Customer Reviews

Due South: The Original Television Soundtrack

5 star:		(35)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Besides being a tongue-in-cheek TV series produced by Canadians and acted by Canadians-pretending-to-be-Americans judging Canadians and filmed in Toronto (supposedly Chicago), Due South had an amazing roster of Canadian musical talent spanning generations. This is the more "Due Southy" of the two soundtracks, and there was plenty more great music that never made it on the DS CDs.

This first "Due South" soundtrack features some lesser-known (to Americans south of the border) Canadian artists such as Kashtin (Quebec First Nations group), Klaatu, the Northern Pikes (who recently reunited), Figgy Duff, Blue Rodeo and the Holly Cole Trio, Paul Gross (Benton Fraser/director and exec producer of last two seasons), along with Sarah McLachlan and The Guess Who.

The songs featured range from whimsical (Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft), folksy (Due South Theme, Bone of Contention, Figgy Duff, Ride Forever), native (Akua Tuta), and rock (Possession, American Woman). There are also snippets of the original score (Horses, Cabin Music featuring bad boy fiddle virtuoso Ashley MacIsaac, Victoria's Secret, Inuit Soliloquy, Dief's In Love) by Jack Lenz that capture Fraser's yearning for the silent white north of his childhood, piano driven, wistful laments on lost love, action sequences....this is a Canadian soundtrack at its best. It is the essence of "Due South" on CD. This is also more family-friendly than the second "Due South" CD that features adult language and some very dark songs.

Due South screened here in Australia very late at night, as a summer filler. My dear friend Tony fell in love with it from the start, but had no idea that Paul Gross was a recording artist, nor the musical imput he had in the show......till the episode which featured Ride Forever.By chance he taped that one, and re-played it many times, just to hear that piece of music.Truth is,we both loved it.That,and the theme from the show and so many of the other pieces...what great music they put in,to augment a great show.

He was unable to get any of Paul Gross's cd's here....and no credit card ment no on-line purchase......so when I found this disc and was able to give it to him for his birthday last April he was in heaven...played it till I thought the laser in the cd player would burn out. I don't think there was a song he didn't like on the whole cd. I found the Inuit Soliliquy very moving...I wish I had seen the episode it came from.....must have been great.

Tony loved this album.

Tony,sadly,passed away in December. He would have put his own review of it on this site if he had had the chance...now I try and do that for him.If you have seen the show then much of the music will be familar...if not then it is very much worth the effort to have a listen...it is a strange mixture but it is worth the cost..something to listen to with the lights down...something to enjoy...something to remember.

I recorded the instrumental version of the theme and Ride Forever and had them both played at his funeral....because they both gave him such joy...and the fact that I'm sure he will ride forever, somewhere out there.

Lets get this straight from the beginning... I love Due South, I have never held more admiration in a film or TV series than to the degree that I do for Due South. It has made me weep, laugh and hold love in my hands, and the music plays such an important part.

The music helps the audience feel their way through the fantastic stories and quality performances, and indeed personally through life. The soundtrack has songs to support any mood, from the superb theme song by Jay Semko, the Mountie harmony 'Ride Forever'... which is just as stunning as it was on the screen, to the heart rendering melody of Sarah McLachlan's 'Possession' (Piano Version). Other classy ones on the soundtrack are Spirit Of The West's 'Bone of Contention' and Fraser/Inuit Soliloquy spoken by one of the show's stars Paul Gross.

This soundtrack is magnificent, in its composition, intention, and meaning... unfortunately the series Due South has drawn the final curtain, but with the help of this quality soundtrack I can remember the good times it brought me... and in doing so, keeps the show alive for me.

This soundtrack gets off to a really good start with the familiar Due South theme tune which can be listened to over and over again. This is followed by an excellent track in Bone Of Contention, and then another familiar tune for Duesers. The most enchanting track on this CD is track 4, which is certainly one of my favorites on the disc. Tracks 5, 6, and 8 are not as enjoyable, but this section of the disc is saved by the excellent original version of American Woman. Far and away the best song on this CD is Ride Forever, which combines classic Due South music, with a touch of pop. After track 11 (another rendition of the theme song) follow several weak tracks (excluding the Victoria's Secret score) until Dief's In Love finishes the CD off quite nicely. The CD definately has peaks and troughs (especially near the end), so its probably best only to buy this soundtrack if you're a regular viewer of the show, or you may be dissapointed with your purchase.

If you read the other reviews you know how important the music is to the program. Here is the twist most soundtracks are quite shocking and awfull however because of the effort that went into the planning of the music and series, this incredible CD has come about Im only 20 and was 10 when i first started watching this program on my flight to australia from the UK i watched the pilot about 4 times and the when i got to oz. The music is what really stands out trust me if you never seen the program the music is just as powerfull on its own. please BUY IT to give back to a great show and you will get an awsome CD out of it !!!!!!

One of the things I always liked about the show, Due South, was the incredible choice and variety of music which was so much a part of the atmosphere. They used artists that I was unfamiliar with, for the most part, with the exception of Sarah McLachlan and the Guess Who, that I wanted to hear more from. I particularly love the original music that Jay Semko and others (?) have written which is beautiful and evocative.

This is a great collection of songs by some of the best Canadian artists. All of these songs have been featured in the television show, and I'm sure avid fans will be able to recall a lot of the scenes and episodes that they were featured in. Besides 2 versions of the Due South Theme (one a vocal, one instrumental), and a few other original score pieces, there is the beautiful piano version of "Possession" by Sarah McLachlan, and the fun "Ride Forever", written and performed by Paul Gross. "Akua Tuta" is performed by Kashtin, who are from the Innu tribe in Northeast Quebec, and they sing this song in their native tongue which is spoken by only about ten thousand people. This is an album that I'm sure most, if not all fans of Due South, will love.

I love the show and I love the soundtrack. Although they left off some songs I really liked, it is a wonderful collection of music - a great mix of music written for the show and popular music. Well worth having in your music collection!

Before you think 4 stars means I think there's something wrong with this soundtrack, I should tell you I reserve perfect scores for things (Music, books, food) that cause such pleasure as to render me unconcious. = ] If you haven't experienced due South, this could be your ticket. A sampling of original scores and commercial releases used in the program, there isn't a jarring song on the disc. A pity tho that more of the motive music wasn't included. And while you're at it, grab yourself a copy of the second dS soundtrack, it's as good but with a different attitude.Bi

Anyone that is a fan of the show would love this CD, from the first to the last song is captivating. The best songs in my opinion would be'Possession', 'Ride Forever', and the Due South Theme. Although some of the songs were a little lacking but it picked up. i would reccomend this soundtrack to anyone. One more thing if you liked Vol.1 then you will most likely love Vol.2.