Swingers Soundtrack CD

Tracks 1-3, 5, 7, 9-10, 12, 14, 16 were recorded for this release and do not appear in the movie.

Tracks 4, 15 were recorded at Mad Hatter Studios, Los Angeles in September 1996 and tracks 6, 11, 13 were recorded at Clearlake Audio, Los Angeles, California in November 1995. Track 8 was recorded in Mad Hatter Studios and Clearlake Audio, Los Angeles, California in September 1996, November 1995.

The 1996 Miramax release Swingers helped in part to launch the neo-swing trend of the late '90s. The soundtrack that accompanied the film not only introduced swing revivalists such as Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, but delved into classic swing, country, and funk to create an eclectic yet surprisingly cohesive album. Dean Martin's "You're Nobody 'Til Somebody Loves You" and Bobby Darin's "I'm Beginning to See the Light," respectively, open and close the soundtrack just as they did the film. Studio versions of two songs Big Bad Voodoo Daddy performed in the movie -- "You & Me and the Bottle Makes 3 Tonight (Baby)" and "Go Daddy-O" -- are included, as well as one song that wasn't in the film (a cover of the Disney classic "I Wanna Be like You.") "King of the Road" by Roger Miller and George Jones' "She Thinks I Still Care" add a country flavor to the collection, while King Floyd's "Groove Me" and Average White Band's "Pick Up the Pieces" proudly represent swing's urban '70s counterpart: funk. Throw in the ultra-smooth "Paid for Loving" by Love Jones and a few short pieces by the Jazz Jury and you have an album that flows beautifully from beginning to end. Fans of the film may miss Heart's "Magic Man," but it would have no doubt stuck out on what is basically an album of songs that differ in style but share a common, dance-happy spirit. Heart did get the nod for the second soundtrack album from the film, Swingers Too!, which includes other music from the film. ~ Mark Vanderhoff

Personnel: George Jones (vocals).