Sting, Don Henley - Leaving Las Vegas

The soundtrack to director Mike Figgis' critically acclaimed 1995 drama that Nicolas Cage won the Best Actor Oscar for, no longer available in the U.S.. The album scored by Figgis (a keyboardist & trumpeter as well), topped Billboard's jazz chart at the Album Description

Where's Lonely Teardrops?

Leaving Las Vegas sountrack is a beautiful collection of songs ranging from Sting to Don Henley. My only gripe about this soundtrack is the missing song Lonely Teardrops sung by Bob Seger, the song is played numerous times in the film and I was disappointed it's not in this album. Some of the rest of the tracks that are not played in the film are gorgeous and I love the dialogue that's added between Nicolas Cage and Elisabeth Shue. Great soundtrack from the '90s, I highly recommend the movie as well, a classic! October 4, 2008

beautiful

If you loved the movie (or just jazz in general) you have to have this CD in your collection. July 17, 2008

Butchering the classics

If you enjoy listening to singers such as Sting and Don Henley destroy classic material this is the album for you. I have no idea why the director chose this material, and these singers, but they do not mix. This is especially true of Sting, who destroys My One and Only Love with his high whiney voice. I recommend the John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman album. Once you know what the song is supposed to sound like you will know what I mean. February 21, 2008

captures the mood of the film

This is one of my favorite movies, and not coincidentally, probably my favorite soundtrack/ score. As a big Sting fan, a big booze fan, and a Nicolas Cage fan, what's not to like? It's a match made in heaven. I'm also a modest jazz fan, but I must say I never heard of these selections before I saw the movie and they are astoundingly well-chosen. Also underrated is the beautifully haunting theme that reoccurs throughout the dramatic points by Mike Figgis. But I wonder if I'm the only one who really loves that piece.

The glaring omission is Michael McDonald's "Lonely Teardrops". What's up with that??? A copyright issue is the only thing fathomable in my mind. Would have made more sense to include than the final track on the disc. If that song is in the movie, I must have missed it (I've watched the movie several times). So I think it's a must to find the McDonald recording and splice that in somehow for the perfect listening experience.

I also liked the songs so much I found myself on limewire finding original recordings as well as other versions of these numbers. Judy Garland's "Come Rain, Or Come Shine" was a keeper. So anyway, if you like those things aforementioned, this is a must have. February 12, 2008

A Relaxing and Mellow Las Vegas?

I found this soundtrack quite enjoyable and I am not the world's biggest jazz fan. Don't get me wrong, I think jazz is a great but it isn't the first type of music I run to when I want to relax. However on the soundtrack for Leaving Las Vegas, it works. The songs on this soundtrack are very moody. The tempos are coarse and cool, mean and mellow.

There are a couple of vocal songs on this soundtrack, five to be exact. Three of the songs are by Gordon Sumner A.K.A Sting, which are wonderful piano/jazz/love songs. The songs are "Angel Eyes", "My One and Only Love" and "It's a Lonesome Old Town". As amazing as it might seem, Sting recorded all three of these songs in one day. I have always been a fan of Sting, all the way back to his days with The Police. These songs aren't written by Sting, rather covers of classic jazz tunes.

The other two songs with vocals are by Don Henley and The Palladinos. Don Henley's track again is a cover and it isn't bad. I have to be honest; this isn't my favorite track on the soundtrack. Don't get me wrong, Henley puts plenty of work into "Come Rain or Come Shine", yet it doesn't grab me like most of the other songs on this soundtrack. As for the song by The Palladinos "I Won't Be Going South For A While", this tune seems very out of place on this CD. Why, because the entire soundtrack is mellow and "I Won't Be Going South For A While" is loud, fast and almost bubbly. Some of the jazz/instrumental is mellow and some selections are louder than others, but the music tempo still has a good flow throughout, much like pieces of a puzzle fitting together. Even the songs by Sting and Don Henley blend well into the track selection. I guess that is why it is the last song on the CD. It isn't a bad song; it just doesn't seem to fit. I realize it is from the movie, hence why it is on the motion picture soundtrack. Consequently, with respect to music continuity it seems like a black sheep with the rest of the melodies.

As for the movie dialogue included in the soundtrack, that wasn't a problem for me at all. I actually liked it and felt it gave the entire listening experience some character. The dialogue is spoken on its own tracks, in between music, as introductions to music and in the middle of music almost as a bridge. Now Leaving Las Vegas is deep, dark drama cloaked as a romance or a romance cloaked as a deep, dark drama. Regardless this movie is very powerful, with that said some of the dialogue selected seems almost humorist. The dialogue doesn't seem straight up funny, just maybe a bit lighthearted, which is odd because this movie isn't funny or lighthearted.

Again Leaving Las Vegas is an interesting movie and has a special place in my nostalgic heart. I have already written a review of the movie here on Amazon.com, so I won't rehash what was already written about my first experience watching this film. However, this is a pretty good soundtrack and is a nice addition to this deep, dark drama cloaked as a romance or a romance cloaked as a deep, dark drama. June 11, 2007

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