Boardwalk Empire, Vol. 2 [Music from the Original HBO Series]

Overview

While Boardwalk Empire includes plenty of authentic recordings in its re-creation of the mob wars of the Roaring '20s, Boardwalk Empire, Vol. 2 reaffirms that having contemporary artists interpret the era's songs keeps the HBO series from seeming too archival. Presenting highlights from seasons three and four, the collection features performances from a roster of more established artists than the soundtrack's first volume. The results are often accomplished -- David Johansen slips into the boisterous "Strut Miss Lizzie" like a pinstripe suit -- but not always as thrilling as when younger or lesser-known artists blend almost imperceptibly into the songs. For better or worse, Elvis Costello is unmistakable on his version of "It Had to Be You;" as captivating as he is, he detracts from the illusion of authenticity artists like the National's Matt Berninger creates with his rendition of "I'll See You in My Dreams." Other inspired pairings include Neko Case, who sounds as effortlessly charismatic and appropriate singing "Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out" as she is anywhere else, and St. Vincent, whose knowing sweetness tempers the naive admonishments to grin and bear it on "Make Believe." Two very different grande dames provide some of the album's biggest highlights: Liza Minnelli is just as brassy and sassy as expected on "You've Got to See Mama Ev'ry Night (Or You Can't See Mama at All)," while Patti Smith plays against type on her playful rendition of the sad-sack chestnut "I Ain't Got Nobody." Performances such as these make Boardwalk Empire, Vol. 2 more theatrical than the first volume, but fans will be pleased to hear more songs by Stephen DeRosa, whose turn as Eddie Cantor is one of the show's highlights. Likewise, this collection introduces Margot Bingham, who joins the cast in season four and showcases her wide range with the flirty "I'm Going South" and the winsome "Somebody Loves Me." Elsewhere, the show's musical diversity expands with Loudon Wainwright III's "The Prisoner's Song" and Pokey LaFarge's "Lovesick Blues," both of which add a hillbilly/country feel, and with Rufus Wainwright's "Jimbo Jambo," an example of the jaunty exoticism of the age that might be a little troubling to modern listeners. On the whole, however, Boardwalk Empire, Vol. 2 is an expansive, entertaining soundtrack that captures just how thoroughly the show crafts its mood and atmospheres. ~ Heather Phares

Product Details

Release Date:	09/10/2013
Label:	Abkco Records
UPC:	0018771898528
Rank:	81675

Tracks

1. Strut Miss Lizzie
2. Old King Tut
3. It Had To Be You
4. Everybody Loves My Baby
5. You've Got To See Mama Ev'ry Night (Or You Can't See Mama At All)
6. Baby Won't You Please Come Home
7. Make Believe
8. Lovesick Blues
9. Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out
10. Who's Sorry Now
11. You'd Be Surprised
12. I'm Going South
13. Sugarfoot Stomp
14. Jimbo Jambo
15. There'll Be Some Changes Made
16. Somebody Loves Me
17. All Alone
18. The Prisoner's Song
19. I Ain't Got Nobody
20. I'll See You In My Dreams

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Matt Berninger   Primary Artist
Stephen DeRosa   Primary Artist
David Johansen   Primary Artist
Chaim Tannenbaum   Primary Artist
Leon Redbone   Primary Artist
Liza Minnelli   Primary Artist
Loudon Wainwright III   Primary Artist
Kathy Brier   Primary Artist
Neko Case   Primary Artist
Rufus Wainwright   Primary Artist
Vince Giordano & the Nighthawks   Primary Artist,Accompaniment
Pokey LaFarge   Primary Artist
Margot Bingham   Primary Artist
St. Vincent   Primary Artist
Karen Elson   Primary Artist
Patti Smith   Primary Artist
Elvis Costello   Primary Artist
Andy Stein   Violin
Chuck Wilson   Reeds
Paul Woodiel   Violin
Vince Giordano   Tuba,Sax (Bass)
Jon-Erik Kellso   Trumpet
Noah Bless   Trombone
Mike Ponella   Trumpet
Meg Okura   Violin
Jack Stuckey   Reeds
Peter Anderson   Reeds
Nathan Botts   Trumpet
Matt Musselman   Trombone
Jim Fryer   Trombone
Harvey Tibbs   Trombone
Peter Yarin   Piano
Dan Block   Reeds
Dan Levinson   Reeds
Mairi Dorman Phaneuf   Cello
Cenovia Cummings   Violin
Ken Salvo   Banjo
Will Anderson   Reeds
Rob Grica   Drums
Joe Saylor   Drums
Belinda Whitney   Violin
Arnie Kinsella   Drums
Antoine Silerman   Violin
Mark Lopeman   Reeds
Andy York   Guitar
Jill Jaffe   Viola

Technical Credits

Turner Layton   Composer
Spencer Williams   Composer
Ballard MacDonald   Composer
Jerome Kern   Composer
Irving Mills   Composer
Isham Jones   Composer
Billy Rose   Composer
Irving Berlin   Composer
Jack Palmer   Composer
Cliff Friend   Composer
Vince Giordano   Arranger
George Gershwin   Composer
Charles Warfield   Composer
Joseph Oliver   Composer
Walter Melrose   Composer
W. Benton Overstreet   Composer
Teri Landi   Production Coordination
Martin Scorsese   Executive Producer
Randall Poster   Producer
Brian Fitzpatrick   Design
Stewart Lerman   Mixing,Engineer,Producer
Clarence Williams   Composer
Oscar Hammerstein II   Composer
Abner Silver   Composer
Guy Massey   Composer
Harry Von Tilzer   Composer
Bob Mallory   Second Engineer
Nat Vincent   Composer
Roger Graham   Composer
James Cox   Composer
Rafael Ventura   Production Assistant
Billy Hueston   Composer
Alisa Coleman   Executive Soundtrack Producer
John Horne   Second Engineer
Tyler Hartman   Second Engineer
Charlie Kramsky   Second Engineer
Akihiro Nishimura   Second Engineer
Jeff Cook   Second Engineer
Ted Tuthill   Second Engineer
Chris Allen   Second Engineer
Gregory Gilpin   Composer
Timothy Marchiafava   Second Engineer
Meghan Currier   Producer
Rick Kuan   Second Engineer
Terence Winter   Liner Notes,Executive Producer
Tim Van Patten   Executive Producer
Pete Bischoff   Second Engineer
Julia Buchheim   Soundtrack Coordination
Phil Jolie   Second Engineer
David Berger   Composer
Buddy DeSylva   Composer
Gus Kahn   Composer
Harry Woods   Composer
Henry Creamer   Composer
William Jerome   Composer
Harry Ruby   Composer
Mike Bauer   Second Engineer
Bert Kalmar   Composer
Ted Snyder   Composer
Billy Frisch   Composer
Con Conrad   Composer