Space Cowboys

When director Clint Eastwood doesn't employ regular composer Lennie Niehaus, you can guarantee the soundtrack will be populated with a very distinctive style of song. Right from Play Misty for Me, it's been apparent his penchant is for light jazz and smoky ballads. So the simple formula for this movie was to apply preference to the old-gits-in-space scenario. The result is what can be described as a bar-room drawl. Joshua Redman features three times with "The Best is Yet to Come", "Hit the Road Jack" and "The Second Time Around", Willie Nelson twice with "Young at Heart" and "Still Crazy After all these Years", which is also covered by the Brad Mehldau Trio which goes on to contribute "Old Man". Rounding things out are Mandy Barnett ("I Only have Eyes for You"), Chad Brock ("Take it to the Limit"), Larry Goldman featuring Maceo Parker and Fred Wesley ("Last Night"), and the essential Frank Sinatra and Count Basie ("Fly Me to the Moon"). Lots of tippity-tappity cymbal backing, subdued sax, and keyboard are the order of the day. Quite intentionally, and in the nicest of ways, this is music to feel old by. --Paul Tonks

Label: Unknown
Studio: Warner
Released: 2000-09-18
Format: Audio CD

Extras/Features:
Soundtrack