Cadillac Records is a movie that tells the unusual story of Leonard Chess and the famous Chess Records. If you happen not to know about this record label, it is the one that became the home for Muddy Waters, Chuck Berry, Etta James and many other stars of the blues, soul and early rock-n-roll movement.
The masterpiece of the soundtrack is the cover of Howling Wolfs – Smokestack Lightnin’ by mostly unknown actor Eamonn Walker. Walker literally stole the show during the movie, playing one of the most mysterious bluesman of the 50th and the same thing happened in the soundtrack. Also it is hard not to mention spectacular vocal talents of Beyoncé who sung such Etta James classics as At Last, I’d Rather Go Blind and All I Could Do Was Cry. She really gave them some modern energy, while preserving the original spirit of the good old soul music. Famous rapper Mos Def who played Chuck Berry also gave a good twist to oldies like Maybellene and No Particular Place To Go. And of course one of the main stars – famous Muddy Waters, played by Jeffrey Wright, has half a dozen songs on the soundtrack, with hits like I’m A Man, Hoochie Coochie Man and I Can’t Be Satisfied.
And oh… if you are already running of to the CD shop don’t forget to lay your hands on the Deluxe Version, it’s the one worth buying.
