Music review: 鈥楢merican Hustle Original Motion Picture Soundtrack鈥�
As a movie, 鈥淎merican Hustle鈥� is loosely based on the Abscam bribery scandal of the late 1970s and early 1980s.
As a soundtrack, 鈥淎merican Hustle鈥� serves up an entertainingly nostalgic assortment of classic arrangements from a time when disco, pop and rock music shared the same crowded spotlight together.
Underneath the movie鈥檚 engaging performances from Christian Bale, Bradley Cooper, Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner and Jennifer Lawrence, the soundtrack captures the period鈥檚 prevailing political climate and social culture. Electric Light Orchestra鈥檚 haunting 鈥�10538 Overture鈥� and the driving 鈥淟ong Black Road鈥� fuel a spectrum of emotions with Jeff Lynne also contributing a previously unreleased song to the musical assemblage.
One of the most intriguing numbers on the album is an Arabic version of Jefferson Airplane鈥檚 鈥淲hite Rabbit鈥� performed by Mayssa Karaa. The song is showcased during a tense exchange between Robert De Niro鈥檚 Florida mobster character and a sheik impersonator.
Tom Jones鈥� rousing ballad 鈥淒elilah鈥� and 鈥淚鈥檝e Got Your Number,鈥� a Tony Bennett classic re-recorded by Jack Jones just for the film, add a touch of suave sophistication to the gritty undertones.
Disco is well represented with the pulsating seduction of Donna Summer鈥檚 鈥淚 Feel Love鈥� and 鈥淒on鈥檛 Leave Me This Way鈥� by Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes with Teddy Pendergrass laying down the soul.
Other highlights include Elton John鈥檚 鈥淕oodbye Yellow Brick Road鈥� and the explosive 鈥淟ive and Let Die鈥� by Wings, which was originally written for the 1973 James Bond film of the same name. 鈥淟ive and Let Die鈥� features a spirited housecleaning scene with the breathtakingly beautiful Lawrence as she shimmies, shakes and scrubs.
The only downside to this terrific soundtrack is the fact that two of my favorite songs were mysteriously left out.
Early in the film, Steely Dan鈥檚 鈥淒irty Work鈥� brilliantly captures the tone for the deceitful actions yet to unfold. Regrettably, this classic tune is nowhere to be found on the soundtrack.
Additionally, Led Zeppelin鈥檚 鈥淕ood Times Bad Times鈥� was used in the film鈥檚 first trailer, but never made it as part of the movie or soundtrack.
All in all, you can鈥檛 go wrong with the movie or its musical companion piece. 鈥淎merican Hustle鈥� delivers the goods on both fronts.