More audiophile reviews by Ted King

We'd all like a soundtrack for life. In the meantime, here are a few options to help build your library:

Dreamgirls
—The Motion Picture

There are two versions of this soundtrack: The full movie score, which is a two-CD set, and a less-expensive, "highlights" soundtrack on a single CD. I recommend getting the full, two-disc set if you're a fan of the play or film. On the film soundtrack, some of the voices are well known: Beyoncé Knowles, Jamie Foxx and Eddie Murphy, but they still deliver plenty of surprises. Newcomer Anika Noni Rose is also excellent, but the real standout here is former AMERICAN IDOL contestant Jennifer Hudson. She outshines the rest of the cast with her vocal range and soul. Every time she sings, she adds weight and depth to what otherwise would feel like another version of Hollywood stunt casting. The soundtrack is flawlessly produced and features a much punchier sound than the original Broadway album. In a way, the soundtrack is a metaphor for Hollywood in its ability to make drama slicker, shinier and occasionally recognize a brilliant new star.

Love
—The Beatles

Wow! Jaw-dropping. The hairs on my arms were standing on end as I first listened to this CD. Imagine taking classic Beatles music, dissecting it and reproducing new versions of those songs with the original producer from the 1960s. Yes, George Martin and his son Giles put together this soundtrack for Cirque du Soleil — and the end result is amazing. This music is the equivalent of a great live concert that you never dreamed you would hear. Instruments and sounds appear and disappear into the landscapes of familiar songs with such expertise, you leave your stereo salivating for more. A must for Beatles fans, fanatical or casual.

Classic Corner
Goldfinger 007

What makes a classic soundtrack? Music that not only dramatizes the film, but defines a whole genre. John Barry's soundtrack to the third installment of Sean Connery's James Bond is legendary and cements the 007 sound. Today, when you hear the twangy, steel-stringed guitars, blaring horns, cymbal crashes and huge string orchestrations, you know it's Bond. Shirley Bassey's title track is grand and sets the stage for a robust score that will forever influence action movie scoring.

This article originally appearred in the January 23, 2007 issue of Soap Opera Digest.