The Horse Whisperer [Original Soundtrack]

Performer: Original Soundtrack
Distributor: Universal Distribution

Notes: Producers include: Pete Anderson, Kenny Greenberg, Joe Ely, Lucinda Williams, Tony Brown. Soundtrack producers: Tony Brown, John Bissell, Patrick Markey, Kathy Nelson. Engineers include: Dusty Wakeman, Michael Dumas, Greg Droman, Little Johnny Fader, David Thoener. Includes liner notes by Robert Redford. All tracks have been digitally mastered using HDCD technology. Personnel: Don Edwards (vocals, guitar); Steve Earle (vocals, acoustic guitar, bouzouki, harmonica); Gillian Welch (vocals, acoustic guitar, electric bass, bells); Dwight Yoakam, Emmylou Harris, Iris DeMent, Joe Ely (vocals, acoustic guitar); Raul Malo (vocals, gut-string guitar); Don Walser, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Lucinda Williams, Allison Moorer, Butch Hancock (vocals); Kenny Greenberg (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass guitar); Buddy Miller (acoustic guitar, electric guitar); Tommy Spurlock (acoustic guitar, steel guitar); Lloyd Maines (acoustic guitar, dobro); Mark Howard (acoustic guitar, mandolin); Jason Roberts (acoustic guitar, fiddle); Brian Ahern (acoustic guitar, background vocals); Ray Benson, Steve Gibson (acoustic guitar); David Rawlings, Pete Anderson, Rick Plant (electric guitar); Cindy Cashdollar, Dan Dubmore (steel guitar); Paul Franklin (lap steel guitar); Brent Mason (gut-string guitar); Norman Blake (dobro); Paul Glasse, Rich O'Brien (mandolin); Danny Levin (fiddle, cello); Howard Kalish, Stuart Duncan, Joe Spivey (fiddle); Charlie Chadwick (cello, upright bass); Skip Edwards (accordion); Chris Gage, Floyd Domino (piano); David Hungate, Glenn Worf, Mike Bub (upright bass); Glenn Fukunaga (bass guitar); Donald Lindley, Patrick Earle (drums, percussion); Harry Stinson (drums, background vocals); Eddie Bayers, Rev. Brady Blade, Chad Cromwell (drums); Tom Roady, Jim Christie (percussion); Dan Rudin (programming); John Wesley Ryles, Liana Manis (background vocals). Audio Mixers: Chuck Ainlay; David Ferguson; David Thoener; Frank Campbell; Butch House; Jim Wilson; Judy Clapp; Mark Lambert; Mike Bradley; Ray Kennedy; Richard Dodd; Roger Moutenot. Recording information: 1103 Studio, Nashville, TN; Javelina Studios, Nashville, TN; Mad Dog Studios, Burbank, CA; Oc; Spur Studios, Austin, TX. Unknown Contributor Roles: Christine Edwards; Jerry Douglas ; Spencer Starnes; Biff Watson. Arranger: Pete Anderson. The soundtrack to Robert Redford's sweeping rural romance The Horse Whisperer is an excellent collection of contemporary country. The album favors alt-country singer/songwriters like Gillian Welch, Don Edwards, Steve Earle, Iris DeMent, Allison Moorer, Emmylou Harris, and Lucinda Williams, but in this context, it becomes clear that such mainstream stars as Dwight Yoakam, the Mavericks, and George Strait build from the same tradition. As a matter of fact, it's refreshing to hear the borders break down between the two extremes, since it reveals that aesthetically, they're not that far apart. But the real treat with The Horse Whisperer is the fact that none of the 12 tracks is weak. It's the rare soundtrack that works just as well as an individual album as it does a movie souvenir. ~ Thom Owens The soundtrack to this Robert Redford film doubles as a top-flight compilation of progressive country artists, each contributing a cut specially recorded for THE HORSE WHISPERER. Dwight Yoakam may be the biggest name, but the real news here is the reunion of the Flatlanders (Joe Ely, Jimmie Dale Gilmore and Butch Hancock), who recorded one album in 1972 before pursuing more fruitful solo careers. They offer the group-composed "South Wind Of Summer." As consistent as she is ubiquitous, Emmylou Harris takes advantage of the fertile Chris Smither songbook, with a solemn, intense reading of "Slow Surprise." "Dream River," credited to the Mavericks, is actually just Raul Malo delivering a beautiful solo acoustic number. Gillian Welch and Lucinda Williams provide a panacea for fans urgently awaiting their next releases, and George Strait plays it, well, straight, on the traditional "Red River Valley." The old school is also well-represented by yodel king Don Walser and honest-to-God cowboy singer Don Edwards.

Entertainment Weekly (4/10/98, p.67) - "Great soudntracks can fashion a mood while defining a genre, and this wistul alt-country & western set does just that, whil mostly avoiding the best-seller's bald sentimentality..." - Rating: A-

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