys and gals.Other songs are good also.I don't regret buying this one at all.

I enjoy the soudtrack from the movie, something about the blues, it takes you to a time in your life good or bad gives you that feeling and just make you want to sing.Cadillac Records (Deluxe)(Music From the Motion Picture)

I LIKED JUST A FEW OF THE SONGS ON BOTH DISCS. IF YOU ARE IN THE MOOD FOR OLDIES OR IF YOU LIKE OLDIES, THIS ALBUM IS JUST FOR YOU.