Alright. Details on the soundtrack to Judd Apatow’s “Funny People,” have arrived and it sounds like it’s going to be another good one. The Loudon Wainwright III soundtrack to “Knocked Up” is still vastly underrated, in the way it helped underscore the film’s happy/sad mood and by the looks of the “Funny People” soundtrack, this disc will do the same.
Due July 28, the “Funny People” Original Motion Picture Soundtrack will feature tracks by actors in the film, Adam Sandler (two tracks, one being a John Lennon cover of “Real Love“) and Jason Schwartzman under his Coconut Records moniker (two songs from his 2009 sophomore album, Davy). Schwartzman of course has also written the film’s score and provides two new songs written for the film. The disc also features a track from Apatow’s daughter, Maude Apatow and Larry Goldings singing “Memory,” from the musical “Cats.”
But of the biggest note are the unreleased tracks on the soundtrack, including one from John Lennon and one from Neil Diamond. The Lennon tracks is a rare acoustic demo of “Watching the Wheels,” the 1981 single released after his death. Quite the coup. James Taylor was said to cameo in the picture and it turned out to be true. His appearance on the soundtrack is from his on-camera performance of “Carolina in My Mind” from the film. Other big classic names on the disc include Paul McCartney, Robert Plant, Wilco with Andrew Bird, Ringo Starr (“Photograph” which is used in various versions of the trailer, it was co-written with George Harrison for the 1973 Ringo album). and Apatow’s favorite, Warren Zevon (who we knew he would eventually use).
Apatow is a big Zevon fan and in the ’90s he tried to get the wry singer (RIP) to score a movie that was never made — a film that was supposed to star Owen Wilson and Rip Torn as Alcoholics Anonymous members.
“The Funny People” script had many music references and some seemed to have panned out, but perhaps not all of them. Bruce Springsteen was supposed to appear in a dream sequence cameo (still unsure if that panned out, kind of doubt it) and other musical references included: Wilco (a concert and yes, there’s a live Wilco track with Andrew Bird on the soundtrack), Warren Zevon (natch), Otis Redding, Paul McCartney’s “With A Little Luck” (seems like the switched the song) the introspective Ted Hawkins song, “Strange Conversation“and Fergie’s song, “London Bridge” all were specifically written into the script. Seems like that Dr. Dog song in the trailers that some people seem to love so much didn’t make the soundtrack. Just remember some of these songs could also be used in the film, but just not released on the soundtrack.
Here’s a bunch of audio context links in the tracklist so you can know what’s in store when the movie arrives on July 31.
“Funny People” soundtrack tracklist
1. Paul McCartney – Great Day
2. Coconut Records – Wires
3. Robert Plant and the Strange Sensation – All The King’s Horses
4. James Taylor – Carolina On My Mind [live]
5. Warren Zevon – Keep Me In Your Heart
6. Adam Sandler – Real Love [live]
7. Neil Diamond – We [early take]
8. Wilco with Andrew Bird – Jesus, etc. [Live Summer ’08]
9. Adam Sandler – George Simmons Soon Will Be Gone
10. Coconut Records – I Am Young
11. Maude Apatow & Larry Goldings – Memory (from Cats)
12. Warren Zevon – Numb As A Statue
13. Ringo Starr – Photograph
14. John Lennon – Watching The Wheels [acoustic]
All of this makes us wish we didn’t lose our two-disc If I Were Judd Apatow imaginary soundtrack mix which anticipated the use of McCartney, George Harrison and Zevon. Ahh well, one day… we hope the person who stole/found our Ipod enjoys it.
[Concord Music]
Here’s some of our favorites
Warren Zevon – “Keep Me In Your Heart”
John Lennon – “Watching The Wheels”
Ringo Starr – “Photograph”
Coconut Records – “I Am Young”