It is not neccessary to have seen the film to appreciate what this music is about.It opens with the wonderfully romantic orchestral love theme "Doe Eyes". Composed by Clint Eastwood(yet another great talent of his revealed), and conducted by Lennie Niehaus, the music fills the room with the soothing sounds, and already you are under the spell!

Then ,like love letters put to music,Dinah Washington's feminine and soulful tones and Johnny Hartman's deep but docile voice exchange stories of love and romance through song. Dinah sings "I'll Close My Eyes", she says"through those moments, were apart, I'll close my eyes and see you with my heart".Johnny returns with "Easy Living" and expresses that"people say you rule me with one wave of your hand...Darling it's grand.."These are followed by "Blue Gardenia"(Washington), "I see Your Face Before Me"(Hartman) and "Soft Winds"(Washington), all expressing the fleeting affair and the lasting love.You will also be treated to some wonderful instrumental solos interwoven in the songs.

A light and lively rendition of "Baby, I'm Yours"(Barbara Lewis) gives the sense of the time era, followed by more wonderful love songs,including artists Irene Kral with the Junior Mance Trio. There are twelve tracks in all(see buying info for complete lists), and closes with the mesmerizing "Doe Eyes" once more.

The CD is a great quality and sounds terrific on the stereo.

This album is for anyone who has ever loved or has ever been loved!....Close YOUR eyes and enjoy...Laurie


A beautiful collection of music   November 22, 2003
J. Remington (Adams, Oregon USA)
14 out of 14 found this review helpful

One of the many reasons the film version of Robert Waller's pallid and common novel surpassed expectations and became one of the few films to improve its original source is due in no small part to director Clint Eastwood's impeccable taste and selection of the soundtrack. Choosing vocal work from the elegant Dinah Washington and the cool, smokey eroticism of Johnny Hartman as well as composing the vivid and drifting "Doe Eyes", Eastwood created a film that breathed autumnal, ephemeral romance.

This is a soundtrack album that stands on its own as excellent listening. Besides the simply gorgeous aforementioned "Doe Eyes" (Eastwood has developed into quite a deft and sensitive composer), higlights include Hartman's brilliant rendering of "For All We Know", "Easy Living" and "It Was Almost Like A Song" along with Washington's "I'll Close My Eyes".

I used selections from this as part of a soundtrack for a stage version William Inge's PICNIC and the drifting, haunting, and luscious sounds contained here produced an effective atmosphere of longing and loneliness.

A beautiful collection of music that made a pretty good film work. A certain must own for lovers of jazz.


A touching soundtrack for this one-of-a-kind love story.   April 11, 1999
8 out of 8 found this review helpful

The Dinah Washington tracks speak for themselves, as do the John Hartmans. . .but how I wish that, once he's done with films, Clint Eastwood would be recognized for his senstive musical gift. "Doe Eyes" alone makes the listener hopeful and breaks their heart without so much as one word of lyric, or without ever having to know the story of Francesca & Robert. Mr. Eastwood's directorial efforts have been appropriately rewarded. I only wish he had been duly cited for this beautiful composition. Someday. .


A MUST HAVE   June 21, 2000
3 out of 3 found this review helpful

I have seen the movie, listened to the CD and read Amazon's customer reviews. I fine this CD truely amazing and cannot understand why anyone would rate this any lower than a 4 star CD. IT TOUCHES THE SOUL!


Great record for jazz fans   February 1, 1999
3 out of 3 found this review helpful

Eastwood's lifelong love of jazz certainly comes through in this recording. The soothing sounds of Dinah Washington and Johnny Hartman melt into the stereo system and are a treat for any true jazz lover. Like the soundtrack for "Midnight in the Garden...," it seems that Eastwood is choosing movies lately that let him put together fun soundtracks that he can put in his own CD player.