Music From and Inspired by the Motion Picture Nowhere Boy
Sony Music
www.nowhereboy.co.uk
Nowhere Boy is the latest film to focus on the enigma that was John Lennon. This particular film focuses on his early years and the influences of both his mother and his aunt on what would become the most revolutionary music made to date. The soundtrack spans two discs and features nearly thirty songs, without a clunker among them. As a matter of fact, listening to this collection is a lot like listening to those really good Time-Life Music collections of early Rock and Roll music.
Disc one plays host to eighteen songs that are actually found in the film. Six of them are performed by the “house band,” The Nowhere Boys. Realistically, if you aren’t paying attention, you’ll find no noticeable disruption between The Nowhere Boys songs and the likes of Dickie Valentine, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Big Mama Thornton. The highlights here though are the haunting wails of Screamin’ Jay Hawkins’ Voodoo-laden version of “I Put a Spell on You” and the disc’s closing moment, “Mother,” performed by Lennon himself. While the rest of this disc is excellent, it’s interesting to hear Lennon’s voice come on at the end – it was commanding and different then and it is just as commanding and different now.
Disc two is chock full of oldies but goodies that were inspired by (or perhaps also inspired the film and its makers). Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Buddy Holly, and Elvis Presley are all present and accounted for but for my money, the powerhouse on this disc is Fats Domino. When he sings “Ain’t That a Shame” you can’t help but feel it in your bones. The Bobby Fuller Four’s “I Fought the Law” is an excellent moment as well. This disc reminds me a lot of the La Bamba film soundtrack from years ago- and that’s always a good thing.
Overall, if you are looking for a great collection of timeless music, this soundtrack is your man. I haven’t seen the film but there’s no way it could go wrong with these classics playing the background. If you love early Rock and Roll then you need to own this album.
Review by Mark Fisher
