Track Listing

1. Death or Glory - Grimethorpe Colliery Band
2. Sad Old Day - Trevor Jones
3. Floral Dance - Grimethorpe Colliery Band
4. Aforementioned Essential Items - Trevor Jones
5. En Aranjuez con Tu Amor - Grimethorpe Colliery Band
6. Years of Coal - Trevor Jones
7. March of the Cobblers - Grimethorpe Colliery Band
8. There's More Important Things in Life - Trevor Jones
9. Cross of Honour - Grimethorpe Colliery Band
10. Jerusalem - Grimethorpe Colliery Band
11. Florentiner March - Grimethorpe Colliery Band
12. Danny Boy (Londonderry Air) - Grimethorpe Colliery Band
13. We'll Find a Way - Trevor Jones
14. Clog Dance - Grimethorpe Colliery Band
15. Colonel Bogey - Grimethorpe Colliery Band
16. All Things Bright and Beautiful - Grimethorpe Colliery Band
17. William Tell Overture - Grimethorpe Colliery Band
18. Honest Decent Human Beings - Trevor Jones
19. Pomp and Circumstance - Grimethorpe Colliery Band

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #33405 in Music
• Released on: 1997-06-03
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Soundtrack
• Original language: English

From Amazon.co.uk
Mark Herman's tragi-comedy set among the fictional coal-mining community of Grimley revolves around the exploits of the local colliery's brass band and its struggle to survive imminent pit closure. Among the film's virtues are a bitter-sweet (with an emphasis on "bitter") script, strong performances all round--including Pete Postlethwaite, Tara Fitzgerald and Ewan McGregor--and a superb soundtrack. Grimley's real-life counterpart is the Penine town of Grimethorpe, and, entirely uncoincidentally, the Grimethorpe Colliery Band were chosen to perform the music. Having themselves survived pit closure to become one of the top brass bands in Britain, the Grimethorpe band know all about playing from the heart. But the script's subject-matter aside, the album is actually an uplifting, entertaining selection of classic "lollipops", including the Floral Dance, Colonel Bogey, and a meltingly good arrangement of Rodrigo's Concierto de Aranjuez ("That's Orange Juice to you", says Postlethwaite in the movie) for solo flugelhorn. Trevor Jones contributes an attractive and pleasingly low-key score, but it's the band tracks that are the real selling-point here, making Brassed Off an ideal introduction to popular brass band music. --Mark Walker

Customer Reviews

Brings back old fond memories
Being the son of a conductor, player and arranger during the struggling period of mine closures in the UK, I would have to say that this is an excellent CD to introduce the listener into the subtlety of brass music. From the striking arrangement of Jerusalem to the full-tilt of the William Tell Overture this CD gathers so much into such a small space. I am happy to add this to my collection of other Grimethorpe vinyl, and, even if you don't think you are a brass/silver band fan, I can GUARANTEE you that there is something on here you will love.

Superb Recording
Even someone who doesn't like brass bands will like this
CD! It is an interesting mix of pieces, superbly recorded
with a great range from low to raucous! The movie was good,
it was on cable, and the music is great. You will enjoy it,
play it loud!

Excellent brass band review, from an equally great movie
The movie BRASSED OFF! holds much to be applauded; characters who struggle with real issues, stars who fit the story rather than the reverse, and so on. The crowning achievement of BRASSED OFF!, however, might just be the soundtrack album.

Combining incidental music by Trevor Jones with a number of old 'war horse' numbers from the brass band repertoire, BRASSED OFF! is a soundtrack which actually contributes mightily to the story of the film, rather than being simply a collection of pop songs designed strictly for profit. The movie is, after all, about a brass band!

Tracks deserving special recognition are "March of the Cobblers," "Danny Boy," and "William Tell Overture." On an album of excellent music these three are particularly outstanding. "Danny Boy" of course carries the emotional baggage with which it is consistently associated AND the added weight of a particularly touching scene from the movie. "William Tell Overture" is the championship piece the brass band chooses to play, with much style and panache, and "March of the Cobblers" is just a fun little number that sticks in one's head.

My one problem is a question of tone quality on the part of the 1st cornet/trumpet, which at times seemed a bit heavy on vibrato and a bit overbearing. This, however, is a question of taste which is debatable, and the player in question doesn't miss a note, so it isn't completely distracting.

Overall, both the movie and the soundtrack are worthwhile additions to the collections of those who enjoy brass music.