Synopsis
Japanese Version featuring a Bonus Track: 'If I Needed Someone'
Amazon Review
"I Am Sam" is a moving film from director Jessie Nelson ("Corrina, Corrina") about Sam (Sean Penn), a mentally disabled man who hires a lawyer to gain custody of his daughter. The story revolves around Sam's strong attachment to Beatles songs and his honest belief in the life lessons and emotional state he learns from their lyrics. This has led to the creation of a rich collection of Beatles covers by contemporary artists across a wide range of genres. Many artists would have jumped at the opportunity to record the classic songs of the heroes who first introduced them to the world of music.
Each performance is nearly faithful to the original, and the artists breathe new life into the songs through their vocal talent alone. The husband-and-wife duo of Aimee Mann and Michael Penn (Sean Penn's brother) created a beautiful, resonant sound on "Two of Us" (<1>), and Nick Cave, singing with the sentimental, saccharine quality of a contemporary pop singer, made "Let It Be" his own (<17>). Paul Westerberg's simple, slightly nasal rendition of "Nowhere Man" sharply highlighted Lennon's inherent Dylan taste (<15>). Howie Day transformed "Help" from a plea into a poignant elegy (<14>). However, there are inherent risks in arbitrarily reinterpreting the original songs. Grandaddy arbitrarily turned the energy of "Revolution" into alt-rock (<16>), resulting in self-indulgence.
The Beatles, in fact, didn't need anyone to tell them their glory any more. The purpose of this album is to reaffirm to the world that their work encompasses the essence of a wide range of musical genres. (Jerry McCulley, Amazon.com)
Product Description
Japanese Version Featuring a Bonus Track: 'If I Needed Someone'
Media Reviews and More
This is the soundtrack to the film "I Am Sam," starring Sean Penn and Michelle Fire. It features Beatles covers by Stereophonics, Sheryl Crow, The Black Crowes, and others. The Japanese version includes a bonus track: Tica's "If I Needed Someone." (C)RS
