The Country Bears [Soundtrack]

Various Artists (Composer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 23, 2002)
• Original Release Date: July 26, 2002
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Soundtrack
• Label: Buena Vista Pictures
• ASIN: B000069HJD
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #71,626 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Let It Ride - John Hiatt

2. Where Nobody Knows My Name - John Hiatt

3. Can Love Stand The Test - Don Henley & Bonnie Raitt

4. The Kid In You - Krystal Marie Harris

5. I'm Only In It For The Money - Brian Setzer '68 Comeback Special w/ Stephen Root

6. Kick It Into Gear - Jennifer Paige

7. Straight To The Heart of Love - John Hiatt w/ E.G. Daily, Colin Hay, Don Henley, Bonnie Raitt

8. Bear Mountain Hop - Bela Fleck

9. Just The Goin' - John Hiatt

10. Where Nobody Knows My Name (Reprise) - E.G. Daily

11. So You Want To Be A Rock 'n' Roll Star - The Byrds

12. Friends - Elton John

13. Bearly Home - Chris Young

14. Nylon Hymn - Chris Young

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The movie may not have bared its teeth at the box office, but that's no reason for the soundtrack to slip into early hibernation, especially considering the musical talent lining The Country Bears' den. Singer-songwriter John Hiatt owns this disc--cover him in fur, blacken his nose, and fiddle with his incisors a bit and it might as well be him peering back at you from the cover art. In addition to performing four of 14 tracks, the live "Straight to the Heart of Love" with Don Henley and Bonnie Raitt included, Hiatt wrote eight of these tunes. On a couple, you'd never guess it: Krystal Marie Harris's "The Kid in You" matches Stevie Wonder-like funk with stylish new-school R&B, and Jennifer Paige grinds out pop power on "Kick It into Gear." Hiatt contributions aside, Béla Fleck brilliantly plucks his way to "Bear Mountain Top," while the Byrds classic "So You Want to be a Rock 'n' Roll Star" and Elton John's sincerity-drenched "Friends" round out the offerings. Few soundtracks are as solidly built, track for track, especially in the G-rated sector. --Tammy La Gorce

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars John Hiatt delivers a great soundtrack, July 23, 2002

By 

R. Garrison (Acworth, Georgia United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Country Bears (Audio CD)

John Hiatt wrote 6 of the tunes ( of which he performs 4), and co-wrote 2 others. John is one of America's best songwriters, but sadly, also one of it's best-kept secrets. Sure would be nice if this movie exposure of his music changed that!
Don Henley and Bonnie Raitt do a great duet on the Hiatt-penned "Can Love Stand The Test", and of course Hiatt does his standard great job on the four he sings, but I was underwhelmed by the two female vocalists doing Hiatt songs, Krystal Marie Harris ("The Kid In You"), and Jennifer Paige ( "kick It Into Gear"). Their versions are the reason the soundtrack lost a star, would love to hear John do these songs himself at some point.
Brian Setzer does a twist on The Devil Went Down To Georgia, providing a song of a guitar vs. fiddle battle, performed as a duet with actor Stephen Root .
I know most who read this will be non-Hiatt fans, as the fanatics like me have already grabbed the disc. I personally have to recommend picking up the Hiatt classics Bring The Family and Slow Turning to really be introduced to his best, but for sure pick up this soundtrack down the line as well. I have no complaints with it. Now, I can't wait to see the film and hear and see John Hiatt singing through a giant bear!! :)

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Hiatt meets Disney ... who knew it would work?, July 25, 2002

By 

Sylvan L. Groth - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Country Bears (Audio CD)

Okay, I am a John Hiatt fan, so forgive me if this review is a little prejudiced, or one-sided...

I am so thankful that John's songs are (at least partly) recorded with the Goners (Sonny Landreth, Ken Blevins, David Ranson), and produced by Glyn Johns. When I first heard of this project, all I could imagine was Hiatt is his gravelly-voice, rough-and- ready splendour, trying to match up with a canned-sounding orchestra in typical Disney over-produced fashion. Instead, I feel the written and performed Hiatt songs on this album stand up to his own releases. The music seems organic, the words are (of course) more clever than anything I've heard Disney do, and John is in great voice.

However... John's two songs performed by Jennifer Page and Krystal Marrie Harris, have been synthesized and sanitized beyond recognition as a Hiatt pen. It made my skin crawl a little to listen to them, like I was peering into some parallel universe where John Hiatt is the musical director for "American Idols," and half-talented Brittney wannabes mouth his songs in miniskirts and halter tops. (I did think that E.G. Daily did a good job with "Where Nobody Knows my Name".)

This is a definite must have for Hiatt-fans based on the tracks he performed, but I also feel it is a good listen for people who just like Disney or are curious about what a singing bear would sound like. (The Elton John song "Friends" on here is an overlooked beauty, so that's worth the price of the CD, also).

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars PRETTY DARNED GOOD MUSIC, October 10, 2002

By 

PARK M PARKER (GROTON, CT. United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Country Bears (Audio CD)

I'm one of thoes who can watch a movie or read a book over and over and over, so the more I listen to this soundtrack the more I can't wait for the release of the movie. This is one of those albums, (cd's,whatever) that makes the repeat button on my player get a severe workout, especially the song "STRAIGHT TO THE HEART OF LOVE"