The Bachelor, starring Chris O'Donnell and Renée Zellweger, seems to be a remake of the 1925 Buster Keaton comedy, Seven Chances. The plot line is more familiar - the old one about the bachelor who will forfeit his $100 million inheritance if he does not find a bride within 24 hours. From the cover artwork it looks as though he proposes to every woman in sight and they seem anxious enough to comply and to climb into bridal gear! The album is mostly made up of source music with just enough original score material tacked on at its end to qualify for review on this site. Plus the fact that there is a substantial amount of vintage material and appearances by such artists as Barry White, Louis Prima and Billy May. The 10+-minute medley is the usual sugar sweet confection of dreamy romantic music spiced with a little jazz and Latin. Older listeners will be appalled with David Byrne's rendition of Cole Porter's 'Don't Fence Me In'; while younger ones will probably think its heavy drum beats, cool. Other old favourites such as 'Hit the Road Jack', and 'It Must Be Love' are similarly mangled, or made hep according to age and taste. It was good to hear the sexy and Ally McBeal/'Biscuit'-invigorating Barry White breathing huskily through 'You're the First, the Last My Everything' and Louis Prima's way with 'Justa Gigolo' and 'I Ain't Got Nobody.' I have to say that the old 'Hernando's Hideaway' seemed more exciting than Billy May's Rico Mambo Orchestra's rendition even though it is quite colourful. Reviewer Ian Lace For young'uns: For 'oldies':	Reviewer Ian Lace Reviews from previous months Reviews carry sales links but you can also purchase from:
			Return to Index