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From the Vault...
12/07/2003
#867 |
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info
Bob Dylan
"Pat Garrett & Billy The Kid (soundtrack)"
© Columbia Records
Rating:
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track listing
Main Title Theme (Billy)
Cantina Theme
(Workin' For
The Law)
Billy 1
Bunkhouse Theme
River Theme
Turkey Chase
Knockin' On
Heaven's Door
Final Theme
Billy 4
Billy 7
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Bob Dylan
"Pat Garrett & Billy The Kid (soundtrack)"
The soundtrack of Pat Garrett and Billy The Kid is famous for one
song, the classic "Knockin' On Heaven's Door," by Bob Dylan. Most
critics agree that Dylan writes great tunes (he co-wrote this song with Terry
Paul, Roger McGuinn [The Byrds], and Jim Keltner), yet his unique vocal style
has been rated as fair to even terrible. Yet, Dylan's vocal style on this
classic song from this soundtrack does a complete turnaround, and to those who
criticized his whining vocal style scratch their heads, and wonder why Dylan
didn't keep his "normal singing" style from this soundtrack.
Taken from Amazon.com:
Billy the Kid is reimagined by director Sam Peckinpah as a kind of Old West
rock star, a young man who wants to do his own thing but constantly runs up
against the objections of the establishment--in this case, the cattle barons
who run this part of the country. Peckinpah indulged in some quirky casting,
including Bob Dylan as an outlaw named Alias and most of Kris Kristofferson's
band as Billy's gang. He also draws exceptional performances out of a cast of
old veterans, including James Coburn as the reluctant Pat Garrett, R.G.
Armstrong, Katy Jurado, and Slim Pickens, who has a terrific death scene to
Dylan's "Knockin' on Heaven's Door." Look for this longer version (122 minutes);
the shorter version is the one that MGM recut against Peckinpah's wishes,
removing all the character development and Peckinpah's elegiac sense of the
Old West in favor of action and violence. --Marshall Fine
"Main Title Theme" (Billy) is a great accoustic guitar instrumental,
outlaw-styled, easily fitting the theme of the movie. Another instrumental,
"Cantina Theme" (Workin' For The Law)" definitely has the classic outlaw
sound, and has a similar quality as heard on Bad Company's "Shooting Star."
"Billy 1" features accoustic guitar and harmonica, and like the "Main
Title Theme" (Billy)" it is very enjoyable, and also features Dylan's vocals,
which is sung in a more "normal" voice than we normally know of. Bruce
Springsteen's Nebraska album can be compared to this song as well.
"Bunkhouse Theme" is another accoustic guitar instrumental, very
pleasant, and a nice backdrop for the movie soundtrack. "River Theme"
has vocals, but they are mostly used as humming the "verses"; this song is good
for background music at a bar, as the audience watches the spoken dialogue.
The instumental "Turkey Chase" has a more bluegrass style, with the
banjo as the main rhythm, with fiddle and accoustic guitar providing the leads.
"Final Theme" has a title that speaks for itself -- it is a well-done
instrumental, that easily fits the ending of the movie, as the closing credits
appear on the screen.
"Billy 4" has vocals, and it is easily recognized as Bob Dylan's.
Yet, "Billy 7" has the listener wondering if the vocals on this tune is
that of Dylan's or someone else from the movie. It could be that of Kris
Kristofferson, or one of Dylan's bandmates.
Very interesting soundtrack music for the Pat Garrett and Billy The Kid
movie. Soundtrack albums are mostly provided by bridge music, and there is plenty
of entertaining instrumentals on this album. Yet the most incredible song
featured here, is Dylan's "Knockin' On Heaven's Door," a classic in
which this song is just over 2 minutes in length, it is enough to consider it
being a classic song for all fans, either Rock or Country will enjoy. The
remainder of the album is just the same, entertaining and is a good backdrop
for working around the house, or maybe music to fill the atmosphere at a party.
© WSVNRadio.net. All rights reserved.
Review or any portion may not be reproduced
without written permission. Cover art is the
intellectual property of
Columbia Records
and is used for reference purposes only.
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