Mark Isham

Are you rolling all over the ground like me trying to find out who sings the snazzy song in the TV commercial. Well, my darlings, stop rolling! The song is called, "Mercy" and its performed by Duffy. It's been difficult trying to find the title and artist for this song. One would think it would be on "The Women" soundtrack.

"The Women" is a new movie being released on December 19, 2008. TV commericals advertise the movie and in the background one can hear Duffy performing "Mercy". One would think "Mercy" would be on "The Women" soundtrack but, its not. So, head on over to Amazon's MP3 site (under music) click on the arrow and hear Duffy begging for your mercy. Yeah, Yeah, Yeah.

The Women
The soundtrack for this movie, which I think the movie was awesome, and yes there are some old school who think it's wrong to do a remake,was great. Although there were a few artist that I am unfamiliar with, the overall production was great. I did learn, however, after listening to the sndtrck over & over, my favorite song was that of an artist that is not even signed. Ruby James, "EVERYTHING GOOD GOES AWAY", was by far the best song from the whole cd. The sound was very professional, compared to most of the others that sounded like they were done in a classroom, and I know that the sound needs to be sorta that way to go with the flow of the movie, but this song, the lyrics, the voice, could easily have a movie made around it, by itself. Her voice is so strong and soulful and the lyrics were awesome. It was almost too good for the movie, although it did fit in and really stuck in my head, so I went straight to the net to find out about her.For the money, the soundtrack was well worth it, but just to find this Ruby James opened up a whole new ballgame for me. This chic needs to be found, and honestly should get an award. If you listen to her tunes, you will see where I am coming from. Go get the soundtrack and see for yourself!

I'm a huge Soundtrack fan,and by looking at the track listing I knew I'd love the CD.I was wrong.It's not bad but not good at all.A couple of songs are really good though (the 3 first tracks,Ruby James,Feist,Annie Lennox and KT Tunstall) but the rest is very disposable,specially "After the rain" which is trully awfall.Hope the movie's better,which I doubt,but who knows,miracles happen...

This is one of my all-time favorite movies and the soundtrack is just as good. I can listen to this no matter what mood I'm in and it will make me feel better.

After watching the movie "Crash", I told someone I didn't know which was better--the movie or the soundtrack. Very haunting and very moving music. Perfect background for the movie. Has jumped into my Top Ten list of CD's that I love to listen to. Has a great "New Age" feel to it.

I was disappointed. At the time of my purchase, my opinion was in the minority, but... This CD just doesn't do it.

...to a great movie. It's not as good as his soundtrack to "Afterglow" but a nice listen nonetheless. Without the great band members like Gary Burton & Charles Lloyd what can one expect?

Mark Isham is quickly becoming one of my favorite composers. His work on the indie film "The Cooler" introduced me to his talents and I enjoyed what I heard. It wasn't until "Crash" did I really start taking notice of his work. Mark's work on "Crash" is a mix of ambient and classical with a glimmer of Middle Eastern (like on the song "Flames"). A lot of film composers have a terrible habit of creating loud, bombastic music that simply overwhelms the film and the person watching the film. Mark avoids the bombastic trappings of Hans Zimmer and John Williams by creating a more lush, haunting, minimal score that will leave a profound, moving effect on the filmgoer. One of the best songs on the album is "Flames" a gorgeous Middle Eastern-influenced track with ethereal female vocals that reminded me of Azam Ali and Lisa Gerrard of Dead Can Dance. My other favorite song on the cd is "In the Deep" by Bird York. The song is a lovely folk/pop/jazz song that captures the emotional turmoil that occurs through out the film. I wasn't too wild about The Stereophonics track. It kinda killed the intimate sound Mark Isham created. At least Bird York's song had that same lush, intimate, atmospheric sound. While "Crash" wasn't perfect by all means, the music itself is perfect in every sense of the word at least to me it is. Too bad I can't say the same for his recent work for "The Black Dahlia".

The movie has a lot of great old songs that I remember my parents enjoying. But the CD doesn't capture them. And I don't like the ones that are on it. I bought is specifically for Nat King Cole's "I Remember You." Buy the movie DVD instead and enjoy the songs on it.

I bought the CD because I found it on a discount price and I guessed (rightly) that Nat King Cole sings with Stan Kenton orchestra on "Orange Colored Sky"...
Most of the album is taken by OK swing music by contemporary orchestra but there's also some dull Mark Isham orchestration, a bad Nat King Cole number with strings and, strangley enough, a Chet Baker track...

All in all, mostly for background mood uplifting...

Most of the tracks were excellent but some were a bit long winded.Tracks by Spencer Wyatt best on the disc and made it all worth while.

Do you like ethereal New Age? Gotcha covered. Does Boogie piano get your toes a-tappin'? Check. Is Swing more your thing? It's here. All fine reasons to add this sound track to your music collection. As for the movie, I like to think it Carrey's best work. The man has the most expressive face in Moviedom. Regarding the story, it's set in the early Fifties during the rabid Communist scaremongering headed by Senator Joseph McCarthy. One result was the blacklisting of suspected Communists and sympathizers in liberal Hollywood, of which our protagonist Peter Appleton became a victim.

To hear the roar of the crowd as the player goes in to slam dunk the basketball in the professional sports arenas,this film equals those thrills for the audience as Jim Carrey (Luke Trimble)takes us through the mind of someone that has amnesia and unwittingly becomes the hometown war hero set in 1945 period. Stars abound in this film like character actors Martin Landau and James Wittemore.Boy meets girl,they fall in love,then a twist in the plot as Peter Appleton (Jim Carrey) is accused of being a communist,similar to the Army McCarthy hearings for those old enough to remember.It all turns out like everyone wants.....Ed Lynch 10/29/06

This collection is bound to capture your heart and evoke a tin ear on successive tracks. I found much to like and some duds - easy to skip over.
Very good value.

Good mix of films!
I'm a big fan of this soundtrack music and will be looking for more CD's like this.

For the price, this CD is a great bargain. The musical selections, as you might expect, are mixed in quality ranging from extraordinary to so so, the balance being worthwhile and interesting. Sonically the CD is excellent.

I have been listening to great scores for many years and this collection is truly inspirational in so far as the choice of different scores takes you on a journey of listening pleasure matched by only a few collections.The price is incredibly reasonable for hours of listening pleasure. Don't pass this one up

This product is excellent. You can't hardly ask for a better collection of film music as far as diversity goes. From the smooth beauty of the "Steel Magnolias" theme to the electronic frenzy of "Gone In 60 Seconds", this collection has something for everyone who's ever thought to themself, "The music in this movie is really good!" A must have for film music collectors!

This is a splendid cd if you enjoy movie themes. Original performances that bring back fond memories of the films. Many selections included.

If you love movies and movie music, you can't go wrong with this two cd Paramount Anniversary set.

Normally I have a lot to say in my reviews, but not this time. The main problem with this collection is that all the most memorable film scores are just on one disc, with the second used mostly to play out stuff from the last ten years that, really, musically isn't very memorable and only includes three pieces anyone will recognize just because, like the movies they come from, they're based on old TV shows - The Addams Family, Star Trek, and Mission: Impossible.

And that brings up another problem. With all due respect to the late Jerry Goldsmith, who has provided some truly great classic movie scores, was it REALLY necessary to include TWO versions of the SAME Star Trek march in this collection? This seems evocative of the milk-it-for-all-its-worth attitude Paramount has had lately toward its now-tarnished crown-jewel franchise. Where's James Horner's theme music from Star Trek II and III? If they're gonna put Star Trek on here twice, they should have provided a little diversity. It wouldn't have taken much, I'm sure.

I'm sure that Paramount's had other films with far more memorable music (even Harold Faltermeyer's Top Gun Anthem could have helped on Disc 2). This just seems like a lazy attempt at something that really could have been great.

There are some really great songs on this 2 CD set. However, those really great songs seem to be lightly interspersed amongst a large number of forgettable songs whose main purpose seems to be to remind you of those movies you enjoy(ed) so much.

It seems a little odd to me that out of 90 years of film making the most memorable scores have been largely released within the last few years. I was pleased to find themes from the Godfather, Indiana Jones and Witness. I was perplexed with the inclusion of songs from Rugrats, both Mission Impossible movies (one would have been more than enough) and Tomb Raider (memorable???).

This is my own personal bias, but I do prefer movie soundtracks that evoke a feeling of excitement. With this collection I just couldn't get excited. I kept finding myself being let down by songs that didn't in some way complement the preceeding song.

There are certainly some great tracks here, but overall I was disappointed. My advise would be to look elsewhere.

This one was a pleasant surprise! I thought- how could any CD that had "Baby Elephant Walk" be all that good? This one is. Lots of great scores- classics and a few hidden treasures. After hearing the beautiful title score for "Children of a Lesser God", I had to buy the entire soundtrack - very soothing. There are a few that may seem too overplayed ("Love Story", "Raiders of the Lost Ark",), but most are a welcome addition to any compilation. Try NOT loving "Building the Barn" from "Witness" or the "Hymn to the Fallen" from "Saving Private Ryan". Hours of great listening.

I think this was a great soundtrack, I mean most music composed by Mark Isham is. It had some very cool old songs on it too. I myself am mostly into instrumental but all in all it was a great cd.

I basically love the movie, because it's poetic along with Montana wilderness and I am a fly-fisherman. I have just bought this CD as my background music while I am tying flies. And it works very very well. Each track reminds me of each moment of the movie, especially, tracks from Track 25 "Yes, Quite a Day" to Track 31 "Hauted by Waters" just make me poignant. An exclusive interview with the composer is also very unique and worth to hear about the background of the movie. "The Moment That Could Not Last" last only 1:24, how about in our real life? Is it gonna be like Paul's? I am hautend by this soundtrack.

Personally, this is one of the absolute BEST soundtracks I have ever listened to. The music is calming, soothing, and truly wonderful. The music is so well put together and nicely coordinated and I feel like I am watching the movie again...it also makes great to read the Laura Ingalls Wilder books too. Try it...you might be suprised how well it fits. :)

Like another reviewer of this soundtrack, I own over a thousand CDs. This is one of the most outstanding musical compositions I've ever had the pleasure of listening to. In fact, in my opinion, Mark Isham's composition is a movie score for the ages! I enjoy listening to this CD as much today as I did when it was released in 1992.
This is a moving and beautiful soundtrack with eclectic styles of music included in the score. Although it is not necessary to have seen the movie to enjoy the music, I strongly recommend doing so. I further suggest that you read Norman Maclean's beautiful book that made the movie and this score possible and that you visit Montana to see for yourself one of the most beautiful parts of our country and the inspiration for all three. ENJOY! --- Mountain Man Dan.

Mark Isham's score for the motion picture A River Runs Through It is one of the most memorable and emotionally captivating film scores of all time. The arrangements of strings, piano, woodwinds create a meditative and reflective range of music throughout the film capturing all the emotions of this powerful drama about an American family in rural Montana. It is at once deeply haunting, moving, nostalgic and sentimental and captures the innocence and beauty of nature and childhood, as well as darker themes of rebellion and tragedy. There is a profound sense of emotion that is embedded within the music that sweeps over me every time I hear it. A combination of happiness, sadness, excitement, and reflection. There is something simply sweeping and majestic within his music. I couldn't think of anything else that would better compliment the film. Highly recommended.

I had heard a portion of this at a noon time yoga class and thoroughly enjoyed it. I purchased the CD for my yoga teacher with whom I take class weekly. On one occasion he had played some classical type music during the practice. My friend Tom and I are classical buffs and the music that was played was a distraction as we both played guess that composer as well as anticipating chord and key changes and such. It did not help us focus on the moment and movement. "Path" was intersting but not a distraction and provided a good background that supported our yoga practice. I would be pleased to listen to it on other occasions as well but it was great for our class and every one enjoyed it.

I own a day spa and my therapists all enjoy this music. It is great for relaxation.

This is the sort of rare CD that you can turn on, set "repeat CD" and not touch it for the day; or even for days! I have had this CD for many, many years... and it has never lost its appeal. PS: This is NOT "upbeat" jazzy ambient; but, mellow "calm you down" ambient. Each track is unique.

Most of the tracks on this album are very good, but Lydia by Tim Story is special. It is one of the most hauntingly beautiful pieces of music I have ever come across.

This is a marvelously moving album to experience. While all the artists are different the album flows together very nicely. It moves along at its own pace, far far different than the pace of much of the everyday world in which we live. It is mellow and is not something you actively listen to although over time the melodies become quite clear and, oddly enough, captivating even exciting, though on a different level.

Play it in the background or play it in the car and suddenly an entirely different ambience is created. It's a beautiful work. I never tire of it and it embraces whatever mood I'm in and allows it to unfold in a rhythm all its own. You won't regret it a bit.

This is a CD of 15 tracks of artists performing live on air to a two track DAT. One track contains overdubs, the rest features the musicians huddled around a couple of microphones, almost all of this music is acoustic.

The broadcasting station is KCRW, independent public radio for most of Southern California. The show is called: "Morning Becomes Electric", a very proper title. This is great radio, and it transfers to CD as an alternative to just about every other form of art, that you have been forced to undergo...this is a different experience for the ears...this is a pleasure.

With the exception of a couple performances that are a little harsh and disturbed, this is an easy flow, as if one artist finishes and another right by their side begins to play. And the artists? Well, with: Beck, Tori Amos, Lindsey Buckingham, X, Los Lobos, John Cale, Natalie Merchant and a spoken word prelude by Leonard Cohen, many different paths are explored herein over these 64 minutes.

Beck is weird, Los Lobos is cool as a night frog, Lindsey's nylon strings are outta-tune, Tori Amos & John Cale sound a world apart from each other on the exact same piano, Evan & Juliana are hangin' with their Drug Buddy, and Mark Isham sounds like Miles Davis chopped down his family tree!

The sound quality of this disc is as good as it gets, the performances are right in front of you from start to finish. This CD has been produced with great care and is well thought out. No, I don't care for every single song on this but, what I don't find pleasing might be your personal favorite. Some of this music may be of your past, but for me, most of this material is brand spankin' new to my ears.

This is one of the most unique discs that I have listened to in ages. Right here, on this disc...is my kind of radio!
4.5 Stars!!!

I used to listen to this while living in San Fran's Mission District with a houseful of bohemians. Most of us were supported by that city's municipal welfare program (General Assistance, or "G.A."). We did various things to have fun and feel better about ourselves, and this album was one of my favorite things. Someone had brought it home from her used-record store job... I think her name was Holly.

It's only just now, searching for it during this nostalgic evening of clicking-around, that it occurs to me why this compilation is so powerful. It's an album about addiction. This is perhaps most clear from the final track. Search for the lyrics to Wilcox's song. It's a powerful testament to the hope and sadness of recovery. The boat imagery there is wonderful. Take also the Dando & Hatfield track, which chants "I'm too much with myself, I wanna be someone else..."

There's a lot more on here about it beyond that... I mean, just scan the titles. Directly or sideways, this album is all about highs and lows. It's brilliantly compiled -- just wonderful. I could easily sit here for a few minutes and link every single song's title to the topic of substances and addiction. But won't. I have a full life to lead, now.

Natalie Merchant sings like an angel and this album is so cool
every song is a winner!

I bought this collection some ten years ago, and it has aged very, very well. The performances are great, and there's a real cohesion in them in terms of production. Whoever produced the CD really loves music, and must have made many mix tapes in his/her life, because it has the ebb and flow of a really excellent mix tape, with shifting moods and styles. I enjoy quite a bit of it, but the highlights for me are Lucinda Williams' cover of a Nick Drake song, the David Wilcox song, and the Peter Himmelman song, which also features an *amazing*, beautiful, lyrical guitar solo coming straight from the heart. In fact, "Always in Disguise" is really my favorite song overall from this collection. BUY IT TODAY!!!

This compilation is, at the time of writing, the best part of ten years old. And, in my humble opinion, it has never been bettered. Production quality is first rate, performances are almost flawless and the mix of music is spot on. You and yours can't fail to be sucked in by this one. John Cale's first poem blending seemlessly into Tori Amos doing 'Silent all these years', Beck's 'Mexico' is hilarious and wry even after all this time, The Modern's just don't want to end and you won't want them to, Lindsay Buckingham comes up with a magnificent arrangement for an old Fleetwood Mac tune (since copied badly by The Dixie Chicks) and a just wonderful ode to Chet Baker to finish. This is a CD that makes much of modern chill out laughable and shows what can be acheived by a group of people who really love music. It is a primer for the rest of the Rare on Air series and a great place to begin. Grab this while it is still in print.

I'm on my third copy of his classic Tibet and it looks as if I'll need multiple copyies of this!!!

Very listenable jazz takes, on all titles. A super-strong suggestion of Miles Davis on much of the work, and sometimes it's hard to tell Isham from Davis, not that you want to. Despite the takeoff on Miles, Isham gets his own licks in, notably with his original compositions. The quality of
Isham's playing is close to that of Davis and his search for the ultimate tone. For any fan of horn playing, this album is a must.

I usually do not review profound jazz albums because the quality of analysis of other more qualified reviewers prevents me from adding anything more substantial, so i would just like to share my first impression.

Im 42 yo and this is the first time I hear an album of Mark Isham, this is music to relax and to think, not the type of relax you expect from new-age or that type of music..this is the music to watch Edward Hopper paintings and ponder on the subtle levity of existence

Mark Isham's "Blue Sun" is infused with a sensibility that is refined and cool-cool in the jazz idiom. Mr. Isham wrote seven of the songs here, and he plays these modern jazz arrangements with confidence and skill. I suppose that any discussion of a trumpet-led jazz ensemble has to acknowledge Miles Davis, so let it be said that Mr. Isham does not imbue his music with the sneer that marred some of Mr. Davis' later works and that this session echoes his work form the latter part of the 1950s.

Mr. Isham moves through the jazz landscape deftly, adding some flourishes here and there that are clearly modern, but the overall sound is that of a classic jazz quintet drawing on electric bass, acoustic and electric piano, drums, and tenor sax to coax and compel listeners to keep their ears open. It would be a mistake to relegate this recording to the role of background music, for it should not be considered part of the "lite" or triple-z jazz (as in snoozzze) that infests FM radio and department stores. "Blue Sun" rewards the attention to details that comes from really listening.

I hate to make Miles Davis comparisons, and I won't even attempt to critique his technique--I'll let the experts and the brass players do that. I will simply say that, as years have gone by, when I am in the mood for a trumpet CD, I reach for SKETCHES OF SPAIN or BLUE SUN. I don't know what that says for Miles or Isham, but I love both. BLUE SUN is such a wonderful blend of sounds, melodies, and harmonies that I just don't get tired of hearing it. From the opening percussive notes of "Barcelona," right through the subtle keyboard and sax intro to "That Beautiful Sadness," the more restless feel of "Trapeze" and the melancholy "Lazy Afternoon," Isham has me in his grasp. I love the sax harmony and interplay on "Blue Sun," the sorrow of "In More Than Love," and the tip of the hat to both Miles Davis and Robert Frost (I'm a high school English teacher, so I really appreciate the Frost reference) on "And Miles To Go . . . Before He Sleeps." I love just the hint of electric on the closing tune, "Tour de Chance," as well--it closes everything nicely.

Where he really slays me, though, is on "In a Sentimental Mood," track 8. I don't think anyone, living or dead, could wring any more emotion and "sentiment" out of a melody than Isham does on this piece. Ohhhh. It's almost exhausting to listen to, but somehow I don't feel exhausted when it's done--I feel refreshed and invigorated. He's done all the work--I just need to slow down and listen. . . . Really nice keyboard work underneath and behind the melody--very understated and appropriate. I don't know how a person could listen to Isham on this track and not run out and buy the CD. Even if you hated the rest, which would be virtually impossible, it would be worth the asking price for this 7+ minute experience.

Bottom Line: Whether or not he's the next coming of Miles or just another chump blowing on a trumpet, Mark Isham has captured something very special on this CD. It isn't on his earlier ones, and I haven't heard it on his more recent ones, although I love those, as well. He is garnering some attention as a film scorer, which is great--his scores are excellent--but he can't capture this . . . essence . . . in a film score. This is a very intimate, personal, understated, and reflective effort from Isham. Everyone deserves to experience this hour. . . .

This albulm is a mixture of differnt sounds from diffrent eras. This is avalible rather cheaply at amazon, i bought a used copy.