Customer Reviews

The Man Who Loved Cat Dancing [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack]

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

 

 

Before going into space, John Williams wrote beautiful scores to several western movies, among them "The Man Who Loved Cat Dancing" and "The Cowboys". I think these are some of this best works because they the themes are haunting and the scores are upbeat. Western music at its best!

After John Williams skyrocketed to fame with the "Star Wars" soundtrack scores and subsequently went on to score numerous Steven Spielberg movies, I often wondered what had happened to this earlier soundtrack of his which I'd found arresting from the first moment I heard it.

I think I've checked soundtrack sources ever since the movie was released, 'way back when Burt Reynolds still had his own hair. Imagine my delight to discover this catchy tune is now available.

This particular soundtrack -- as well as the one from the Steve McQueen movie "The Reivers" -- are early Williams at his best. In addition, as a complete surprise to me, the composer Michel Legrand was originally asked to submit a score for "Cat Dancing" which is included on this disk. Legrand's score is lovely and interesting, but I can see how it doesn't quite capture the feeling of the Old West as well as Williams's score does.

I own two copies of this soundtrack because I never want to be without it again. Also, the movie "Cat Dancing" may not be in the same league as "High Noon," but I still enjoy it. It has a decent plot marred by a melodramatic ending, and yet....

I bought this for 2 reasons. First, I always loved Frank Sinatra's version of Dream Away from his Ol' Blue Eyes is back. I recently discovered that it was based on but not in The Man Who Loved Cat Dancing soundtrack. Second, I think John Williams is one of the best soundtrack composers. Unfortunately there is no single track that contains anything close to the wonderful arrangement on the Sinatra recording. Nonetheless it is still an above average soundtrack. It also contains the rejected Michel Legrand version which was nothing special. My favorite tracks are 3,5,6,9,10,16