Melinda and Melinda [Soundtrack]

Woody Allen | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 8, 2005)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Soundtrack
• Label: Milan Records
• ASIN: B0007NFLMM
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #254,247 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Woody Allen fans will be in well-charted territory with the soundtrack to Melinda and Melinda. He takes "the A Train" into the familiar world of horribly dysfunctional couples with impeccable decorating taste and never looks back. The CD includes not only several Duke Ellington classics, but New Yorky standards ("Don’t Get Around Much Anymore") from long-time collaborator Dick Hyman (Bullets Over Broadway, Everyone Says I Love You). There are also some classical works that are well-suited to the tragic versionof this two-storyline movie, in which the title character is romanced by a caddish composer of serious music. In the film, Allen pays lip service to the beauty of classical music, but the heart of this collection is old jazz and in the end it functions like a more sophisticated version of the When Harry Met Sally soundtrack. This music is the perfect backdrop to reading The New Yorker or serving sea bass to six of your closest friends from the co-op board. --Leah Weathersby

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ellington, Garner, Hyman, Bartok & Stravinsky ~ Woody Allen, March 11, 2005

By 

J. Lovins "Mr. Jim" (Missouri-USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Melinda and Melinda (Audio CD)

Milan Records presents "Melinda and Melinda", the new Woody Allen film written and directed by Mr. Allen himself...featuring some of the best jazz on the entire planet...served up by some of the best names in the music business of yesterday...starting with Duke Ellington, Erroll Garner, Dick Hyman, English Chamber Orchestra with Andantino and The Shanghai Quartet String...and that's just for starters.

The line-up is quality first and five star performances fall right into place:
01. TAKE THE "A" TRAIN
02. I LET A SONG GO OUT OF MY HEART
03. IN A MELLOW TONE
all of the above performed by Duke Ellington & His Orchestra.
04. THE BEST THINGS IN LIFE ARE FREE
05. SOMEBODY STOLE MY GAL
06. WILL YOU STILL BE MINE
all the above performed by Erroll Garner.
07. MEMORIES OF YOU/MOONGLOW/NO MOON AT ALL/DARN THAT DREAM
08. PRELUDE 2 WELL TEMPERED CLAVIER
09. LOVE ME
10. DON'T GET AROUND MUCH ANYMORE
all the above performed by Dick Hyman
11. STRAVINSKY CONCERTO IN D FOR STRING ORCHESTRA: 2. ARIOSO:
the above performed by English Chamber Orchestra
12. BARTOK STRING QUARTET NO. 4
the above performed by The Shanghai Quartet

Hats off to Emmanuel Chaboredon and Ian Hierons (executive album producers), Nancy Matter at Moonlight Mastering (mastered by), Dick Hyman and Milan Records for keeping Classical and Jazz alive and well...just as it should be!

Total Time: 40:23 on 12 Tracks ~ Milan Records 36106 ~ (3/08/2005)

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Contrasting jazz and classical to match the movie's tone., March 10, 2005

By 

C. FitzSimons "The Penguin" (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Melinda and Melinda (Audio CD)

I just bought this CD last night for a long drive home from work, and I really enjoyed it. If you don't know, Melinda and Melinda tells two stories, one comic and one tragic, about the same woman, Melinda. Like the contrasting of the comedic and dramatic stories in the movie, this soundtrack sets the tone with a contrast of jazz and classical, from Duke Ellington to Stravinsky. Overall, this contrasting mix of jazz and classical sets the tone for what appears to be a great movie (I've not seen it yet, it's not playing where I live). I particularly enjoy the swingin' jazz that's used in this soundtrack. It's of the style of the 1920s, and reminded me of the excellent soundtrack to one of my favorite movies (not Woody Allen), The Cat's Meow.

This soundtrack (along with The Cat's Meow soundtrack I just mentioned) is great mood music for the long ride home from work, like I learned last night on my way home. I wholeheartedly recommend this CD.