We are fans of covers here at WTD, and we are fans of traditional music, so this release, from HBO’s Boardwalk Empire (which you can catch on Sky Atlantic here in the UK) is an interesting idea which could well work for other shows/films.
Producer Stewart Lerman and Boardwalk Empire music supervisor Randall Poster have put together a collection of prohibition-era hits with instrumentation from Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks. This record, which is actually the second volume (with the first winning a Grammy no less), features a wide range of guest vocals from well known faces – from The National and St. Vincent to Neko Case, Elvis Costello and Liza Minnelli. Members of the show’s cast also contribute, including Stephen DeRosa and Margot Bingham.
Poster, who has worked for a number of the top directors including Martin Scorsese, Wes Anderson and Sam Mendes, says,
“Boardwalk Empire provides an incredible back drop for music. It’s been a steady treat to mark the passing of time in song over the course of four seasons.
Terry Winters, Martin Scorsese and the entire Boardwalk Empire team inspire the sound of the episodes as we move from the streets and alleys of Atlantic City to the smoky rooms of Al Capone’s Chicago and on down into the tropics of Florida. This compilation celebrates the mastery of all the artists involved.”
You don’t have to be a fan of the show to appreciate this album. Where else are you going to find such a collection of heavyweight acts all in one place? I am by no means a connoisseur of 1920s music, but it sounds good to me. Check out The National covering Isham Jones below.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-b4KnQzccE]
The soundtrack is out now on ABKCO Records