Customer Reviews

Forrest Gump: The Soundtrack - 32 American Classics On 2 CDs

5 star:		(65)
4 star:		(21)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

The soundtrack to the movie Forrest Gump gives us an excellent assortment of American hits that cannot be ignored; they're all THAT good. The quality of the sound is excellent; and the artwork is very tastefully done.

The track set starts off with none other than Elvis Presley singing and belting out his famous number, "Hound Dog." The guitar work and drums work well; but Elvis' voice carries this number and the backup vocalists are great! "(I Don't Know Why) But I Do" by Clarence 'Frogman' Henry registers huge on this scale; this gets the royal treatment and it fits perfectly with so much of the other music on this album. Similarly "Walk Right In" by The Rooftop Singers has an infectiously happy melody to it; and this is an excellent example of 1960s folk music. Moreover, "Blowin' In The Wind" by Joan Baez sparkles as if it were still fresh and new today--it's that much of a classic. Excellent!

"I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)" features The Four Tops singing their hearts out; and it all works very well. "Respect by Aretha Franklin is easily one of my favorites on this two CD set; it's awesome and it's easily a major highlight of this two CD set.

"California Dreamin'," of course, features The Mamas and The Papas; this song inspired so many young people in the 1960s to journey to California in search of inner peace and a better quality of life. "Mrs. Robinson" is equally bright when Simon & Garfunkel sing it; they harmonize perfectly and their guitar work is mighty fine!

"San Francisco (Be Sure To Wear Some Flowers In Your Hair)" by Scott Mackenzie really sounds great as it ever did; Scott's melody is really very pretty and I enjoy this number very much. "Aquarius" and "Let The Sun Shine In" by The Fifth Dimension are hauntingly beautiful and instantly memorable, too.

"Joy To The World" is a number by Three Dog Night that really strikes me as very passionate; and listen for "Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head." B. J. Thomas sings this passionately with great sensitivity; and it's one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard! What a great soundtrack this is! "Sweet Home Alabama" by Lynyrd Skynyrd really rocks well with a fine country twist; Lynyrd Skynyrd could really rock out a tune!

"I've Got To Use My Imagination" is a fiery ballad by Gladys Knight & the Pips that really tugs at my heartstrings whenever I hear it; and there's also "On The Road Again" by Willie Nelson.

Overall, the soundtrack to Forrest Gump gives us so much Americana music it's hard to ignore this two CD set. I recommend this CD set for fans of the movie Forrest Gump and people who enjoy some oldies mixed in with classic pop vocals.

This is a good selection of rock and roll, but I don't think it's essential, unless "Forrest Gump" is your favorite movie of all time. There's no point in complaining about what's not here since that would take weeks. But what was selected, was done so because I think it said something about the times, the way people were feeling, and about what was going on. I don't think anything was included just because it rocked. "Elvis" of course because he's the king. "CCR" probably because of wartimes. "The Doors" and "Beach Boys" might represent that California vibe. "Dylan" and "Baez" for the folk and beatnik scenes. I'm sure many of these artists mean different things to different people. The song I connect to the most is Nilsson's "Everybody's Talkin'". For some reason it made me quit the military and move to New England. Of course all these songs can just be enjoyed without getting too deep about them. If you're looking for an eclectic mix of music from the 50's to the 80's, you should get your hands on "Forrest Gump".

This album is HUGE and great. Lots of great music by different
singers/bands. The album follows the time period thoughout
this movie starting in the 50's and 60's. You have "Sweet
Home Alabama" which is considered by many to be one if not
the greatest southern rock songs ever. I'm not a huge fan
of the band, but there is no denying the greatness of some of their work.

You have some great MoTown cuts like "I Can't Help Myself"
by The Four Tops is one of my favorite Motown classics. We
also have Frankins "Respect" that is a classic that you
just have to love. This is arguably the best soundtrack
ever put together. If you love 50-70's music there has to
be some stuff here for you. Jackson Browne classic
"Running On Empty" is another track not to miss aswell as
CCR's classic"Fortunate Son" another outstanding track. If
you were to put together a classic album spanding 4 decades
this 2 disk set would be close to being perfect.

This is a must have for lovers of classic music that has
stood the test of time. The Doors, CCR, The Four Tops, The
Byrds,Jackson Browne, Doobie Brothers, Aretha Franklin,
Pickett, Bob Dylan, Youngbloods, Elvis Presley just to
name some... Just a superb collection of music.

Although the movie soundtrack is truly great, featuing a cross-section of the greates music of the 60's and 70's, the CD is incomplete. It lacks several tracks which were in the movie, including the Jimi Hendrix version of "All Along the Watchtower," and "Red, White and Blue." However, the presence of the other featured greats more than make up for it.

I enjoyed the motion picture soundtrack to "Forest Gump."
The variety of music speaks of hope, despair, love, and time passing by. While events can often seem senseless, they can often end up being meaningful especially if we make them that way.

The music did a great job capturing the spirit of the movie and I can't think of a better selection for the script. I believe movies should give us something to think about and this soundtrack does so as well. Thank you for offering such a great and thought provoking producting.

As a 21-year old I have always loved oldies and classic rock, which is why I've owned this album for more than 5 years now. I listen to all of it as much as I did the first day I got it. This soundtrack has something for everyone- if you like the Supremes, you're set. If you're more of a CCR fan, you're good to go there as well. If The Beach Boys is more your speed, then you're made. The double-CD set has all the songs from the movie and puts you right at the scene it played in and brings you back to your younger days. The mix of folk, rock and pop music dating from the 1950 to the late 70s and early 80s has just the right combination of oldies but goodies, whether you've seen the movie or not.

I admit that some of these tunes (such as Dylan's "Rainy Day Women" and the Doors "Break On Through") are classics, why did the makers of this movie make a soundtrack that can best be described as "boomer lite"? Especially bad is the omission of two awesome Jimi Hendrix songs THAT APPEAR IN THE MOVIE!!! During the scene with the Black Panthers, Hendrix's "Hey Joe" plays. Also, when the helicoptors land in Vietnam, "All Along the Watchtower" can be heard. Were the people who put this collection so afraid to include anything remotely related to the true militancy of the sixties? Speaking of exclusions, what about Cream's "Sunshine of Your Love", Janis Joplin's "Piece of My Heart", "Time", by the Chambers Brothers, "Strawberry Fields Forever" (or anything, for that matter) by the Beatles, "Uncle John's Band" by the Grateful Dead, "Gimmie Shelter" by the Stones, or "Waiting For The Man" by the Velvet Underground. These recordings capture the true reality of the sixties that we don't hear on this soundtrack. Instead, for your hard-earned money, you get...Scott McKenzie. Hey, even if you think I'm being kind of tough, you have to admit leaving Jimi Hendrix out of a soundtrack that supposedly represents the sixties really sucks. For a real, live sixties soundtrack, buy Isle of Wight or Monterey Pop...don't be fooled by this cheese...

The music on this double CD definds a period of history (much like the film sought to do). If you're new to 60's and 70's music, but are interested in the music then this is an excellent album to start off your collection. From Dylan to the Doors and from Presley to Picket it has a lot of classics from the era and in fact a lot of tracks that are not in the original film.

For someone who already has a lot of albums from the 60's and 70's then you will probably find a lot of familiar tracks on this album, nevertheless it works wonders as a compilation and there is bound to be quite a few tracks that you don't have.

Certainly give the album a listen and then make up your mind. For lovers of 60's and 70's music you will be doing yourself a favour by adding this to your collection.

This is one of the best soundtracks I've ever listened to, and what makes it so unique is the variety of music from different decades: the late 50's, the 60's, the 70's, and the early 80's. The music that gets to my heart, mind, and soul is that of the 60's; it'll always be my favorite. I enjoy watching movies very much, and it is the music that makes "Forrest Gump" an enjoyable one indeed (yes, I know - Tom Hanks as Forrest Gump made it enjoyable as well). But even if you haven't seen the movie, you are sure to like this soundtrack - there is something here for just about everyone. And it has a bit of just about everything, too: folk, Motown, soul, and of course, rock-n-roll. The only thing preventing me from giving it five stars is that there are no Beatles or Stones songs included -what's the 60's without them? And it has no disco songs from the late 70's (oh, I know - that's SO disappointing!). Otherwise, this is a must-have; you'll be listening to it over and over again. Enjoy!

A review I read said that this album offers an excellent documentary of the 60's music scene without paying too much homage to Jimi Hendrix and the English blues invasion. How true. Jimi, with all due respect, can be found in just about any rock/blues compilation off the rack. This album offers a view of the flower scene that's strictly American. And the effort pays off. Magnificently. Joan Baez's crystal clear vocals on a touching rendition of Dylan's Blowing In The Wind; The Supremes and Aretha's power in the soul scene; the war against war & politics in Fortunate Son and Mr President and the understatement of a rocking combination of horns, bass and drums in Duane Eddy's Rebel Rouser. How not to love it?