It's a fairly safe bet: Commercially successful movies spawn commercially successful movie soundtracks. For example, a quick scan of this week's Billboard shows "Wayne's World" at No. 1, "Rush" at No. 24, "Beauty and the Beast" at No. 36 and "Juice" at No. 54.
The irony is that one of the year's best soundtracks comes from an "unsuccessful" movie, "Falling From Grace," directed by and starring musician John Mellencamp. Translation: The soundtrack will likely die an obscure death, denied the opportunity to grace the radio airwaves.It's unfortunate, too, because the soundtrack for "Falling From Grace" (on Mercury) is a brilliant collection of original folk-rock (add in an overlay of country, too) tunes that reflects everything good about the much-maligned concept of "singer-songwriter."
The soundtrack rounds up some of the most relevant names in the folk-rock genre, including John Prine (who also stars as Mellencamp's brother-in-law), Dwight Yoakam, James McMurtry (son of novelist and the movie's screenwriter Larry McMurtry), Nanci Griffith and Joe Ely, as well as Mellencamp, who also produces the soundtrack.
The proof of this musical pudding is that there is not a single bad song in the bunch. In fact, none of the 13 even stoops to average (further evidence of Mellencamp's maturation into one of the industry's finest producers).
After a delicious instrumental by Lisa Germano ("Bud's Theme"), Griffith's "Cradle of the Interstate" establishes a lonesome feel echoed throughout the album.
Arguably the album's best tune, Larry Crane's "Whiskey Burnin' " sizzles as it paints a portrait of heartland angst. "Human boys/In corner bars/ They're not worried 'bout no world affairs/They're happy as can be/They got things/Just the way they want 'em/And little ladies at home/Just watchin' TV."
Dwight Yoakam then performs Mellencamp's "Common Day Man," after which Mellencamp performs Crane's "It Don't Scare Me None," both of which explore troubled lives through world-weary eyes and religious guilt.
Powerful lines like "Hey, what if God wrote down our sins/And put them on a sign/And wrapped them up in neon lights/So we could see them as we drove by" and "I take from my loved ones/To gamble on my friends/I take the long way home/And the fun never ends/Woke up bleary-eyed/Wonderin' where I've been/I've wrestled with my conscience/But my conscience never wins."
The band Pure Jam then performs Mellencamp's "Searchin' for the Perfect Girl," after which Prine offers a superior version (the electric guitar background elevates the song from very good to great) of "All the Best" from last year's Grammy-winning "The Missing Years."
Other tunes include "Hold Me Like You Used To," performed by QKUMBRZ; Crane's "Nothing's For Free," performed by Mellencamp; "Days Like These," by Janis Ian; and Crane's "Falling From Grace," performed by Larry Rollins.
Certainly the most interesting cut is "Sweet Suzanne," performed by the Buzzin' Cousins, better known as Mellencamp, Prine, Yoakam, Ely and James McMurtry. The blend of poetic talent and distinctive vocals (something akin to the Traveling Wilburys) creates the distinct impression these guys ought to be doing more tunes together.
The most pleasant surprise is the emergence of Larry Crane, an unknown singer-songwriter who is nothing short of brilliant.
That "Falling From Grace" is good is not surprising, given the collective creativity of the performers. That it rises above even those expectations is a fantasy for anyone who enjoys the singer-songwriter concept.
"Falling From Grace," the movie, was written by Larry McMurtry ("The Last Picture Show," "Lonesome Dove," "Texasville") and features Mellencamp as both director and star. Mellencamp plays a country music star undergoing an identity crisis while visiting his hometown.
He plays Bud Parks, a rising music star who hasn't quite adjusted to his new celebrity status. He returns to Doak City, Ind., with his California wife (Mariel Hemingway) to celebrate his grandfather's 80th birthday.
A three-day visit stretches into weeks as Bud reverts to his aimless teenage self and drifts into a relationship with his high-school sweetheart (Kay Lenz). As with any McMurtry literary endeavor, the people and relationships are undeniably twisted, while undeniably human.
Despite favorable reviews, the movie has not exactly burned up the box offices during its debut in major markets. And despite favorable reviews, the soundtrack isn't likely to fare much better, though it certainly deserves to do so.