Length 40:21 Artist Lisa Stansfield Movie Swing | Producer Ian Devaney Release date 10 May 1999 Label RCA Victor | |
 | ||
Released 10 May 1999 (1999-05-10) Recorded Gracieland in Rochdale
Gracieland 2 in Dublin
Metropolis in London Genres Soul music, Swing music, Rhythm and blues Similar Lisa Stansfield albums, Soul music albums | ||
Swing is a soundtrack for the 1999 film of the same name, which stars Lisa Stansfield, who also recorded ten songs for the soundtrack and co-wrote four of them. The album was released in Europe on 10 May 1999 and in North America on 13 July 1999. Swing garnered favorable reviews from music critics who called it a "gem" among the soundtracks. The album, full of jazz and swing songs, reached number six on Billboard's Top Jazz Albums chart. On 2 June 2003, it was remastered and re-released in Europe with an alternative cover art.
Contents
Background
In 1999, Stansfield starred in the Nick Mead-directed film Swing with actor Hugo Speer, and recorded cover versions of swing songs and a few original songs written in this style for the soundtrack. The film premiered on 7 May 1999, and the soundtrack was released three days later.
Content
The album contains fifteen jazz and swing songs performed by Stansfield (ten tracks), Georgie Fame (two tracks) and Ian Devaney (three instrumental tracks). Among them, Stansfield co-wrote four new songs: "Gotta Get on This Train", "Why Do We Call It Love", "I Thought That's What You Liked About Me" and "Two Years Too Blue". She has also recorded eight covers: "Ain't What You Do" (from 1939), "Ain't Nobody Here but Us Chickens" (from 1946) "Baby I Need Your Lovin'" (from 1964), "Our Love Is Here to Stay" (from 1938), "Watch the Birdie" (from 1941), "The Best Is Yet to Come" (from 1959), "Blitzkrieg Baby" (from 1940) and "Mack the Knife" (from 1928).
Critical reception
The album received positive reviews from music critics. According to Mark Allan from AllMusic, Swing is a "gem of a soundtrack. [...] The bright, sassy arrangements are fine showcases for Stansfield's confident, take-charge vocals." Allan also said that "[e]ven if the movie stinks, there's the music to remember."
Commercial reception
Swing reached number six on Billboard's Top Jazz Albums and number 165 on the UK Albums Chart.
Credits and personnel
Credits taken from AllMusic.
Songs
1Baby I Need Your Lovin'3:39
2The Best Is Yet to Come2:50
3I Thought That's What You Liked About Me3:55