Grace Of My Heart - Original Soundtrack

Tracklisting

1. God Give Me Strength - Burt Bacharach
2. Love Doesn't Ever Fail Us - Williams Brothers
3. Take A Run At The Sun - Mascis, J.
4. I Do - For Real
5. Between Two Worlds - Shawn Colvin
6. My Secret Love - Lily Banquette
7. Man From Mars - Kristen Vigard
8. Born To Love That Boy - For Real
9. Truth Is You Lied - Jill Sobule
10. Unwanted Number - For ...
.../> 12. In Another World - Portrait
13. Don't You Think It's Time - Mascis, J.
14. Absence Makes The Heart Grow Fonder - Boyd Rice
15. Boat On The Sea, A - Kristen Vigard

I searched for years for this soundtrack on CD thats how good it is - when I was working at a cinema this album was always playing in the foyer and got under my skin to the extent that I asked the projectionist for a copy of it. He couldnt ... more

Tracklisting

1. God Give Me Strength - Burt Bacharach
2. Love Doesn't Ever Fail Us - Williams Brothers
3. Take A Run At The Sun - Mascis, J.
4. I Do - For Real
5. Between Two Worlds - Shawn Colvin
6. My Secret Love - Lily Banquette
7. Man From Mars - Kristen Vigard
8. Born To Love That Boy - For Real
9. Truth Is You Lied - Jill Sobule
10. Unwanted Number - For Real
11. Groovin' On You - Juned
12. In Another World - Portrait
13. Don't You Think It's Time - Mascis, J.
14. Absence Makes The Heart Grow Fonder - Boyd Rice
15. Boat On The Sea, A - Kristen Vigard

I searched for years for this soundtrack on CD thats how good it is - when I was working at a cinema this album was always playing in the foyer and got under my skin to the extent that I asked the projectionist for a copy of it. He couldnt give me the CD but instead gave me a promo copy of the tape which I wore out after playing for around 3 years.

I eventually got this album very cheaply in a sale - at this point I still hadnt seen the film as it is deleted in the UK and is hard to track down on region 1 DVD. Although this review is about the soundtrack a bit of background on the film is needed.

The film is a fictionalised biography of Carole King and her rise through the Brill Building as a songwriter to a singer in her own right and all the men that figure in her life in between. I knew the story of the film and after listening to this album I felt that all the film needed to do to impress me was have them play during the scenes.

The film was eventually shown on ITV a couple of Christmases ago at about 1am and although I was shattered and started to drop off to sleep I will myself to stay awake until the end - this involved standing up and walking around alot.

The talent involved in the film and album is astounding - the film was directed by Alison Anders (Gas,Food, Lodging) and stars Ileana Douglas as the Carole King character Edna Buxton. It follows her success as a songwriter launching big careers through the songs she pens for them and how she sacrifices her dreams for the various men in her life until she eventually achieves her goal of recording her own hit album.

Along the way she has her heart broken by her husband - Eric Stoltz - who has numerous affairs, a married man who won't give up his wife for her and the love of her life Matt Dillon, playing the Brian Wilson character. This character slowly goes mad and almost takes her with him.

The soundtrack gathered together various talents to write and perform songs in the style of the era and although I haven't heard of alot of the people involved this still rates as one of all time favourite albums.

The opening song is quite well known now as it was included on the Burt Bacharach/Elvis Costello album but here God Give Me Strength sounds better because of the context it is in.

Love Doesn't Ever Fail Us sounds like Jan & Dean and Take A Run At The Sun sounds like the Beach Boys.

But the best songs here are the female ones - especially when you see where they fit into the film and the characters inspiration behind them. The best one is I Do - a song about a couple meeting and the run up to their wedding - this song is so good that when I played it to my sister-in-law they took a copy to play at their wedding. It is a beautiful, cheesy, bouncy bit of pop that just doesn't get made anymore.

My Secret Love is also brilliant - it tells of a womans affair with a married man and how she won't give up his name because she loves him to much to have him criticised or broken by their relationship - "I won't give the world the chance of accusing you" - and even has a spoken word part like in the old 50's/60's girl group songs.

The other highlight is Unwanted Number about a teenage pregnancy and the scandal it will cause in her family. The lyrics and music to all of the songs contained here are without fault and every song is a hidden gem on a hidden gem of a soundtrack to a hidden gem of a film.

I would watch the film first though as the music just enhances it more than any other music based film I have seen for years. I guarantee that if you watch the film and enjoy it you will be hunting down the soundtrack.

 

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