Rating:
Genre:
Blues
Release Date: 12/02/2008
This compilation issued by
Universal is a well-designed -- and deserving -- cash-in of the film and soundtrack to
Cadillac Records, a Hollywood adaptation of the
Chess Records label and story, its artists, and founder
Leonard Chess. It contains 16 cuts, all of which are the original versions of songs re-recorded for the film by contemporary artists. If only this could have been the bonus disc to the soundtrack instead of what was issued on the deluxe edition of it -- which was, basically, more of the same (yawn). Here,
Etta James'
"At Last" proves its superiority to the
Beyoncé Knowles version; and
Chuck Berry's
"Maybellene" and
"Nadine" get the full, propulsive rhythmic guitar and controlled feedback attack atop some heated dramatic vocals.
Little Walter's original of
"Last Night" is here (a re-recorded version appears in the film), and he is one of two
Chess artist who made the soundtrack's final cuts (
Buddy Guy made the two-disc deluxe version).
Muddy Waters' original versions of
"(I'm Your) Hoochie Koochie Man," with its slightly menacing sexual bravado, as well as
Howlin' Wolf's
"Smokestack Lightnin," and
Bo Diddley's
"I'm a Man" are all here, offering a stark and profound contrast to the all but sterile music that appeared in the film. It's actually easy to see why this set didn't become the actual second disc in the deluxe edition. These versions are so superior to what was re-recorded -- with the exception of
Jeffrey Wright's takes on
Waters -- and placed in the film, it would have made the soundtrack sound utterly limp and anemic. For those who crave to know more of the story, this is the real score to a movie which could never really be made. This is joyous, emotionally charged, and even dangerously subversive music, making the
Best of Chess Records an essential purchase.
~Thom Jurek, All Music Guide
;)
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