''Swing'' is a

soundtrack A soundtrack is a recorded audio signal accompanying and synchronised to the images of a book, drama, motion picture, radio program, television show, television program, or video game; colloquially, a commercially released soundtrack album of m ...

for the 1999 film of the same name, which stars Lisa Stansfield, who also recorded ten songs for the soundtrack and co-wrote four of them. The album was released in Europe on 10 May 1999 and in North America on 13 July 1999. ''Swing'' garnered favorable reviews from music critics who called it a "gem" among the soundtracks. The album, full of

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its roots are in blues, ragtime, European harmony, African rhythmic rituals, spirituals, h ...

and swing songs, reached number six on '' Billboards Top Jazz Albums chart. On 2 June 2003, it was remastered and re-released in Europe with an alternative cover art.

Background

In 1999, Stansfield starred in the Nick Mead-directed film ''Swing'' with actor Hugo Speer, and recorded cover versions of swing songs and a few original songs written in this style for the soundtrack. The film premiered on 7 May 1999, and the soundtrack was released three days later.

Content

The album contains fifteen

and swing songs performed by Stansfield (ten tracks), Georgie Fame (two tracks) and Ian Devaney (three instrumental tracks). Among them, Stansfield co-wrote four new songs: "Gotta Get on This Train", "Why Do We Call It Love", "I Thought That's What You Liked About Me" and "Two Years Too Blue". She has also recorded eight covers: " Ain't What You Do" (from 1939), " Ain't Nobody Here but Us Chickens" (from 1946), " Baby I Need Your Lovin'" (from 1964), " Our Love Is Here to Stay" (from 1938), " Watch the Birdie" (from 1941), " The Best Is Yet to Come" (from 1959), " Blitzkrieg Baby" (from 1940) and " Mack the Knife" (from 1928).

Critical reception

The album received positive reviews from music critics. According to Mark Allan from

AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All-Music Guide and AMG) is an American online database, online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on Musical artist, musicians and Mus ...

, ''Swing'' is a "gem of a soundtrack. ..The bright, sassy arrangements are fine showcases for Stansfield's confident, take-charge vocals". Allan also said that " en if the movie stinks, there's the music to remember".

Commercial reception

''Swing'' reached number six on '' Billboards Top Jazz Albums and number 165 on the UK Albums Chart.

Track listing

Charts

Credits and personnel

Credits taken from

. *Tim Baxter - assistant engineer *Vicky Brown - violins, additional arrangements *Hugh Buckley - guitars *Richie Buckley - saxophone * Clarence Clemons - saxophone *Tony Cousins - mastering *Jacquie Darbyshire - personal management * John Thirkell - trumpet *Snake Davis - saxophone *Ian Devaney - producer, arranger, keyboards, guitars * Georgie Fame - vocals *Geoff Gascoyne - bass *Rachel George - personal assistant *Carl Geraghty - saxophone * Leo Green - saxophone * Gavin Harrison - drums *Matt Holland - trumpet *Tommy Manzi - management *Stephen McDonnell - trumpet, additional arrangements *Adrian McGovern - recording, mix engineer *Nigel Mooney - guitars *Martin Rhodes - studio management *Karl Ronan - trombone * Lisa Stansfield - vocals *John Wadham - drums *Kevin Whitehead - drums

Release history

References

{{Authority control Lisa Stansfield albums 1999 soundtrack albums 1990s film soundtrack albums Jazz soundtracks