Various Artists - Baseball: A Film By Ken Burns - Original Soundtrack Recording

Hailed as perhaps the greatest filmed document in the history of the sport, Ken Burns's epic series chronicled more than a century's worth of baseball lore. The producers paid nearly as much attention to the audio as the stunning visuals, but this soundtrack is slightly uneven. Baseball errs on the side of good taste a bit too often, what with contributions from Bruce Hornsby, Carly Simon, and Natalie Cole peppered amid classics by the likes of Duke Ellington and Count Basie. The well-chosen historical material--including calls spanning five full decades--should interest die-hard fans, though. --David Sprague Amazon.com

A Jaunty, Rousing Score

As with all the soundtracks to a Ken Burns documentary, this score can also be broken down into two sections:

First, there is the period music. I did not buy the CD for this purpose, but its focus on classical jazz/swing tunes will have old-timers walking down memory lane.

What I found especially compelling about this soundtrack is its background music, consisting primarily of soulful vocals, solo piano, and wailing violin. Whether trying to illustrate the lighter side of baseball, or drive home an emotional point, Burn's soundtrack is always adept at suiting its purpose. Overall, this CD is a great mix of period (mostly jazz) music and light little instrumental/vocal ditties that will have you nearly in tears when remembering them in correspondence with the film. July 21, 2008

This CD completes the Book and Video or DVD Set

I should have posted this review here several years ago. This CD complements the book and video or DVD set and includes a variety of songs and great moments from baseball's glorious history. Several renditions of Take Me Out to the Ball Game are included, my favorite being the one done by Carly Simon. Other songs include those of players Jackie Robinson, Joe DiMaggio, and Willie Mays. Gee It's A Wonderful Game is a song written by Ring Lardner several years ago, and probably not recognizable to most fans. Some of the great moments included are Bobby Thomson's memorable home run on 10-3-51, and Henry Aaron's historic home run passing Babe Ruth. If you have the book and the video or DVD set, but don't have this CD, your set is incomplete. Include the CD now. It is certainly worth it. April 25, 2006

A HOME RUN FOR ANY BASEBALL FAN!

While this soundtrack does not contain every song from the movie, it has the COMPLETE songs (not the snippets played in the movie) and the ones they picked are great! You will find yourself listening to this CD over and over again! The CD contains not only musical pieces but also radio calls (including Russ Hodges's famous "The Giants Win The Pennant!" call) and quotes. There is something for everyone on this CD, even if you are not a huge fan of any given team. (I ordered it used but if no used copies are available the music is well worth the new price.) September 5, 2005

Excellent Companion Piece to An Excellent Documentary!

Great album to accompany a great multi-chapter mega-documentary; Ken Burns' BASEBALL. Hands down, the best song on the CD is Carly Simon's rousing rendition of TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALL GAME. One could only wish they would play this version during the seventh-inning stretch at ball parks around the country because it's such a fun and upbeat version. The other song that comes close is Natalie Cole's cover of DID YOU SEE JACKIE ROBINSON HIT THAT BALL? which is equally rousing and upbeat. These two songs alone are worth their weight in gold on the album. November 17, 2004

For the Baseball lover's heart and soul

This is a simplistically beautiful CD. The cuts range from the joyous to the deeply moving. From Garison Keillor's opening reading of Walt Whitman's thoughts on baseball to the closing quiet of the Star Spangled Banner, the listener is taken on a musical and aural journey through the history of Our National Pastime. Even though the game of today can be a pale imitation in some ways of what it once was, baseball still has a strong emotional hold on millions of Americans.
While I love listening to the entire CD, my favorite track above all is the moving"Steal Away". I always think of Jackie Robinson when I hear this song. The song has the feel of quiet dignity and a life lived in simple strength.
If you love baseball like I do, buy this CD.....you'll be so glad you did. February 21, 2003

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