Funny People – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack – Win A Copy Here!

Concord Records is releasing the official soundtrack to Judd Apatow‘s Funny People on July 28th, and it’s really a fabulous collection of music that clearly puts together a cohesive mood for a film.  Leave a comment below to win a copy.

From the press release -

A rare John Lennon acoustic demo of  “Watching the Wheels,” the 1981 single released after his death, is one of the highlights of the original motion picture soundtrack to Universal Pictures’ highly anticipated Funny People, writer/director Judd Apatow’s (The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Knocked Up) new feature comedy. The soundtrack, from Concord Records, will be available July 28 and features two exclusive new live tracks: James Taylor’s on-camera performance of “Carolina in My Mind” in the film, and Wilco’s “Jesus, etc.,” featuring Andrew Bird on violin recorded during their Summer 2008 tour. Funny People hits theaters nation-wide on Friday, July 31^st.

“Choosing music is my favorite part of the process,” said Apatow.  “I am thrilled that I was able to include so many of my musical heroes on this soundtrack.  When I look at who is on it I am startled.  If the movie is half as good as the music, I am in great shape.”

There are a lot of ways you could go when you’re trying to hype this soundtrack, but the best things for me are not going to get quite as much of the bold letter treatment as you continue to hear about it.  You’re hard-pressed to avoid saying, “rare tracks,” or, “exclusive,” or, “Beatles member…,” when you want people to prick up their ears, but it doesn’t make a soundtrack for me.

Mentioning John Lennon or Paul McCartney is certainly something you’d always love to be able to do, but for people who will really love and enjoy this, Warren Zevon might work better.  Not that Warren Zevon is better, but if you know the name, and have it put together with Carolina in my Mind by James Taylor, you have a far clearer picture of where this collection is headed as an album.

We start off with Great Day by Paul McCartney and move right into Wires by Coconut Records.  Coconut Records is Jason Schwartzman‘s band, and while the next song we’ll get, I am Young, isn’t particularly interesting, this one is quite good.  A little bit early British-invasion, and a little bit early inspiration underground ala something like The Jam maybe, the song is fun and fits the build of mood.

All the King’s Horses by Robert Plant and The Strange Sensation is a brilliant, mellow track, and the live version of Carolina in My Mind is unbelievable.  Warren Zevon is on the soundtrack twice with Keep Me in Your Heart, and Numb as a Statue, both from his 2003 album The Wind.  Released just two weeks before his death, these songs really showcase his later career talents.  Keep Me in Your Heart in particular is a great song, filled with a sort of sweet tragedy that is brilliant pairing for the film.

Live track Jesus, Etc. by Wilco with Andrew Bird is another standout, and you can check it out below.  It’s a quirky number that fits the general scheme of having Wilco enter the conversation we’re presenting here, and it’s a great live recording.

This is all without mentioning Neil Diamond’s We, Ringo Starr’s Photograph, or the acoustic Watching the Wheel by John Lennon (also available for a listen below).  The soundtrack also features Adam Sandler singing Real Love live, and Judd Apatow’s daughter Maude giving Memory a hell of a go.  Sandler is also on with George Simmons Soon Will Be Gone.

If you can put together the idea of a relationship with any of these songs and/or artists, I think you’re really going to like this soundtrack.  It comes together wonderfully.  Give a listen to a couple of songs below, check out the film’s trailer, and be sure to leave a comment for your chance to win the soundtrack for yourself.  Winner will be randomly chosen on August 14th.  U.S. and Canada only on this one in terms of the “places you think I’m sending this” category.

Are You Screening?

John Lennon – Watching the Wheels

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Wilco – Jesus, Etc.

[quicktime]http://www.areyouscreening.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/Wilco_Jesus_Etc_Live_Summer_08.qtl[/quicktime]

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