November 12, 2014

Soundtrack - Performance (1970)

“Performance” is a 1970 soundtrack album to the film “Performance” by Donald Cammell and Nicolas Roeg. It features music from Randy Newman, Merry Clayton, Ry Cooder, Jack Nitzsche, Buffy Sainte-Marie, The Last Poets and Mick Jagger.
A single from the album, "Memo from Turner" sung by Mick Jagger (b/w the instrumental "Natural Magic") was released in 1970 reaching #32 on the UK singles chart.
This soundtrack captures the various moods of a spacy film starring Mick Jagger as a reclusive rock star whose home is invaded by a fleeing gangster.
On the opening track, Randy Newman is driven hard by Ry Cooder's fierce slide guitar. If you listen closely, you can hear the laconic Newman almost crack up laughing as he rocks like never before or since. Other musical notables include Merry Clayton and Buffy Sainte-Marie. Veteran producer Jack Nitzsche wrote most of the tunes, a notable exception being "Memo From Turner," penned by Jagger and Keith Richards.
Listening to only the soundtrack, you miss the bizarre context of the movie, but this is one interesting listen.

Track listing

Side 1
1. "Randy Newman - Gone Dead Train" - 2:56
2. "Merry Clayton - Performance" - 1:49
3. "Ry Cooder - Get Away" - 2:09
4. "Ry Cooder - Powis Square - 2:25
5. "Jack Nitzsche - Rolls Royce and Acid" - 1:50
6. "Buffy Sainte-Marie - Dyed, Dead, Red" - 2:35
7. "Jack Nitzsche, Randy Newman - Harry Flowers" - 4:03

Side 2
1. "Mick Jagger, Keith Richards - Memo from Turner" - 4:08
2. "Buffy Sainte-Marie, Ry Cooder - Hashishin" - 3:39
3. "The Last Poets - Wake Up, Niggers" - 2:47
4. "Merry Clayton - Poor White Hound Dog" - 2:50
5. "Jack Nitzsche - Natural Magic" - 1:40
6. "Merry Clayton Singers - Turner's Murder" - 4:15

Credits
Original music by Jack Nitzsche
Conductor - Randy Newman
Singers - Mick Jagger, Merry Clayton, Buffy Sainte-Marie
Santur - Nasser Rastegar-Nejad
Moog synthesiser - Bernard Krause
Producer - Jack Nitzsche

Music performers
Ry Cooder - guitar
Amiya Dasgupta - sitar
Lowell George - guitar
Milt Holland - drums and percussion
Gene Parsons - drums and guitars
Russ Titelman - percussion
Bobby West - bass

Notes
Genre: Pop, Rock, Soundtrack
Length: 36:26
Label: Warner Bros. Records

© 1970

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