Customer Reviews

Nashville: The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

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At last, here on CD, the soundtrack of one of my favourite films of all time. I still remember the shock I had on seeing "Nashville" for the first time on TV a few years after its initial release - the great performances, magnificent storytelling and innovative style knocked me out. I was able to see the movie again just a few years ago on the big screen and was delighted to see that it hasn't aged. But I couldn't get my hands on the soundtrack. But now here it is, as wonderful as all the rest. The songs stand the test of time as well as the film and there are plenty of jewels here - the magnificent "It Don't Worry Me" in both versions, Keith Carradine's Oscar winner "I'm Easy", Karen Black's cute contributions and Henry Gibson's "200 Years" (interesting to see that another reviewer views this as a patriotic song. Personally, I've always found it brilliantly and satirically funny). But the real stand-out is Ronee Blakely. Her songs and voice are absolutely magnificent. It's high time some enterprising company re-released her solo album(s) because, apart from her backing vocals on Dylan's "Hurricane", the "Nashville" soundtrack seems to be the only recording available on CD of this magnificent lady's work.

Country&Western music plus subtley and irony would seem to be an oxymoron. But these aren't ordinary country tunes, just as "Nashville" is no ordinary movie. Though critical and satiric, the songs, like the movie, manage to be infectious and touching as well. I'd recommend the album not only for fans of the movie but as preparation for younger viewers who may not even have been around at the time of the movie's release. Despite its academy award, I find Carradine's "I'm Easy" to be one of the weaker songs in the collection. The stand-out is Ronee Blakeley's performance of "Dues," in which the pathos and emotional vulnerability equal some of the best moments in the music of Judy Garland and Billy Holiday.

I'll never forget the first time I saw this film in the 70's--my first exposure to Altman, a rare exposure to C&W music. Wow! I still have the vinyl album, and when it came out in CD I snatched it up. Oddly, Keith Carradine's "I'm easy," which won an Academy Award, is nowhere to be found in any of the legal music download sites, and I haven't found Ronee Blakely either. Her "Dues" and "My Idaho Home" are great! Another classic is "It Don't Worry Me." Rent the movie--you'll want this CD after you see it for sure.

First of all, I am a film buff before I'm a music lover, but "Nashvile" is brimming with some of the most dulcet and introspective music of the 1970s. Ronee Blakley truly earned her Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination as the emotionally frazzled Barbara Jean, and her songs ("Tapedeck in his tractor", "Dues" and especially "My Idaho Home") are equally impressive as her acting. Keith Carradine's Oscar-winner "I'm Easy" was a perfect tune for anyone who has ever been sensitive about falling in love, and we fall right along with him. Some songs don't reach that level, however ("200 years and "Memphis"). Missing from the soundtrack, amazingly, are the soul-stirring gospel tune "Yes I Do" and the somber ballad "Since You've Gone". Easily, the highlight is "It don't worry me," which Carradine wrote and the magnificent Barbara Harris sang in the conclusion. It is a true collection of eclectic music that reflected a crucial time in our nation's structure.

Ronee Blakely is one of the more overlooked and undervalued of American treasures, as this, her debut appearance in America except for a little heard Elektra debut, exhibits. Some of her most affecting work is included on this soundtrack: "My Idaho Home," "Tapedeck in His Tractor" and the heart-wrenching "Dues." It remains inexcusable for Warner Brothers to not release her earth-shattering LP, "Welcome" on compact disc; it has obviously slipped past the noses of the bean counters, and what a pity.

The rest of the score here is a mixed bag - all of them good - but some kitschy, some heartfelt. "(We Must Be Doin' Something Right to Last) 200 Years", which opens the film's first montage, is a hoot, and quite catchy, appearing as it did on the eve of our country's bicentennial. And while I think Keith Carradine's "Im Easy" is a fair enough composition, his reindition has always sounded kinda ickky, even though his vocals in the following year's "Welcome to LA" were pleasant and affecting.

It's one of the great films, and great scores, of the 70s. And then there's gorgeous Ronee Blakely.

Its a rare thing for me to find a CD that has every song I like. "Memphis" is a hoot as Karen Black tries without success to hit that high note at the end "some MOOOOOORRRRRREEEE"; "My Idaho Home" is a lot like "Coal Miner's Daughter". Ronnee Blakely has a beautiful voice. "I'm Easy" is very good. I hear that one alot on a 70's station I listen to. "Bluebird" is very good and Tim Brown who sings it sound a lot like Charley Pride. The duet between Haven Hamilton and Barbara Jean is very good, very catchy and easy to sing along with. The version of "It Don't Worry Me" sung by Barbara Harris just touches my heart with her soaring vocals. Sure, its not for everyone but its for me.

I had this on an old vinyl album way back in 1975 when I was in the fifth grade and my parents dragged me off to this weird but GREAT film. I loved it then and I love it still. Not too many people know it, but these were all original songs written specifically for the characters who sang them, and most of the times by the specific actors portraying them. Yet another component of a legendary masterpiece by Robert Altman.

This is the soundtrack to one of director Robert Altman's best movies. The film is about the music industry in Nashville, so naturally there are a lot of songs in it. One of the most unusual things about the movie is that most of the songs were written by the actors. Surprisingly, the songs are actually good. They are, variously, either touching or humorous. The songs sung by Henry Gibson are pretty corny, but that's presumably intentional. Of course, the best song here is the Academy Award winning "I'm Easy", but all the songs are enjoyable. I will say that people who haven't seen the movie may not like the songs as much, so I would recommend seeing the movie first. Then, if you like the movie, buy the soundtrack.

In my mad rush to track the upcoming DVD release of "Nashville", I almost missed the re-issue of the soundtrack on CD. Folks who haven't seen the film may listen to the tunes here and rightly wonder what the hell the fuss is all about, but if you've loved Robert Altman's film as much as I have, you've gotta own this. And after a dozen or so listens, you might actually begin to see the non-cinematic merits of a mawkish piece of drivel like "For the Sake of the Children"!

Love the movie, love the soundtrack. In my opinion the best songs come from Ronnee Blakley's (Dues and My Idhao Home) and Keith Carradine. Why he never pursued a career in music is beyond me. I'm bummed that two songs from the movie, one of Keith's and the Bill, Mary and Tom trio's are not included. No offense to Karen Black but I would have gladly traded her songs for these tracks. Should we hold our breath for "Nashville 2"?