New releases - 03.03.07: REVIEWS catalogue.

Original Soundtrack

Romeo & Juliet (Capitol 3863232)

The soundtrack to Baz Luhrmann's first significant picture - a retelling of Shakespeare's classic tale, set in modern day Verona - is as unconventional and noteworthy as the film itself, and has sold more than 520,000 copies since its 1997 release. Its 10th anniversary reissue finds it expanded from 13 to 18 tracks, with a new remix of Luhrmann's bizarre hit Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunglasses) and the film version of Quindon Tarver's take on Prince's When Doves Cry among the new additions. From the original soundtrack, Gavin Friday's Angel remains the best of many songs of that name and easily the most commercial track he has made, while Des'ree's love theme Kissing You, The Cardigans' Lovefool and Stina Nordenstam's Little Star provide a muscular backbone to one of the strongest soundtrack albums assembled for a very long time.

Act I

Act 1 (Southbound CDSEWM 145)

The club hit Tom The Peeper provided Act 1 with their only UK chart appearance, scraping to number 40 in 1974. They were almost as unsuccessful at home, but the inclusion of several of their tracks on Ace Records compilations and extensive use of Act 1 samples by the hip- hop community has raised their profile. This is the long overdue CD debut of their self-titled 1974 album, with a trio of bonus tracks. Producer Reaford Gerald had more success steering Millie Jackson and Joe Simon, but he provides his charges with some great material here, mostly melodic uptempo tracks and smoochy R&B - the latter category including a slow and sinewy remake of The Four Tops' hit Still Water, complete with spoken lyrics, cooing backing vocalists, gulls and running water sound effects, which somehow works.

BB King