Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
O'Lucky at last!, November 17, 2001
I was thrilled to discover that this album was finally released on CD. I've worn through numerous copies of the LP, and ever since the advent of the CD, I have been looking for it on CD with no luck, until now!Like many other folks, I was profoundly moved by the film and music of O Lucky Man. Years later, when my wife finally saw the film I had talked about for so long, she offered the opinion that it was a little boys adolescent fantasy, and in retrospect, I think there is some truth in that. As soundtracks go, O'Lucky Man is in a class by itself. Not a mere aural background to a film, but rather it is an integrated part of the film, the characters, and the commentary. I still think of it as an amazing bit of work, and was lucky enough to attend a seminar on the movie in Los Angeles, hosted by Lindsay Anderson and Malcolm McDowell, in which we learned among other things that the song "My Home Town" had a sequence of someone attempting suicide, which Travis tries to stop by climbing a rain gutter and effect a rescue, only to have it tear away from the building at the last moment. Anderson discovered that even the original negative of the scene had been destroyed by Warners, who felt that film was too long, and ordered the cut. Anderson joked about the impact of a 3 minute scene on a movie that was already running at a "leisurely pace" and found a first generation print of the scene under his bed. That night was to be the first time the film was to be screened as it was intended. This was not to be, and although he hand carried a print of the scene to be spliced into the film for the night, somehow, it still never happened! Which led to a very funny, and (...)off director howling at Hollywood for it's classic ineptitude. I'm waiting for my VHS copy to arrive to see if the video release has the footage restored. I'm recalling this from memory, about 15 years ago.. So I hope I haven't made too serious a mistake here. The music however is another matter. The integration of the Alan Price and his band into the film, the strength of the songwriting, made it one of my favorite albums. I was searching for something related to Alan Price, and there it was, a lovely reissue of the soundtrack on CD. Sound wise, this is an open and clean sounding reissue. The album always seemed to be mixed a bit on the low side, and this reissue allows the soundstage to emerge a bit more defined. Price is an odd musician, he has released albums that celebrated an almost working class take on the music world, and also lovely concept albums like "Between Today and Yesterday," and a great live album "Performing Price," which was just released on CD. In contrast to former bandmate Eric Burdon, who followed a completely different career path, Price cut wonderful covers of songs like Randy Newman's "Simon Smith and his Amazing Dancing Bear" a far cry from his R&B roots. I really love this album, and I agree with David Kinney in that this work stands on it's own even without the film. Of interest is the updated liner notes by Malcolm McDowell, in which he says that he was amazed that this wasn't nominated for an Academy Award ... my thoughts exactly. Go ahead, buy this CD.. it's a wonderful bit of work.
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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
O lucky listener....., January 29, 2001
Here's a rarity alright...a soundtrack to a great cult film that stands on it's own merit. It is not at all neccessary to have seen Lindsay Anderson's minor masterpiece to appreciate Alan Price's wonderful song stylings. Alan Price had a featured role in the film and many of the songs were performed concert style within the context of the fiim, but they have lost none of their lustre away from the big screen and some 30 years down the line. Ballads, instrumentals, music hall, and good old northern english soul make for an eclectic and thouroughly pleasant listening experience.Top pick; The title cut ,a rollicking good time and a tune Alan's old mates The Animals would have been proud to call their own. Hey, go rent the movie (uh..good luck) but by all means don't pass up the chance to own this wonderful timeless piece of musical inspiration.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
"When no one can tempt you with heaven or hell- You'll be a lucky man!", March 19, 2007
"O Lucky Man!" (1973), directed by Lindsay Anderson (with Ralph Richardson, Malcolm McDowell and Helen Mirren) is a constant source of joy when I watch it again and again. Off I go with Mick Travis (McDowell) in his crazy surreal journey up and down, back and forth, "around the world in circles" along with the Alan Price's band that provide the music commentaries in the traditions of a Greek Chorus or Brecht's Theater. I love his songs to the film very much. It is possibly the best use of a rock soundtrack in a film. I am a proud CD owner and I listen to it constantly - in my car, at work, while exercising. It is short; ten songs only last for 25 minutes but what the minutes they are. Each song, every note and each word feel so perfectly simple and so joyously cool that you can't forget them. For many years, after I saw the film for the first time, I used to sing to myself from time to time, especially if I was sad or confused or would face the important and not easy decisions:
"Everyone is going through changes
No one knows what's going on.
And everybody changes places
But the world still carries on." -
and the song would always make me feel better. Eventually, it has become the important part of my life philosophy.
The most famous and deservingly so is the title song, "O Lucky Man" which was presented in the movie not once but two times, in the opening scene and in the final one. The second rendition is perhaps the best track on the CD, the most memorable scene in the movie and the best performance by Alan Price. I can go on forever about the disc, the songs, their melodies and the lyrics but it is better to hear them once than to try to describe them. They are all wonderful, as much as the film is and the film would definitely not be the same without Alan Price, his band and his songs and instrumental compositions for the film ("Pastoral", "Arrival"). I just want to name the songs and their lyrics:
"O Lucky Man!":
If you have a friend on whom you think you can rely -
You are a lucky man!
If you've found the reason to live on and not to die -
You are a lucky man!
"Poor people":
Someone's got to win in the human race-
If it isn't you, then it has to be me.
"Sell, sell"
Running here, running there
Keep it moving, sonny, don't despair
Because the next one will be, the next one will be, the next one will be, the best one of the year
"Look over your shoulder"
When everything in life seems just as it should be
At last success seems just around the door
Don't forget boy
Look over your shoulder
'Cause things don't stay the same forever more
"Justice":
We all want justice but you got to have the money to buy it
You'd have to be a fool to close your eyes and deny it
"My Town":
Down on the corner of the street
Where I was born we used to meet
And sing the old songs
We called them dole songs
"Changes":
Love must always change to sorrow
And everyone must play the game,
Here today and gone tomorrow-
But the world goes on the same.
And that's what you may learn in the end of your journey to the top of the stairs, to the success:
"Takers and fakers and talkers won't tell you.
Teachers and preachers will just buy and sell you.
When no one can tempt you with heaven or hell-
You'll be a lucky man!"
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