Cadillac Records (2008) Soundtrack

Posted by Administrator in Hollywood OST on 01 25th, 2009 | no responses

Plot

Cadilac Records chronicles the rise of Chess Records and its recording artists. In this tale of sex, violence, race and rock and roll in Chicago of the 1950s and 60s, the film follows the exciting but turbulent lives of some of America’s greatest musical legends.

The story of how the blues became popular and gave birth to rock and roll begins at a dingy bar on the rough South Side of Chicago in 1947, where an ambitious young Polish emigre, bar owner Leonard Chess (Academy Award-winner ADRIEN BRODY), hires a talented but undisciplined blues combo that includes quiet and thoughtful guitar prodigy Muddy Waters (JEFFREY WRIGHT) and impulsive and colorful harmonica player Little Walter (COLUMBUS SHORT). Fascinated by the sound of the music – and eager to cash in on the record burgeoning record business – Chess arranges a recording session for Waters. Waters’ early recordings start moving up the R+B charts and receiving heavy play. Chess treats his musicians like family — he buys them a Cadillac when they record their first hit record — although the line between business and personal sometimes causes conflict with his increasingly talented and successful stable of artists. After backing up Muddy on his early recordings, Little Walter becomes a star in his own right, but his quick temper and loud manner often run him afoul of friends and the law. He also finds that the only woman he can talk to is Muddy’s girl, Geneva (GABRIELLE UNION), who struggles to remain loyal despite Muddy’s poorly concealed affairs. Big Willie Dixon (CEDRIC THE ENTERTAINER), a songwriter and bandleader, also is a key member of the Chess Records family, as is Howlin’ Wolf (EAMONN WALKER), an intense and proud blues singer who develops a musical rivalry with Muddy.

But it’s not until 1955 when a Chess artist finally “crosses over” into the realm of mainstream (“white”) America – a skinny guy from St. Louis named Chuck Berry (MOS DEF), whose dynamic “duck walk” and catchy, country-tinged tunes mark the birth of rock-and-roll. When Berry is arrested and jailed at the height of his career, Chess finds another talented performer to cross over singer Etta James (BEYONCE KNOWLES), an emotionally scarred young woman whose vulnerability tempts Chess’ loyalty and concern in unexpected ways.

Tracklist

CD1/2
——–
01. Jeffery Wright – I’m A Man 3:50
02. Beyonce – At Last 3:00
03. Mos Def – No Particular Place To Go 2:47
04. Jeffrey Wright – I’m Your Hoochie Coochie Man 3:54
05. Beyonce – Once In A Lifetime 3:59
06. Raphael Saadiq – Let’s Take A Walk 2:28
07. Solange – 6 O’Clock Blues 3:37
08. Mos Def – Nadine 2:50
09. Mary Mary – The Sound 3:29
10. Little Walter – Last Night 2:53
11. Beyonce – I’d Rather Go Blind 3:10
12. Columbus Short – My Babe 2:57
13. Nas Feat. Olu Dara – Bridging The Gap 4:00

CD2/2

01. Mos Def – Maybellene 2:31
02. Buddy Guy – Forty Days & Forty Nights 2:48
03. Beyonce – Trust In Me 3:44
04. Soul 7 Feat. Kim Wilson – Juke 2:48
05. Eamonn Walker – Smokestack Lightnin’ 3:03
06. Mos Def – Promised Land 2:30
07. Beyonce – All I Could Do Is Cry 3:10
08. Elvis Presley – My Babe 2:10
09. Jefferey Wright – I Can’t Be Satisfied 2:18
10. Mos Def – Come On 2:34
11. Jefferey Wright & Bill Simms Jr. – Country Blues 3:42
12. Q-Tip Feat. Al Kapone – Evolution Of A Man 3:06
13. Terrence Blanchard – Radio Station 2:07