This Month In Soundtracks

In Francis Ford Coppola's liner notes to this extended, remastered release of the soundtrack to his 1982 classic, he confesses he told Tom Waits and producer Bones Howe, "What I really want you guys to do is make an album called One From The Heart and then I'll make a movie that goes with it." In the event, both were deliciously melancholy works of art. The film was panned. The music, however, was universally loved from the get-go. It's the best thing Waits has ever done. The horror is that it could so nearly have been Bette Midler, not Crystal Gayle, duetting with Tom.

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In Francis Ford Coppola’s liner notes to this extended, remastered release of the soundtrack to his 1982 classic, he confesses he told Tom Waits and producer Bones Howe, “What I really want you guys to do is make an album called One From The Heart and then I’ll make a movie that goes with it.” In the event, both were deliciously melancholy works of art. The film was panned. The music, however, was universally loved from the get-go. It’s the best thing Waits has ever done.

The horror is that it could so nearly have been Bette Midler, not Crystal Gayle, duetting with Tom. Fortunately Midler had, Coppola reveals, a “conflicting schedule” (phew!), and Waits suggested the then little-known Gayle. Coppola took one look (he says), developed “a respectful little crush” and applauded Waits’ musical taste. Her vocal sweetness and Waits’ gruffness complement each other blissfully through a series of sublime love songs.

Every Waits couplet on “Picking Up After You”, “Old Boyfriends” or “Little Boy Blue” is a potential design for living. The title song’s a deal-breaker if you’re considering investing emotion in someone. Two bonus tracks?”Candy Apple Red” and “Once Upon A Town”?maintain the standard. Beyond all doubt the most integral and affecting soundtrack of the last quarter-century.

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In Francis Ford Coppola's liner notes to this extended, remastered release of the soundtrack to his 1982 classic, he confesses he told Tom Waits and producer Bones Howe, "What I really want you guys to do is make an album called One From The...This Month In Soundtracks