Various Artists - Grace Of My Heart: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

A terrific sampler of greatest hits from the heyday of girl groups and the Brill Building--except that none of the songs are actually from that era. What we have here is an incredible simulation--from Allison Anders' unjustly overlooked 1996 movie about the tempestuous life and career of a Carole King- like singer-songwriter (the magnificent Illeana Douglas) who spends years writing for others before finding her own voice. But instead of just licensing the old Shirelles' recordings of Goffin-King hits, the filmmakers came up with the brilliant idea of doing original songs by combining the sensibilities of contemporary artists and their songwriting forebears. So, for example, Elvis Costello and Burt Bacharach teamed up to write and perform the power- ballad "God Give Me Strength" (although I wish they'd also included Douglas's even more moving version from the picture); Leslie Gore teams with Larry Klein and David Baerwald for "My Secret Love" (performed by Miss Lily Banquette of Combustible Edison); Gerry and Louise Goffin team with Baerwald for "Between Two Worlds" (performed by Sean Colvin); J. Mascis of Dinosaur Jr. writes and sings some Brian Wilson/Beach Boys-type stuff ("Take a Run at the Sun," "Don't You Think It's Time"), and so on. Buy the record; see the movie. You won't be disappointed. --Jim Emerson Amazon.com

One of my all time favorites!

I love this soundtrack and play it often even after all these years. The songs are kind of hokey, but then, so were a lot of songs from that era. I also own the movie. I rarely watch a movie more than once, but I had to have this one. I would recommend this to anyone who grew up in the '60s. June 13, 2008

Amazing music!

The CD from this movie, Grace of my Heart, is a stroll down memory lane - back to the 60's and Motown through the 70's and all of the changes it brought to those living in it.

The songs on the CD are all originals and really speak to the story and theme of the movie.

I have it in my car and on my ipod (and so do my kids). Excellent music (and movie). May 27, 2008

Really wonderful undiscovered music

I saw this movie almost by accident and fell in love with it. Had to buy the soundtrack (I don't own another movie soundtrack.... not one). I was a bit disappointed that the title song was sung by Elvis Costello (can you believe that?!?) because I liked the movie version better sung by someone else (a female). This cd is filled with great music and makes me smile every time I hear it. August 2, 2007

A rip-off without Kristen Vigard's version of the theme song!

How could they release this without Kristen Vigard's version of "God Give me Strength"? Not to knock Elvis Costello's version, but Kristen Vigard's performance of this song is the heart and soul of the movie. This CD is a rip-off without it. June 6, 2007

The quality and range of this CD is amazing.

I watched the movie and ordered the CD on a lark. I was blown away by the quality of the music on this CD. It is one of my favorite all time CD's (in a collection of several thousand) and I listen to it frequently all the way through. The story of how these songs were conceived and recorded (watch the "extra features" director's interview on the DVD) makes it all the more remarkable. May 22, 2007

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