Album Review: The Boat That Rocked - Movie Soundtrack

25 March 2009

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Released March 30

No one can deny the joy of being transported to a bygone era, even if only for a couple of hours and possibly even a time before they were even born. Richard Curtis, the man behind Four Weddings And A Funeral and Love Actually promises to provide such a nostalgia trip with his forthcoming 60s comedy The Boat That Rocked.

Scheduled for release on April 1, the film documents the UK pirate radio movement and, in particular, a group of DJs at is forefront, operating from a boat off the coast of England in 1966. Having not seen the film, it’s impossible to pass any firm judgements but if the musical showcase is anything to go by, it should prove pretty spectacular.

A mix of classic songs from the period and contemporary artists with a 60s soul-inspired sound, the soundtrack begins with welsh pop princess Duffy. Her new single Stay With Me Baby immediately sets the tone with vocals that range from a fragile warble to a dynamite belt.

The period songs come artists and varied as Cat Stevens and The Kinks, with a strong all round mix of rock, blues and soul. The masterful melancholy of Procul Harum’s organ-heavy A Whiter Shade Of Pale adds something distinctly stylish to the running order, while Cream’s I Feel Free ensures a healthy variety.

Lively and upbeat wonders such as Dancing In The Street by Martha Reeves & The Vandellas provide an ice cool contrast to the outstanding Dusty Springfield’s epic ballad You Don’t Have To Say You Love Me.

The majority of the film’s audience will be well acquainted with the songs and no doubt have a good number of them on separate albums already. The soundtrack to The Boat That Rocked, however, does a great job of encapsulating that stylish 60s groove and makes a fabulous collection that no one should be without.

Rating: 5/5 – Not seen the film yet, but who can fault the songs?

Skip To: Procul Harum – A Whiter Shade Of Pale

FemaleFirst – Anthony Hill