CD Review: "I Am Sam" Soundtrack

Doing cover versions of past hits can be tricky. There’s greater pressure not only to do justice to the song but to make it better than the original. Doing a remake of a Beatles classic is a bigger challenge because the greatest band in music history has a following that spans generations. They will be judging the material based on different musical criteria.

It is a blessing that the producers of the soundtrack to the tearjerker "I Am Sam" decided to gather the best contemporary musicians who rendered beautiful renditions of Beatles songs. Even die-hard Beatles fanatics will agree that the covers are masterful recreations of the Fab Four’s ingenuity. This collection is proof that the Beatles created songs that transcend eras and musical preferences. Their work can be transformed into personal works of art by talented young artists and still retain the Beatles flavor that made them legends. The haunting melody, the simple yet engaging lyrics that make people think; these are what make Beatles music the bed to which we play out our lives.

Rufus Wainright’s rendition of "Across the Universe" has the same whimsical quality that made the original song a classic. His pained vocals and projected innocence make him the perfect singer to croon to this tune. Another worthy remake is Sarah MacLachlan’s version of "Blackbird". With only a guitar for accompaniment, MacLachlan’s trademark angelic voice makes the song soar to even greater heights.

Other tracks that grab attention are The Wallflowers’ version of "I’m Looking Through You" and The Black Crowes’ remake of "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds". They veer away from the original arrangement but stay true to the sound. Aimee Mann and Michael Penn’s "Two of Us" is an upbeat rendition much like the original. Sheryl Crow, Nick Cave, Eddie Vedder, The Stereophonics and many others contribute their talent to this endeavor.

In case you haven’t seen the movie and are wondering why the Beatles songs were chosen for the soundtrack, the film tells the story of Sam Dawson (Sean Penn), a mentally-challenged father and Beatles fanatic who fights to get his daughter Lucy (Dakota Fanning) back when she is taken away from him by the courts. Sam weaves the tapestry of his life with Beatles tunes as he struggles to raise his daughter. With the help of his lawyer Rita Harrison ( Michelle Pfeiffer) and his loyal friends, Sam prepares for the fight of his life.

How many of us are like Sam who fashion his life from the music he adores? Too many to count.