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”
Can confirm Springsteen is absent… from the context in the film I'm guessing he was replaced by James Taylor rather than Eminem as speculated. Though I haven't read the script, so can't say for sure. No actual appearances by Wilco, either.
I'm willing to bet the so called "unreleased acoustic version" of Lennon's Watching the Wheels is the same one they used five years ago on the Acoustic collection they made for him. And even most of those tracks were repackaged from the Lennon Anthology. It will be cool to hear Sandler sing Real Love though, and I'm surprised they don't include his version of Photograph since the trailer shows him singing that with a full band. Also, glad to see Wilco makes an appearance too, since they've been using a song of theirs in the trailers.
I must say, I'm a bit surprised by this soundtrack. For as raunchy as Apatow makes himself out to be, he sure uses some soft, "dad rock" if you will. Will he become one of those directors we eagerly await to hear what musical choices he will make with each film, a la Wes Anderson etc?
@Jay, so Taylor shows up in a dream sequence? Cause that's the context of the Springsteen part in the script. He give advise to Sandler's character.
@circus: "Will he become one of those directors we eagerly await to hear what musical choices he will make with each film, a la Wes Anderson etc?"
He already is for me. Anderson's lost it a bit. Using the most obvious Stooges and Scott Walker songs in Aquatic? The Bowie songs were pretty obvious too (Though getting the Brazilian guy to cover them WAS an inspired choices).
Hmm interesting, no dream sequences in the film, thankfully– Taylor plays at a gig that Sandler's character is performing at. He may have the funniest line in the movie, too.
Perhaps the dream sequence was scrapped as a similar dream sequence where a music icon (Springsteen, by the way) gives advice to the hero, was used in 'High Fidelity'.
(No disrespect to Mr. Apatow, but it's hard to imagine a soundtrack as effective as 'High Fidelity', but in all fairness, that was a movie must more invested in music than 'Funny People'….)
Sounds like a lot of good songs/music.. I am so disappointed that the Dr Dog song, "My Friend" from their FATE c.d. didn't make it!! It fits so well and we love hearing part of it in the trailer.. and Dr. Dog performed on the Jimmy Fallon show in April when Seth Rogen was a guest. They were a pretty big hit with Jimmy and the audience..
How could McCartney's "Great Day" not be a fave???
It's a great song. "Real Love" is also one of my favorites.
Loved this soundtrack! It was such a big part of the whole movie and the Warren Zevon – Keep Me In Your Heart song was so perfect for that moment in the film!!
But on an unrelated note – please, please tell me how you were able to embed the YouTube videos like that on your page? They don't take up as much space, but I can't figure out how you did that? I have a website and would love to post vids like that. Could you share your secret??
Thanks for posting the links to the songs on YouTube, too. Enjoying the playlist now!
you change the height and width in the embed code. it's pretty easy and should be obvious.