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Soundtrack Credits
Landlords and Tenants
Performed and composed by Laurel Aitken
Performed and composed by Laurel Aitken
Absolute Beginners
Performed and composed by David Bowie
Performed and composed by David Bowie
That's Motivation
Performed and composed by David Bowie
Brass arrangement by Gil Evans
Performed and composed by David Bowie
Brass arrangement by Gil Evans
Volare (Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu)
Performed by David Bowie
Composed by Domenico Modugno and Franco Migliacci
English lyrics by Mitchell Parish (uncredited)
Performed by David Bowie
Composed by Domenico Modugno and Franco Migliacci
English lyrics by Mitchell Parish (uncredited)
Riot City
Performed and composed by Jerry Dammers
Brass arrangements by Gil Evans
Performed and composed by Jerry Dammers
Brass arrangements by Gil Evans
Having It All
Performed by Eighth Wonder featuring Patsy Kensit
Composed by Patsy Kensit (as P. Kensit) and Gordon Beauchamp
Performed by Eighth Wonder featuring Patsy Kensit
Composed by Patsy Kensit (as P. Kensit) and Gordon Beauchamp
Selling Out
Performed by Slim Gaillard
Composed by Tot Taylor, Julien Temple and Slim Gaillard
Performed by Slim Gaillard
Composed by Tot Taylor, Julien Temple and Slim Gaillard
Rocking at the 21's
Performed by Willie Harris (as Wee Willie Harris)
Composed by Willie Harris (as William Harris)
Performed by Willie Harris (as Wee Willie Harris)
Composed by Willie Harris (as William Harris)
Bongo Rock
Performed by The Jet Streams
Composed by Preston Epps and Arthur Egnoian
Performed by The Jet Streams
Composed by Preston Epps and Arthur Egnoian
Little Cat (You've never had it so good)
Performed by Jonas Hurst
Composed by Nick Lowe
Additional arrangements by David Bedford
Performed by Jonas Hurst
Composed by Nick Lowe
Additional arrangements by David Bedford
Napoli
Performed by Clive Langer, The Perils of Plastic, Tom Morley and Garry Barnicle
Composed by Clive Langer and Julien Temple
Performed by Clive Langer, The Perils of Plastic, Tom Morley and Garry Barnicle
Composed by Clive Langer and Julien Temple
Hey Little Schoolgirl
Performed by The Paragons
Composed by Paul Winley (uncredited) (incorrectly credited to R. Palmer)
Performed by The Paragons
Composed by Paul Winley (uncredited) (incorrectly credited to R. Palmer)
Rock Baby Rock
Performed and composed by Bertice Reading
Performed and composed by Bertice Reading
Killer Blow
Performed by Sade
Composed by Sade (as Adu), Simon Emmerson (as Booth) and Larry Stabbins (as Stabbins)
Brass arrangements by Gil Evans
Performed by Sade
Composed by Sade (as Adu), Simon Emmerson (as Booth) and Larry Stabbins (as Stabbins)
Brass arrangements by Gil Evans
Scorpio
Performed by The Scorpions
Composed by Edward Barber
Performed by The Scorpions
Composed by Edward Barber
So What (Lyric Version)
Performed by Smiley Culture
Composed by Miles Davis
Lyrics by Smiley Culture
Brass arrangement by Gil Evans
Performed by Smiley Culture
Composed by Miles Davis
Lyrics by Smiley Culture
Brass arrangement by Gil Evans
Have You Ever Had It Blue
Performed by Style Council (as The Style Council)
Composed by Paul Weller
Brass arrangements by Gil Evans
Additional arrangements by David Bedford
Performed by Style Council (as The Style Council)
Composed by Paul Weller
Brass arrangements by Gil Evans
Additional arrangements by David Bedford
Ted Ain't Ded
Performed by Tenpole Tudor
Composed by Edward Tudor-Pole (as Edward Tudorpole) and Julien Temple
Performed by Tenpole Tudor
Composed by Edward Tudor-Pole (as Edward Tudorpole) and Julien Temple
Baixar Absolute Beginners Soundtrack Cd
Rodrigo Bay
Performed by Working Week
Composed by Simon Emmerson (as Booth), Larry Stabbins (as Stabbins) and Juliet Roberts (as Roberts)
Performed by Working Week
Composed by Simon Emmerson (as Booth), Larry Stabbins (as Stabbins) and Juliet Roberts (as Roberts)
Boogie Stop Shuffle (The Rough and the Smooth)
Composed by Charles Mingus
Arranged and conducted by Gil Evans
Composed by Charles Mingus
Arranged and conducted by Gil Evans
Better Git It in Your Soul (The Hot and the Cool)
Composed by Charles Mingus
Arranged and conducted by Gil Evans
Composed by Charles Mingus
Arranged and conducted by Gil Evans
The Naked and the Dead
Composed by Gil Evans
Arranged by Gil Evans and Colin Purbrook
Composed by Gil Evans
Arranged by Gil Evans and Colin Purbrook
Switching It Off
Composed by Elvis Costello (as MacManus)
Composed by Elvis Costello (as MacManus)
Va Va Voom
Composed, arranged and conducted by Gil Evans
Composed, arranged and conducted by Gil Evans
Great Balls of Fire
Composed by Jack Hammer (as Hammer) and Otis Blackwell (as Blackwell)
Performed by Bruce Payne (uncredited)
Composed by Jack Hammer (as Hammer) and Otis Blackwell (as Blackwell)
Performed by Bruce Payne (uncredited)
Hancock's Half Hour (A Sunday afternoon at home)
From the BBC Radio Series
Composed by Angela Morley
From the BBC Radio Series
Composed by Angela Morley
Here Comes the Bride
Original arrangement by Luis Jardim
Original arrangement by Luis Jardim
My Mammy
Composed by Walter Donaldson (as W. Donaldson), Sam Lewis (as S. Lewis) and Joe Young (as J. Young)
Composed by Walter Donaldson (as W. Donaldson), Sam Lewis (as S. Lewis) and Joe Young (as J. Young)
Rock A Bye Baby
Original arrangement by Clive Langer and Steve Allen
Original arrangement by Clive Langer and Steve Allen
Teddy Bears Picnic
Composed by John W. Bratton (as J. Bruton) and Jimmy Kennedy (as J. Kennedy)
Performed by Bruce Payne (uncredited)
Composed by John W. Bratton (as J. Bruton) and Jimmy Kennedy (as J. Kennedy)
Performed by Bruce Payne (uncredited)
Artist | Credit |
---|---|
Laurel Aitken | Producer |
David Bedford | Arranger |
Simon Booth | Composer |
David Bowie | Composer, Performer, Primary Artist, Producer |
Jerry Dammers | Composer, Performer, Primary Artist, Producer |
Ray Davies | Composer, Performer, Primary Artist |
Miles Davis | Composer |
Eighth Wonder | Performer, Primary Artist |
Gil Evans | Brass Arrangement, Composer, Performer, Primary Artist |
Slim Gaillard | Composer, Performer, Primary Artist |
Patsy Kensit | Composer, Performer, Primary Artist |
Clive Langer | Composer, Primary Artist, Producer |
Nick Lowe | Composer |
Francesco Migliacci | Composer |
Robin Miller | Producer |
Charles Mingus | Composer |
Robert Porter | Assistant |
Sade | Primary Artist |
Daniel Secunda | Music Coordinator |
Smiley Culture | Composer, Performer, Primary Artist |
The Style Council | Primary Artist |
Richard Sullivan | Engineer |
Tot Taylor | Performer |
Julien Temple | Performer |
Tenpole Tudor | Performer, Primary Artist |
Eddie Tudorpole | Composer |
Paul Weller | Composer |
Julian Wheatley | Engineer |
Alan Winstanley | Producer |
Working Week | Primary Artist |
(Redirected from Absolute Beginners (soundtrack))
Absolute Beginners | |
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Directed by | Julien Temple |
Produced by |
|
Written by | Richard Burridge Christopher Wicking Don MacPherson |
Starring |
|
Music by | Gil Evans |
Cinematography | Oliver Stapleton |
Edited by | Gerry Hambling |
Distributed by | Palace Pictures |
Release date | |
Running time | 108 minutes[1] |
Country | United Kingdom |
Language | English |
Budget | £8.4 million[2] |
Box office | £1.8 million[3] |
Absolute Beginners is a 1986 British musical filmadapted from Colin MacInnes' book of the same name about life in late 1950s London. The film is directed by Julien Temple and stars Eddie O' Connell, Patsy Kensit (in one of her first mainstream roles), James Fox, Edward Tudor-Pole, Anita Morris and David Bowie, with featured appearances by Sade Adu, Ray Davies, and Steven Berkoff. The film was screened out of competition at the 1986 Cannes Film Festival.[4]
Upon release, Absolute Beginners Estnod 12.1.31 product key. received immense coverage in the British media. At the time, the British film industry was perceived as being on the point of collapse (with the recent failure of the film Revolution). However, the film was panned by critics and became a box office bomb. Some of the criticisms included stylistic anachronisms, such as the mini-skirt and decidedly 1980s music from the likes of The Style Council and Sade, the bowdlerisation of Kensit's character (Crepe Suzette had been depicted as a promiscuous 'negrophile' in the book), and the casting of Bowie, who made it a condition of his musical contribution. Although the film was not a success, Bowie's theme song was very popular in the UK and reached number two in the charts.
The commercial failure of Absolute Beginners and another film released about the same time, The Mission, led to the collapse of Goldcrest, a major British film studio.
Plot[edit]
The film takes place in 1958, a time in which pop culture is transforming from 1950s jazz and early rock to a new generation on the verge of the 1960s. How to make a bone handle for the knife. London is post-World War II, but pre-Beatles/Stones. The storyline incorporates elements of the 1958 Notting Hill race riots.
Young photographer Colin falls in love with aspiring fashion designer Crepe Suzette but she's only interested in her career. Colin tries to win her affections by taking a crack at the big time himself. Meanwhile, racial tensions heat up in Colin's neighbourhood of London.
Cast[edit]
- Eddie O'Connell as Colin
- Patsy Kensit as Crepe Suzette
- James Fox as Henley Of Mayfair
- David Bowie as Vendice Partners
- Edward Tudor-Pole as Ed the Ted
- Anita Morris as Dido Lament
- Graham Fletcher-Cook as Wizard
- Tony Hippolyte as Mr. Cool
- Bruce Payne as Flikker
- Paul Rhys as Dean Swift
- Lionel Blair as Harry Charms
- Eve Ferret as Big Jill
- Ray Davies as Arthur
- Sade as Athene Duncannon
- Mandy Rice-Davies as Mum
- Julian Firth as The Misery Kid
- Alan Freeman as Call-Me-Cobber
- Steven Berkoff as The Fanatic
- Chris Pitt as Baby Boom
- Gary Beadle as Johnny Wonder
- Robbie Coltrane as Mario
- Carmen Ejogo as Carmen
- Ronald Fraser as Amberley Drove
- Joe McKenna as Fabulous Hoplite
- Irene Handl as Mrs. Larkin
- Peter-Hugo Daly as Vern
- Sylvia Syms as Cynthia Eve
- Slim Gaillard as Lloyd
Production[edit]
Christopher Wicking did an early draft of the script which he said 'had some sort of propulsion from one scene to the next'.[5] He says the script helped raise American finance but then Julien Temple became involved and disregarded a lot of Wicking's ideas. Wicking also says the filmmakers could never reconcile if the musical numbers should advance the story or illustrate something about the characters at the time.[5]
$2.5 million of the film's budget came from Orion and £2.5 million from Goldcrest.[6]
Soundtrack[edit]
Absolute Beginners: The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack | |
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Soundtrack album by | |
Released | 7 April 1986 |
Genre | Musical |
Label | Virgin Records |
Producer | Clive Langer & Alan Winstanley |
Singles from Absolute Beginners: The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack | |
|
Absolute Beginners: The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack was concurrently released to promote the film. Aside from the plethora of music from contributing artists, the musical score was composed by Gil Evans. David Bowie's title track, Ray Davies' 'Quiet Life' and the Style Council's songs were released as singles. Tracks 11-18 were exclusive to the CD version.
Reception[edit]
Writing in The New York Times, film critic Caryn James was largely unmoved by the film and remarked upon the 'uneveness' of Temple's adaptation, and its 'erratic' results.[7] Elsewhere Pauline Kael declared that, despite Temple's bona fides, the musical is 'peculiarly unlyrical and ephemeral'.[8] Comparing it unfavorably to MacInnes' novel, she wrote: 'The film has a glossy immediacy, and you can feel the flash and determination that went into it. What you don't feel is the tormented romanticism that made English adolescents in the '70s swear by the novel the way American kids had earlier sworn by The Catcher in the Rye.'[8] Jeremy Allen in The Guardian praised Bowie's theme song but described the film as 'an overbudget turkey of huge proportions'.[9] Corey K. Creekmur stated in The International Film Musical that although the film 'failed to deliver on the critical expectations surrounding it', it remained 'a deeply interesting, if flawed, attempt to harness the contemporary musical in the services of politics and social equality'.[10]
References[edit]
- Notes
- ^'Absolute Beginners (15)'. British Board of Film Classification. 18 March 1986. Retrieved 19 October 2016.
- ^Walker p. 33
- ^Walker p. 54
- ^'Festival de Cannes: Absolute Beginners'. festival-cannes.com. Retrieved 17 July 2009.
- ^ abAll's Well That Ends: an interview with Chris WickingMonthly Film Bulletin; London Vol. 55, Iss. 658, (1 Nov 1988): 322.
- ^'Bad Beginning.' Sunday Times [London, England] 15 June 1986: 45. The Sunday Times Digital Archive. Web. 8 Apr. 2014.
- ^James, Caryn (18 April 1986). 'Rock Musical 'Beginners''. The New York Times. New York. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
- ^ abKael, Pauline (2011) [1991]. 5001 Nights at the Movies. Henry Holt and Company. p. 3. ISBN978-1-250-03357-4.
- ^Allen, Jeremy (3 December 2014). 'David Bowie: 10 of the best'. The Guardian. London. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
- ^Creekmur, Corey K. (2013). The International Film Musical. Edinburgh University Press. p. 26. ISBN978-0748634774.
- Sources
- Walker, Alexander, Icons in the Fire: The Rise and Fall of Practically Everyone in the British Film Industry 1984-2000, Orion Books, 2005
External links[edit]
- Absolute Beginners on IMDb
- Absolute Beginners at Rotten Tomatoes
- Absolute Beginners at Box Office Mojo
- Absolute Beginners at the TCM Movie Database
- Absolute Beginners at AllMovie
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