Customer Reviews

Cool Hand Luke [Original Soundtrack Recording]

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

 

 

Never having heard the music from Cool Hand Luke, I decided to pick up a copy of this soundtrack anyway because I like Lalo Schifrin. I'm glad I got this soundtrack because it is really good. It actually was nominated for an oscar back in 1967. The main theme is a catchy guitar rhythm and also a song titled "Down Here On the Ground" in which guitar, banjo, and sometimes harmonica are used. "Tar Sequence" has actually been used as a theme for a news program. The piano sequences sound like something Jerry Goldsmith would write and actually has used before. The other action cues are "The Chase" and "Criss-Crossing the Fence". There are some jazz tracks present in "Egg Eating Contest" and "Ballad of Cool Hand Luke". The last 2 tracks are symphonic versions of the main theme and the song "Down Here on the Ground". Most of the tracks have a bluegrass feel to them and sound like they belong on a bluegrass compilation album. The time on the soundtrack runs a little under 60 minutes, which is plenty of music. Get this score if you can find it. It was re-released on Schifrin's record company Aleph last year and you may end up finding it if you look hard. It is worth it though.

I love the score for this film, but I am a bit disappointed. I guess it was stupid of me to assume the version of Plastic Jesus on here was going to be the one by Paul Newman. I also would have liked it more if some of Harry Dean Stanton's playing was on here as well. I would not have gotten it if I knew that ahead of time.

This is a very nice re-recording of the original score, but lacks the heart of the original in a few ways. First, the songs from the film are re-recorded and rather lifeless compared to the film soundtrack. Secondly, the "Tar Sequence" track has been given a strange piece of introductory music rather than just starting naturally and loudly, as in the film.

Still a good listen, but these changes are not for the best. Probably still the preferable version of the Cool Hand Luke CD.

You should definitely alert people to the fact this does not have Paul Newman singing "Plastic Jesus"---I agree that that would be the only reason to buy the music for "Cool Hand Luke".(I wish there was some way to obtain that!)

Paul Newman's original version of Plastic Jesus is not on this CD. This CD is re-recorded instrumental versions of the songs from the film. Thoroughly disappointing.

Even though This CD was a very good soundtrack It was not what I was looking for. My husband and I loved the Vocals of the movie, But the Cd was strickly instrumental no singing. He wanted the Song PLASTIC JESUS with the words sung by Paul Newman. Can't seem to find it anywhere Or anyplace> Found Plastic Jesus sung by Billy Idol but did not sound like the song in the movie.

Several of the reviews claim that this is not the original soundtrack. And yet, Lalo Schifrin, in his notes, suggests otherwise. He credits the original session players, several of whom have passed, and, even more revealing, the album indicates that these tracks are all licensed by MCA records, of which DOT, the original soundtrack l.p. label, was a subsidiary. Additionally, the album, though well-mastered, is clearly a product of pre-Dolby analog recording, replete with audible oxide hiss. I have the DVD of the film, and this certainly sounds like the original soundtrack to me, one of Schifrin's very best film works, and worthy of a place on your soundtrack shelf.

I waited years for this to come out after enjoying the theme while watching the movie. Great stuff!

Paul Newman's rendition of "Plastic Jesus" is worth the price of the CD.

This is not the soundtrack. Don't expect to hear much of anything that resembles the movie.