Track Listing

1. Yes
2. Everywhere Freesia
3. Walkaway
4. Meet Joe Black
5. Peanut Butter Man
6. Whisper Of A Thrill
7. Cheek To Cheek - Chris Boardman
8. Cold Lamb Sandwich
9. Fifth Ave
10. A Frequent Thing
11. Death and Taxes
12. Served It's Purpose
13. Sorry For Nothing
14. Mr. Bad News
15. Let's Face The Music And Dance - Chris Boardman
16. The Question
17. Someone Else
18. What A Wonderful World
19. That Next Place
20. Over The Rainbow / What A Wonderful World - Israel Kamakawiwo'Ole

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2953 in Music
• Released on: 1999-03-20
• Number of discs: 1
• Original language: English
• Dimensions: .21 pounds
• Running time: 52 minutes

Customer Reviews

Mmmmmmm...
I don't think words can describe the beauty of Thomas Newman's score for "Meet Joe Black". The themes within the score are varied, and some reccur more than others; safe to say that any fan of the film will instantly recognise them and be transported back to the atmosphere and emotions of the film. Which is odd, considering how subtle the music actually is.

Newman's style is simple regarding orchestration, but extremely effective, with his beautiful motifs combined with oodles of suspensions in the sweeping and yet mostly delicate strings interspersed designate the mood. The odder tracks are those of Joe Black comically meeting the world, such as the pizzicatoed "Peanut Butter Man" cue.

Variety is achieved through a selection of old style blues and jazz tracks which complement the album superbly, bringing back that melancholy final scenario at the party.

And you can't forget the credits roll of the relaxed, gentle, and extremely moving medly of "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" and "What a Wonderful World".

So you may get this CD because you liked the film. You may get it because you're a fan of Thomas Newman. You may get it because you accidentally clicked on the wrong button and managed to order half the contents of amazon.co.uk in one very expensive moment of error. Otherwise, you get it for Track Number 6: Whisper Of A Thrill.

Well, that's why I bought it. I mean, I saw the film when it was on BBC1 however long that was ago now, and thoroughly enjoyed it, but didn't notice the music at all. (As I say, it is pretty subtle). Then those Government teaching recruitment adverts came on the TV... Remember those? The "Those Who Can, Teach" adverts? With the, "Can you spot the mean number?" lines, and a load of people dressed as numbers with one grabbing an ice-cream off another one? And annoying though it was, whenever the advert came on I would sit back and turn up the volume, and think, "Wow, whoever wrote the music to this advert is an absolute genius..."

And then I (quite by accident and luck) discovered that it was "Whisper Of a Thrill" from Meet Joe Black. So there you have it. That one track is possibly my favourite film music cue of all time, with its beautiful and haunting motif. I bet that Newman had a hard time refraining himself from peppering it throughout the score. Instead he saves it for key moments, and as such it never becomes overused and stale, but a fabulous gem. And that piano climax gets me every time. If you're a fan of the film it'll send you into goosepimples, I promise.

the most amazingly beautiful soundtrack around
thomas newman has created a soundtack so breathtakingly gorgeous it is hard to justify how good it is in words. whisper of a thrill and its refrains are chillingly good and walkaway can only be described as hauntingly beautiful. with the added bonus of a classy rendition of what a wonderful world, this is an essential piece of modern classical music.

Haunting Reveries of sheer delight
I saw the film "Meet Joe Black a few years ago and apart from the powerful message of the film itself, the thing that most stayed with me was the soundtrack; it was breathtakingly haunting and beautiful. I found myself drifting away from the world and lift into a musical paradise. I have since brought the DVD and watched it twice more, just to hear the music. Now I have the soundtrack. If you like to hear real orchestrated music at is exquisite best then you simply MUST get this CD, it will leave you in a state of extreme bliss. Each track is impeccable and you find yourself reliving the film in your head. I cannot do without hearing it over and over again, it is music of which you can never tire. Newton is a genius!