Customer Reviews

Cat People: Original Soundtrack

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Perhaps best known for his Oscar-winning "Midnight Express" score and his disco collaborations with Donna Summer, composer Giorgio Moroder's finest work can be heard on "Cat People" (1982). Like the Paul Schrader film it accompanies, Moroder's score remains a masterpiece of mood and atmosphere - featuring David Bowie's excellent title song (subtitled "Putting Out Fire"). It should be noted that Moroder utilized a different recording for the movie, which is equally memorable. Hopefully, the "Cat People" CD will be reissued with additional music from the film soundtrack.

The artistry of composer Giorgio Moroder aside, this CD is the only place you can find the original David Bowie vocal for "Theme from Cat People," perhaps better known as "Putting Out Fire With Gasoline." And that alone makes this CD a must-have: a piece of music that begins with primative-sounding percussion, introduces Bowie at his sultry, sexy best, and then suddenly explodes into one of the most chills-down-your-spine bits of music that you will ever encounter, the personification of ... hunger, desire, and a touch of kink. Moroder and Bowie make a remarkable combination--it is a great pity they did not do more together--and the recording here is far, far superior to the version of the song included on Bowie's LET'S DANCE.

That said, the rest of the soundtrack is a mixed bag. There are moments of beauty, particularly those that repeat the opening theme--"Irena's Theme," "Leopard Tree Dream," and "Myth," the latter of which features Bowie's dusky, languid humming of the main theme. But other selections are so specifically tied to the film that they do not stand well alone. This is particularly true of selections like "Autopsy" and "Night Rabbit," which are essentially created as background music for the movie's "shocker" scenes, short bits of music that suddenly pop to increase the horror of the graphic violence occurring on the screen. While interesting to fans of the film, they aren't greatly interesting beyond the context of the film itself.

The instruments here are a mix of synthetics and live, a typical Moroder concept that creates an interesting tension--a sort of strange mix of detachment and human involvement, if you will. And then there is that haunting, hungry, incredibly ... Bowie vocal to some of the most sensuous lyrics ever written for any song: "See these eyes so green... I could stare for a thousand years... colder than the moon... it's been so long. Feel my blood enraged... it's just the fear of losing you... don't you know my name? it's been so long." Incredibly ... incredibly powerful stuff, this single cut alone worth the cost of the CD; it's perfect ... and you may want to borrow cuts from the recording to add to your home-made background "event" music...

I never understood why David Bowie reworked "Putting Out the Fire" for his single version. This original is awesome, and a hundred times better than the "juiced up" version. The intro, coupled with the sultry jungle drums, Bowie's evocative vocals, makes for one of the best movie themes in the past thirty years. Strangely enough, it was ignored at the Oscars, and just goes to show how much the academy has changed in including "pop" in its awards. However, I bought this CD mainly to get this excellent version of the title theme, and it's worth the price just to hear that version again. Moroder, who rose to fame with Donna Summer and "Midnight Express" captured the eerie sexuality of Paul Schrader's enigmatic film, and listening to the soundtrack conjures up images I thought I had long forgotten.
There's no putting out the fire on this title track!
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

It sounds strange, but I first saw this CD in the store before I even saw the film, and the Moroder name plus the packaging and design told me I would really like it. But I insisted on seeing the film first, feeling I would be silly to buy the disc just for the sensual cover art. Well, I watched the film, thoroughly enjoyed it, and rushed out to buy this disc. The opening track is possibly the best bit--Bowie's voice has rarely sounded better, the lyrics are perfect, and the song rocks. The Moroder score immediately evokes images from the film. However, it appears that this disc has different music than the actual film. I bought the film on VHS and on the back it claims that some of the music in the film has been changed from the original theatrical version. I don't know the details, and would love if someone could fill them in, but what music exactly is on this disc? While some tracks are obviously right from the movie (Autopsy, Night Rabbit, To the Bridge) others sound like reworked versions from the film (the starkly beautiful Irena's Theme, Myth, and especially Leopard Tree Dream).

Nevertheless, this is a very nice disc and highly recommended. The sound is very Moroder--fans of his other film work (Midnight Express) will certainly enjoy. He loves that drum machine and throbbing bass.

Perhaps they'll re-release this one day, remastered and with additional music from the film.

This album sent chills down my spine! It is one minute terrifying the next romantic. David Bowie sings the main theme and causes it to be so intense its almost disturbing. The movie is equally weird and dark. The entire album is awesome, It instantly casts a lurid shadow when played, then it can be slow and relaxing depending on the track.

I remember the movie for its titillating aspect. The idea of the film was better than the film. What stood out was the haunting score. I mixed the music from this film with Risky Business onto a mix-tape called 'Risky Cat Business People' which was wonderfully midnightesque.

The legendary Giorgio Moroder scored this one and it sounds much different than his frequent association with a 'disco' sound. This stuff undoubtedly dates to the 80s but it is quite, if I dare say, sexual in spots, not in a cheesy porno kind of way but in the best of the 80s synthesizer sounds. Kind of spooky, kind of dreamy and quite captivating.

David Bowie's opening track, the original version which was speeded up on his Let's Dance album, is amazing. It's worth it for that track alone.

My only complaint is the length of the album. Some of the songs are short, as is the overall length of the album itself. But it's still wonderfully moody, sonic ear candy.

Forget about Luther Vandross or Mozart--if you want music to spark someone's passion, you will not go wrong with this record. Arguably the most sensual soundtrack in pop music. The movie's not bad either. Purrrr . . .

If you liked his work in "The NeverEnding Story" or "Metropolis" you will love this. His scores are always beautiful and haunting in an eletric 80's sort of way. "Putting out fire" by David Bowie seals the deal. Awesome mood soundtrack to an awesome, underrated movie.

A unique pacing of tracks & great feeling communicated, sensual & spooky.

Darkly moody and evocative of the city of New Orleans,this CD is a strange and sensual journey into the passions of that place.As the themes of Schrader's film show:they are sex,death,sacrifice and passionate sensual love...