The Thomas Crown Affair - Music (Various)

The Thomas Crown Affair is a caper story with a new (well, retread) twist: Pierce Brosnan plays a guy who can afford virtually anything, so he attempts to get something he can't, a Monet. It is a movie fitting of a polished, well-produced soundtrack, which is exactly what this disc delivers. Sting's previously unreleased version of the famous theme song "Windmills of Your Mind" lacks the suave psychedelic flair of Noel Harrison's original version (he won an Oscar for the song on the original Thomas Crown soundtrack), but should please his fans. Nina Simone's classic "Sinnerman" is a welcome contribution, and Wasis Diop's "Caban La Ka Kratchie" is a steamy world fusion tune. Bill Conti's score--varying from pulsating piano compositions to smooth jazz--rounds out the rest of this short soundtrack. For most, the real attraction here is the Sting cut. --Jason Verlinde

Customer Reviews of The Thomas Crown Affair

JH
Great Britain
20th November 2007

High Class - No Fillers
This album is a rarity in modern soundtracks - it doesn't incorporate any "inspired by" tracks in place of the music from the film that made you buy the album in the first place.
Bill Conti's music is cool and classy, blends of soulful jazz, carribean music and lounge style tunes. It also includes original recordings of "sinnerman" by Nina Simone - a masterpiece in its own right, and Sting's version of "windmills of my mind" which is an intelligent revisioning of the 1960s original.
This is the sort of album one could play at a dinner party or quietly with a glass of single malt. The Wasis Diop track is a masterpiece which may well lead you to some of his other albums the eponymous "Everything... is never quite enough" or "No Sant" are two which would well complement this album.

Downside? - there are a few bits of music from the film which I'd have liked to see at "bonus tracks" - perhaps they are being saved for a re-release when the Topkapi Affair is released into cinemas? - I can hardly wait!

Pennine Dweller
The Pennines of course!
12th July 2007

Windmills
Sting's cover (the term doesn't do it justice) is better than the original - delicious sultry cool production, sharp sleazy percussion, well tempered keyboards, phat, phat sound. Pure class...

5th February 2006

Fantastic
I bought this after watching the film and thinking what a cool collection of music. I was not disappointed. The recording of Sinnerman by Nina Simone is incredible, dramatic yet smooth, as are the various piano solo's that litter the album. Sting's "Windmill Of My Mind' is another strong track. If you like cool jazz like music, you will LOVE this - its superb!

misiak
uk
28th August 2005

Fabulous!!
An excellent sountrack to accompany a truey great film! All the tracks on the album are fitting and do the film justice! expecially the opening track on the film!

a definite must have! go get it!

AE Hunter
UK
16th February 2005

A truly wonderful CD, even if you've never seen the film
I really wanted this sound track, mainly because after seeing the film I couldn't get "Windmills of my mind" by Sting or "Sinnerman" by Nina Simmone out of my head (Yes I know they were performed originally by different artists but I like the versions by those artists!)

The CD is wonderful, though not in the order of the film, the tracks are superb and provoke excellent memories of a superb film.

However, seeing the film is not necessary here, this CD would sit well on anyone's shelf, with a fantastically romantic track by Wasis Diop and the superb orchesteral pieces to relax or inspire you.

This is the best CD I have listened to in ages.