Ryuichi Sakamoto – Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence / Furyo

Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence, also known as Furyo (俘虜, Prisoner of War), is a 1983 war film co-written and directed by Nagisa Ōshima, co-written by Paul Mayersberg, and produced by Jeremy Thomas. The film is based on the experiences of Sir Laurens van der Post (portrayed by Tom Conti as Lt. Col. John Lawrence) as a prisoner of war in Java (Japanese-occupied Dutch East Indies) during World War II, as depicted in his books The Seed and the Sower (1963) and The Night of the New Moon (1970). It stars David Bowie, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Takeshi Kitano and Jack Thompson; Sakamoto also composed and played the musical score including the vocal version of the main theme "Forbidden Colours", with lyrics written and sung by David Sylvian.

The soundtrack from the film was released on 1 May 1983 in Japan and towards the end of August 1983 in the UK. It was composed by Ryuichi Sakamoto, who also starred in the film. It was Sakamoto's first film score, though it was released several weeks after the film Daijōbu, My Friend, for which he also composed the music.

Despite receiving mixed reviews from critics, the film has since become a cult classic, largely due to its soundtrack. For the film's soundtrack, Sakamoto won the 1984 BAFTA Award for Best Film Music as well as the 1984 Mainichi Film Award for Best Film Score. David Sylvian contributed lyrics and vocals on "Forbidden Colours", a vocal version of the main theme, "Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence", both of which were released as singles.

1 Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence 4:34

2 Batavia 1:18

3 Germination 1:47

4 A Hearty Breakfast 1:21

5 Before The War 2:14

6 The Seed And The Sower 5:00

7 A Brief Encounter 2:23

8 Ride, Ride, Ride (Celliers' Brother's Song) 1:03

9 The Fight 1:29

10 Father Christmas 2:00

11 Dismissed 0:10

12 Assembly 2:16

13 Beyond Reason 2:01

14 Sowing The Seed 1:53

15 23rd Psalm 2:00

16 Last Regrets 2:40

17 Ride, Ride, Ride (Reprise) 1:04

18 The Seed 1:02

19 Forbidden Colours 4:42

Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence

Mark Isham – Home For The Holidays (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

 

Home for the Holidays is a 1995 American family comedy drama film directed by Jodie Foster and produced by Peggy Rajski and Foster. The screenplay was written by W. D. Richter, based on a short story by Chris Radant. The film's score was composed by Mark Isham. The film follows Claudia Larson, who after losing her job, kissing her ex-boss, and finding out that her daughter has plans of her own for the holidays, departs Chicago to spend her Thanksgiving with her dysfunctional family. The film takes its title from the song of the same name.

1 Rusted Root– Evil Ways 4:03

2 Mark Isham– Holiday Blues 4:46

3 Nat King Cole– Candy 3:51

4 Tom Jones– It's Not Unusual 2:01

5 Mark Isham– Blue Nights 9:25

6 Mark Isham– Birth Of The Cool Whip 2:53

7 Dinah Washington– Trouble In Mind 2:50

8 Mark Isham– The Late Night Blues 4:59

9 Mark Isham– Medley Of The Very Thought Of You/With Us, Alone 2:42

10 Mark Isham– The Very Thought Of You 4:25

11 Nat King Cole– The Very Thought Of You 3:47

12 Janis Joplin– Piece Of My Heart 4:14

 Home For The Holidays

The Golden Songs Of Ennio Morricone

 

1-1 Nino Rota Ensemble– Once Upon A Time In The West (Main Theme)

1-2 Giada Monteleone– For A Few Dollars More

1-3 Nacza– My Name Is Nobody

1-4 Nino Rota Ensemble– A Fistful Of Dollars

1-5 Massimo Faraò Trio– A Gun For Ringo (Angel Face)

1-6 Nino Rota Ensemble– A Fistful Of Dynamite

1-7 Massimo Faraò Trio– Once Upon A Time In America

1-8 Chakira– The Good, The Bad And The Ugly

1-9 Massimo Faraò Trio– Metti Una Sera A Cena

1-10 Fabiano Maniero & Silvio Celeghin & Silvio Calzavara– The Mission (Brothers)

1-11 Massimo Faraò Trio– Se Telefonando

1-12 Giada Monteleone– My Name Is Nobody

1-13 Massimo Faraò Trio– La Piovra (Mille Echi)

1-14 Nacza– The Mission (Gabriel's Oboe)

1-15 Mato Grosso – The Legend Of 900 (Playing Love)

1-16 Giada Monteleone– Sacco And Vanzetti (The Ballad Of Sacco And Vanzetti)

2-1 Massimo Faraò Trio– The Untouchables

2-2 Massimo Faraò Trio– Canone Inverso

2-3 Massimo Faraò Trio– Io E Te

2-4 Massimo Faraò Trio– The Bird With The Crystal Plumage (L'uccello Dalle Piume Di Christallo)

2-5 Nino Rota Ensemble– The Return Of Ringo

2-6 Massimo Faraò Trio– Sacco And Vanzetti (Here's You)

2-7 Cinema Serenade Ensemble– Il Pianista Sull'Oceano

2-8 Fabiano Maniero & Silvio Celeghin & Silvio Calzavara– The Mission (Ave Maria Guarani)

2-9 Massimo Faraò Trio– Fatti Di Gente Perbene

2-10 Massimo Faraò Trio– Investigation Of A Citizen Above Suspicion (Indagine Su Un Cittadino Al Di Sopra Di Ogni Sospetto)

2-11 Fabiano Maniero & Silvio Celeghin & Silvio Calzavara– Moses The Lawgiver (Mosè)

2-12 Nino Rota Ensemble– Down The Ancient Stairs (Per Le Antiche Scale)

2-13 Fabiano Maniero & Silvio Celeghin & Silvio Calzavara– Una Tromba A Dollas (Una Tromba)

2-14 Massimo Faraò Trio– Lady Of The Camelias (La Storia Della Signora Delle Camelie)

2-15 Massimo Faraò Trio– Cinema Paradiso (Nuovo Cinema Paradiso)

2-16 Massimo Faraò Trio– The Four Velvet Flies (Quattro Mosche Di Velluto Grigio)

The Golden Songs Of Ennio Morricone

Tracks From Soundtracks Vol.4 - The Ry Cooder Mix (A Soundtrack Heaven Original Compilation)

 

For this selection I have focused on soundtracks composed and performed by Ry Cooder. Ry has been involved in over 17 soundtracks either as a composer or as a contributor. His work as a soundtrack composer is unparalleled and his masterful expertise on the slide guitar is evident in his compositions. He is able to create soundscapes (or "desertscapes" as I like to refer to them) which create stunning atmospheres and backdrops for the images and scenes on the screen. 

This selection is all instrumental and is a soundtrack in itself (think dark crime or contemporary western). It's also useful for that next long road trip or listening to on a lazy afternoon.

1 Get Away - Ry Cooder (Performance)

2 Powis Square - Ry Cooder (Performance)

3 See You In Hell, Blind Boy - Ry Cooder (Crossroads)

4 Feelin' Bad Blues - Ry Cooder (Crossroads)

5 Walkin' Away Blues - Ry Cooder (Crossroads)

6 I Can't Walk This Time - Ry Cooder (Johnny Handsome)

7 Angola - Ry Cooder (Johnny Handsome)

8 Clip Joint Rhumba - Ry Cooder (Johnny Handsome)

9 Cajun Metal - Ry Cooder (Johnny Handsome)

10 Greasy Oysters - Ry Cooder (Johnny Handsome)

11 Smells Like Money - Ry Cooder (Johnny Handsome)

12 Last Man Standing - Ry Cooder (Last Man Standing)

13 Jericho Blues - Ry Cooder (Last Man Standing)

14 Church - Ry Cooder (Last Man Standing)

15 Lucy's Ear - Ry Cooder (Last Man Standing)

16 Somewhere In The Desert / End Title - Ry Cooder (Last Man Standing)

17 Sanctuary - Ry Cooder (Last Man Standing)

18 Paris, Texas - Ry Cooder (Paris, Texas)

19 Brothers - Ry Cooder (Paris, Texas)

20 She's Leaving the Bank - Ry Cooder (Paris, Texas)

21 Dark Was the Night - Ry Cooder (Paris, Texas)

22 Define Violence - Ry Cooder (The End Of Violence )

23 Four Weeks Later - Ry Cooder (The End of Violence)

24 Vamos Empezar - Ry Cooder (The End of Violence)

25 The End of Violence (End Title) - Ry Cooder (The End of Violence)

Tracks From Soundtracks Vol.4

The All Time Greatest Movie Songs Vol. 1 - various artists compilation

 

1-1 Céline Dion– My Heart Will Go On

1-2 Bruce Springsteen– Streets Of Philadelphia

1-3 Tina Arena & Marc Anthony– I Want To Spend My Lifetime Loving You

1-4 Barbra Streisand & Bryan Adams– I Finally Found Someone

1-5 Harry Connick, Jr.– It Had To Be You

1-6 R. Kelly– I Believe I Can Fly

1-7 Coolio– Gangsta's Paradise

1-8 Michael Jackson– Will You Be There

1-9 Berlin– Take My Breath Away

1-10 Maria McKee– Show Me Heaven

1-11 Louis Armstrong– Wonderful World

1-12 Simon & Garfunkel– Mrs. Robinson

1-13 The Mamas & The Papas– Dream A Little Dream Of Me

1-14 Scott McKenzie– San Francisco (Be Sure To Wear Some Flowers In Your Hair)

1-15 Regina Belle & Peabo Bryson– A Whole New World

1-16 Tony Bennett– The Way You Look Tonight

1-17 Eternal – Someday

1-18 Michael Bolton– Go The Distance

1-19 Bob Dylan– Knockin' On Heaven's Door

1-20 The Righteous Brothers– Unchained Melody

2-1 Will Smith– Men In Black

2-2 Cher– The Shoop Shoop Song (It's In His Kiss)

2-3 Jamiroquai– Deeper Underground

2-4 Duran Duran– A View To Kill

2-5 Lauryn Hill– The Sweetest Thing

2-6 The Cardigans– Lovefool

2-7 Roy Orbison– Pretty Woman

2-8 Van Morrison– Brown Eyed Girl

2-9 Chuck Berry– You Never Can Tell

2-10 Diana King– Shy Guy

2-11 Jimmy Cliff– I Can See Clearly Now

2-12 Billy Ocean– When The Going Gets Tough (The Tough Get Going)

2-13 Ray Parker Jr.– Ghostbusters

2-14 Ini Kamoze– Here Comes The Hotstepper

2-15 The Commitments– Mustang Sally

2-16 Donna Summer– Hot Stuff

2-17 Irene Cara– What A Feeling

2-18 Curtis Mayfield– Superfly

2-19 Underworld– Born Slippy

2-20 Billy Joel– Modern Woman

The All Time Greatest Movie Songs Vol. 1