NEWS
Me, Myself, Irene & a Steely Dan
03 May 2000 by M.T. Moura
Although several bits of information regarding the "Me, Myself and Irene" soundtrack have popped up on the net and entertainment mags for some time now, Elektra, the label releasing the soundtrack, only very recently put online a page with a list of the artists featured on the CD and clips of some of the songs.
One of the most interesting details about this soundtrack has to do with the fact that it's almost totally composed by covers of Steely Dan's songs. In case you are now thinking "Who the hell is Steely Dan??" Well, Steely Dan, founded by Donald Fagen and Walter Becker, is a seventies band with a very characteristic style that mixes Pop influences with smooth jazzy tones, wrapped in often satirical and off-the-wall lyrics.Knowing SD's work and sense of humor, it's not that difficult to understand why the Farrelly brothers choose this particular band, although some might argue the real reason is in the band's name origin. (No we aren't going to tell you what it is, but you can find it at Steely Dan's official website. ;-)
But exactly which of the Dan's songs are said to be covered in the movie and CD? For a start there's my favorite, "Do It Again", one of the biggest hits from their 1972 album "Can't Buy A Thrill". From the same album there's also "Only a Fool Would Say That", "Reelin' In The Years" and "Midnite Cruiser". The Farrellys have also chosen "Bodhisattva" and "Razor Boy", both from the 1973 album "Countdown To Ecstasy", and "Any Major Dude", "Barrytown" and "Monkey In Your Soul" all from "Pretzel Logic", dated 1974. The selection is completed with two songs from the 1975 album "Katy Lied", namely "Bad Sneakers" and "Chain Lightning".
Even if the Farrelly brothers have shown a great musical taste in their choices, we'll still have to see if the artists covering the songs managed to do justice to the originals. Two of the clips available at Elektra's site are Smashmouth's cover of "Do It Again" and Marvelous 3's "Reelin' In The Years", and although I prefer Steely Dan's versions, I have to say both bands, specially Marvelous 3, have done a very good job. (On a side note, when asked which one of the covers they liked the most, Fagen and Becker agreed it was Ivy's "Only A Fool Would Say That".)
Besides the Steely Dan covers, the CD will also feature other songs by well known artists as the Foo Fighters, Third Eye Blind, The Offspring and Hootie & The Blowfish. Also heard in the movie will be "The World Ain't Slowin' Down" by Boston-based singer and songwriter, Ellis Paul.
The soundtrack is due in stores June 13th and the movie will be released in the U.S. June 23rd.
Steely Dan's songs featured in the CD:
Any Major Dude - Wilco
Bad Sneakers - Push Stars
Barrytown - Ben Folds Five
Bodhisattva - Brian Setzer Orchestra
Do It Again - Smashmouth
Only A Fool Would Say That - Ivy
Reelin' In The Years - Marvelous 3
Steely Dan's songs featured in the movie:
Chain Lightning - Leon Redbone
Midnite Cruiser - Nash Kato
Monkey In Your Soul - Freedie Johnson
Razor Boy - Billy Goodrum
Related link:
"Me, Myself and Irene" Elektra soundtrack site
-- With a very special Spank You to the webmaster of Whitey's World, Michael Bowman's official website, for letting us know about the soundtrack site. Image © www.steelydan.com. Click to comment this article.
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