Down By Law (1986 Film) / Variety (1985 Film) [2 on 1] [Soundtrack]

John Lurie | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 16, 1999)
• Original Release Date: March 8, 1985
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Soundtrack
• Label: Strange & Beautiful
• ASIN: B00001ZWCE
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #293,229 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. What Do You Know About Music, You're Not a Lawyer

2. Strangers in the Day

3. Promedade du Maquereau

4. The Invasion of Poland

5. Please Come to My House

6. Are You Warm Enough?

7. Swamp, Pt. 1

8. Swamp, Pt. 2

9. The King of Thailand, the Queen of Stairs

10. A Hundred Miles From Harry

11. Nicoletta Can't Cook

12. Fork in the Road

13. Variety Theme

14. Porno Booth

15. Porno Booth II

16. Car

17. Million Dollar Walk

18. Anders Leap In

19. Garter Belt

20. End Titles

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great soundtrack for a Great film!, February 24, 2003

By 

tokyodoll (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Down By Law (1986 Film) / Variety (1985 Film) [2 on 1] (Audio CD)

John Lurie's memorable music for the wonderful film "Down By Law" (now a Criterion DVD release) is well worth seeking out. Both the film and the music are amazing, and seem to blend together seamlessly. My only complaint is that I wish the CD included some of the Tom Waits songs from his terrific "Rain Dogs" CD which are used in the film, otherwise the soundtrack is perfect and it's without a doubt one of Lurie's best releases.

Moody and haunting, the music evokes the alleyways and swamps of New Orleans perfectly. Get this and Tom's "Rain Dogs" CD for the full "Down By Law" experience. You won't be disappointed! Both CDs include some of the finest music made in the 1980s for one of the best American films ever made!

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good early work..., October 29, 2000

By 

Allan MacInnis (Vancouver) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Down By Law (1986 Film) / Variety (1985 Film) [2 on 1] (Audio CD)

John Lurie, urban hipster and clueless visionary, recorded the music for this CD (featuring his brother - ? - Evan and subsequent Lounge Lizards drummer Dougie Bowne, among others) back before the Lounge Lizards had fully matured; the music is playful, the song titles, when not referring to the movie itself, demonstrate Lurie's crazy gift with words ("What do you know about music, you're not a lawyer;" "A Hundred Miles from Harry;" and "Nicoletta Can't Cook" -- my condolences to Roberto Benigni on that last point). However, it's NOT his most complex or rich soundtrack work. For that, you'll have to pick up AFRICAN SWIM/MANNY AND LO, or even FISHING WITH JOHN -- these show Lurie at the height of his powers. Still, there's a charm to this music; it's darker, moodier, and sleazier than Lurie's later output, particularly the material off the soundtrack to the REALLY BAD 80's attempt at feminist noir, VARIETY (which has to be the weakest project Kathy Acker ever was associated with; the music is the best thing about that film, so don't go hunting for the video of it -- it really just FAILS as a film). I'd recommend it, but perhaps, if you don't know Lurie, I'd buy the Lizards' QUEEN OF ALL EARS or NO PAIN FOR CAKES first, and come back to this later.

0 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Avoid by law, February 8, 2010

By 

Nicholas DePiano "footofpride" (Delaware) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Down By Law (1986 Film) / Variety (1985 Film) [2 on 1] (Audio CD)

Love the film, hate the soundtrack....aside from the cover photo I wouldnt recommend this to any, but the most devoted John Lurie fans....its bleak and unredeeming...whether that was meant to be or not is irrelevant to me. The music Tom Waites brought to the film would have made this a more "enjoyable" experience. For that, buy "Rain Dogs", a great record which I own on vinyl.....Avoid this dreck!