Customer Reviews

The Natural (1984 Film)

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Randy Newman is known to the non-cinematically-obsessed public as the sourpuss composer and gravelly-voiced singer of the tart novelty hit "Short People," but here is the work for which he should have won his well-deserved Oscar (instead of for the trifle he composed for 2001's "Monsters, Inc.").

With "The Natural," which he not only composed but conducted, Newman manages the pretty neat trick of stepping into the enormous shoes left by Aaron Copland. Newman takes the perfectly American pasttime of baseball and melds it perfectly with the American penchant for youth, sunshine, nostalgia, and happy endings--all without a single instance of treacle or falsity. He sounds Coplandian here without sounding slavish. He soars on wings of his own making and utterly enriches the film "The Natural" with his music.

"Prologue 1915 - 1923" opens the soundtrack and deftly sketches the career Robert Redford's Roy Hobbs character had in the minors and then briefly in the majors, limning the energetic youth of the new baseball player followed by the slower, more minor-key weariness Hobbs experiences as he seems to lose his touch. With "Knock the Cover Off the Ball," Newman somehow captures a sparkly, sunstruck afternoon out in the middle of a baseball field, the fierce concentration needed to do the deed demanded in the title, and the gathering speed of the ball itself. In "Winning," the big band, swinging tune says it all. You need brass balls to survive this ball game, son, and the music handily underscores that rule without the aid of a single lyric.

Had Randy Newman never written another film score beyond 1984's "The Natural," he could easily and justly have rested on these fine laurels. We are lucky that he didn't.

This the most magical soundtrack I have every purchased! I personally think it is Randy Newman's best work and as far as soundtracks go I put it up there with anything by Nino Rota. The way Newman uses the strings and paces the songs one would swear he was the prodigal son of Aaron Copeland. Of course he isn't but like Copeland's operas he definitely knows how to compose music which feels Americana. You can almost see wheat fields blowing and you'll certainly want t a piece of Apple Pie after hearing the title song, "The Natural." A must for any lover of soundtracks.

Great movie music! The main theme is sweetly nostalgic of a simpler time, and the "Majors" theme is swingy and jazzy. The slower parts are relaxing to listen to, and the faster parts are great to dance to. Highly recommended.

The music on this soundtrack is great. It is inspirational and moving, may take some time to grow on you. If you like the movie and have a taste for nostalgia and great instrumentals this is a great album. I listen to it all of the time.

Randy Newman? Wrote and performed "Short People" Part of Bachman Turner Overdrive if I recall..

However when put to the task of a soundtrack for a movie about a baseball "Natural" Mr. Newman pulled out all the stops. You'll hear the famous clips from this CD during a "best of" sports feature or maybe a biography of a great hero. It's a must have for a cinematic classical collector. The composition includes soft and pleasant textures like walking in a magnificient wheat field on a sunny day - some rinky dink 20's style jazz...a caliope rendition of "Take me out to the Ballgame".

Grab your favorite beverage or herbal remedy, get in your favorite easy chair, load the CD and crank it up.

You'll love it.

Music that not only enriches the film but is worth listening on its own. My LP is almost worn out, so now I can enjoy it on CD.

Most of these songs are instrumental but they are also very recognizable. A great movie with a great sound track.

It did not contain the ballads that were played in the background. they were hits from the 30's & 40's whicj were not part of the track.