FRIED GREEN TOMATOES AT THE WHISTLE SHOP CAFÉ
Rating: 
Original Review: Thomas Newman seems to be one of those accursed composers who is destined to have the majority of his work never released. As was the case with last year's Phenomenon, the original score for Fried Green Tomatoes is limited to two short 3-minute tracks tagged on at the end of an album full of pop songs. The score, the two cues of which are named Ghost Train and Visiting Ruth, are really nice. Ghost Train (the main title) is a delightful oboe theme with a gospel backing which then turns into a rocking, uptempo piece a little reminiscent of the theme from L.A. Law; Visiting Ruth is a slow, delicate, nostalgic theme, again for woodwind and strings. As for the rest of the album -well, the only songs of note are Paul Young's version of What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted, a decent rock track called 'Danger Heartbreak Dead Ahead' performed by Taylor Dayne, a blues number called 'Barbeque Bess' performed by Patti LaBelle and the emotional Thomas Newman-arranged gospel hymn 'The Lord To Keep'. It seems such a waste of Newman's immense talent and good music for it to be consigned forever to the studio shelves, away from the eager film music fans of the world. Let's hope that this all-too familiar trend disappears over the next few years.
Track Listing:
- I'll Remember You (written by Bob Dylan, performed by Grayson Hugh) (5:09)
- What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted (written by James Dean, Paul Riser and William Witherspoon, performed by Paul Young) (4:34)
- Cherish - Hip Hop Version (written y Terry Kirkman, performed by Jodeci) (3:59)
- Danger Heartbreak Dead Ahead (written by Clarence Paul, Ivy Jo Hunter and William Stevenson, performed by Taylor Dayne) (3:20)
- Rooster Blues (written by Jerry West, performed by Peter Wolf, Ronnie Earl and the Broadcasters) (3:15)
- Barbeque Bess (written by Bessie Jackson, performed by Patti LaBelle) (2:55)
- If I Can Help Somebody (written by Alma Androzzo, performed by Aaron Hall) (3:50)
- Cool Down Yonder (written by Ira Tucker, performed by Marion Williams) (3:11)
- Cherish - Movie Version (written by Terry Kirkman, performed by Jodeci) (2:30)
- Ghost Train (3:11)
- Visiting Ruth (1:47)
- A Charge I Have To Keep (performed by MarionWilliams) (1:50)
Running Time: 39 minutes 31 seconds
MCA Soundtracks (1991)
Music composed and conducted by Thomas Newman. Orchestrations by Thomas Pasatieri. Recorded and mixed by John Vigran. Edited by Bill Bernstein. Score produced by Thomas Newman, John Vigran and Bill Bernstein. Album produced by Jon Avnet and Jordan Kerner.
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These web pages were designed and maintained by Jonathan Broxton copyright 1997. All opinions and views expressed on these pages are my own and are in no way intended to reflect those of my employer, the Trent Institute for Health Services Research, or those of the University of Sheffield.