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Released: January 2005

Rating: 10/10

Leonardo DiCaprio has definitely come of age as a an actor.

His portrayal of the eccentric billionaire in the Aviator, is well worth an Oscar. Out now to accompany the bio-flick is this excellent soundtrack. You can now grab a piece of the pop music scene from the late 1920’s to the mid 1940’s with a host of popular performers. In addition there are contemporary versions of songs from that era.

Each track drops neatly into the relevant scenes,for example the first track Shake That Thing by Vince Giordanno’s eleven piece band (who specialise in resurrecting swinging Jazz of the '20s and '30s) relates to the scene where Hughes tells his employee Johnny to find him some extra cameras for the filming of Hell’s Angels. And so it goes on,with some real gems from the period.

Arguably the biggest group of the time was the Inks Spots, originally known as King, Jack and the Jesters. They actually played the Cocoanut Grove, Park Central Hotel New York (Howard Hughes’ favourite nightclub) for a month’s run in late January-February 1939 as they supported Chick Webb, Ella Fitzgerald and Boudon Ali – so chances are he would have seen them there. It was the only time they appeared at the venue.

Their August 8, 1940 New York recording of Do I Worry? appears here, with lead vocals by Bill Kenny and talking chorus by Orville‘Hoppy’Jones. From the late 1930’s to early 1950’s they were one of the most popular and influential groups,playing a mix of fast ‘jump’ tunes and ballads e.g. Whispering Grass.

Other big guns throw their weight behind the soundtrack such as The Original Memphis Five, founded 1917 in Coney Island New York. They were the most prolific early white Jazz bands, lead by vocalist George White with trumpeter Phil Napoleon. Their July 13, 1929 recording of Fireworks is a great match-up as Hughes demands more clouds for his filming. Belgian Jazz guitar maestro Django Reinhardt’s 1947, I Can’t Give You Anything But Love, with smooth vocals by Freddy Taylor, is sublime, as Katherine Hepburn (Cate Blanchett) get smoochy.

No soundtrack would be complete without Glenn Miller’s Moonlight Seranade being run for the Hercules party.

Finally,the original rock icon Huddie Ledbetter aka Leadbelly’s strained ballad Howard Hughes, recorded Washington DC, August 11, 1940 takes you through the end credits.

Brilliant collection.

The full list of tracks included are :

1. Shake That Thing - Vince Giordano and his Nighthawks Orchestra 2. I'll Build A Stairway To Paradise - Rufus Wainwright 3. Somebody Stole My Gal - The Original Memphis Five 4. Fireworks - The Original Memphis Five 5. Yellow Dog Blues - Vince Giordano and his Nighthawks Orchestra 6. Thanks - Bing Crosby with Jimmy Grier & His Orchestra 7. Happy Feet - Manhattan Rhythm Kings 8. After You've Gone - Loudon Wainwright III 9. Moonglow - Benny Goodman 10. I Can't Give You Anything But Love - Django Reinhardt 11. Ain't Cha Glad - David Johansen 12. Nightmare - Artie Shaw & His Orchestra 13. Stardust - Vince Giordano and his Nighthawks Orchestra 14. Do I Worry? - The Ink Spots 15. I'll Be Seeing You - Martha Wainwright 16. Back Beat Boogie - Harry James & His Orchestra 17. Moonlight Serenade - Glenn Miller & His Orchestra 18. Howard Hughes - Leadbelly

More info at Columbia Records.com

Review & concert pics copyright © Elly Roberts, 2004-2008. For prints of any of Elly's concert pics online, email Elly or call 07765 862017.

DVDs reviewed by the editor are watched on a Panasonic TXW32R4 32" widescreen TV connected to either a Creative Dxr2 DVD-ROM player or Microsoft Xbox and played through a Sony STR-DB930 amplifier.

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