Johnny Cool: Billy Mays Original Motion Picture Score

Product Review

A jazz composer and arranger best known for his work with Frank Sinatra, Billy May's scoring and songwriting talents run the gamut of canned emotion--from sly, self-deprecating humor to sloppy sentimentality to bold braggadocio. But given the proper circumstance, his compositions can swing with wild abandon. The soundtrack to Johnny Cool (1963) provides a delightful case in point. A film of (for its time) ridiculous and gratuitous violence, Johnny Cool called for a similarly unhinged score. May rose to the occasion, delivering some of the most rollicking music of his career. It's obvious that the composer saw freedom in contradiction, as the big band pieces on this collection alternate from disposable, dishwater jazz to kinetic, almost rock-like swing tunes. But it's the appearance of another rat packer--Sammy Davis Jr.--that really vaults this soundtrack over the top. Davis's exquisitely cheesy phrasing on the hilarious "Bee Boom" and his hollow lament on the film's title track are the stuff of ironic legend. --Matt Hanks

Title Tracks for Johnny Cool: Billy May's Original Motion Picture Score - Original MGM Motion Picture Soundtrack [Enhanced CD]

1. The Lizard
2. Window Washer
3. Dare's Affair
4. Borrow A Knife
5. Johnny Cool Theme
6. Morning In Balboa
7. Nice Quiet Saloon
8. Green Tables Blues
9. The Contest Pad
10. Juan Coolisto
11. Bee Boom - Sammy Davis, Jr.
12. The Ballad Of Johnny Cool - Sammy Davis, Jr.

Customer Reviews

Average Customer Review

(8 customer reviews)

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

'GLAD I FINALLY FOUND YOU ~~BEE BOOM BEE BOOM BEE BOOM, March 8, 2000

sergio (chicago) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Johnny Cool: Billy May's Original Motion Picture Score - Original MGM Motion Picture Soundtrack [Enhanced CD] (Audio CD)

hot and jazzy i love an albumn that can stand alone ~~ even without the film to back it up! ALL CUTS ON THIS ALBUMN ARE PERFECT! delightful listening ! my personal favorite is 'bee boom!"times three!try this~~ sergio!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

Obscure Soundtrack gets First Class Treatment, November 10, 2000

gobirds2 (New England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Johnny Cool: Billy May's Original Motion Picture Score - Original MGM Motion Picture Soundtrack [Enhanced CD] (Audio CD)

The soundtrack to "Johnny Cool" is about as obscure as the film itself. The film is essentially a gangster revenge tale. It was shot in 1963 in Black & White. It starred forgotten "rat packer" and brilliant character actor Henry Silva as Johnny Cool Giordano. Billy May did the scoring and Sammy Davis Jr. sings. This is technically an excellent recording. It sounds very good and is equally very pleasurable listening. This album is a very good piece of early 1960s contemporary America. Track 11 "Bee Boom" and Track 12 "The Ballad of Johnny Cool" both sung by Sammy Davis Jr. are excellent. Actually "Bee Boom" is fantastic!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

Johnny Cool, January 3, 2000

lovrich (Albany New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Johnny Cool: Billy May's Original Motion Picture Score - Original MGM Motion Picture Soundtrack [Enhanced CD] (Audio CD)

Had the original record, this CD is very well mastered. If you like high rat pack cheese with a horn section this is your disc. Everyone I have turned on to this recording digs it. Light up a cigarette line up a few martinis, kick off your loafers, put up your silk socked feet and groove!