Big Lebowski Soundtrack

Joel and Ethan Coen have produced, written and directed many successful movies but the one with the biggest cult following has to be The Big Lebowski. The success of the movie is helped by the The Big Lebowski soundtrack. It is an imaginative mix of different styles and each song or tune represents what the major characters are going through. Many well known artists were chosen but sometimes with less well known songs. Carter Burwell, who has collaborated with the Coen Brothers on many projects, wrote the original film score.

Take the songs away from a film and they often don't stand up but The Big Lebowski soundtrack does stand all on its own and can be enjoyed for its own sake. However, it's the placing of each song that enhances scenes in the 1998 movie. The star is Jeff Bridges who plays an unemployed 'slacker' character called Jeffrey. He prefers to be addressed as The Dude. His best friend Walter, played by John Goodman, is a Vietnam War veteran with issues. Their co-stars were Steve Buscemi, Philip Seymour Hoffman, John Turterro and Julianne Moore.

Bob Dylan's The Man in Me, originally on his New Morning album from 1970 is played as the movie begins and during a hallucination scene. The Clash also covered this song. The annual Lebowski Festival that celebrates the movie in different US cities features live music and the The Dude (Jeff Bridges) took to the stage at one festival to perform the song, much to the fans' delight.

A much covered song is included in The Big Lebowski soundtrack with the wonderfully titled Just Dropped In (to see what condition my condition was in). Written by Mickey Newbury, the movie uses the Kenny Rogers and the First Edition version, which was the first Top 10 Billboard hit for Rogers in 1968. Glen Campbell contributes a solo. Other versions include Jerry Lee Lewis, Nick Cave and Wayne Perkins. The song is played over a dream scene in the film.

One of the biggest hits for the Eagles was Hotel California, written by Don Henley, Glen Frey and Don Felder. It is the cover by the Gipsy Kings that features in the film however, played in a flamenco style. This is an ironic selection as The Dude claims that he hates the Eagles!

The Rolling Stones' 1971 album, Sticky Fingers is considered to be one of their best and includes the Jagger / Richards penned track, Dead Flowers. Again, a cover version is used. Townes van Zandt's version, which appears on his Roadsongs album, plays over the closing credits. Other artists to record this song include Guns N Roses, Steve Earle and the New Riders of the Purple Sage.

One might not expect to find Henry Mancini on The Big Lebowski soundtrack but it gels into the movie well. His composition Lujon was originally composed for the 1950s TV series, Mr. Lucky. It was also played in the films, Sexy Beast and Hatari! Other contributions to The Big Lebowski soundtrack include Elvis Costello, Captain Beefheart and Meredith Monk. A varied bunch of tracks indeed.