Various - Bringing Out the Dead soundtrack

Herald rating: ***

(Sony)

Review: Russell Baillie

The soundtracks of his films often give the impression that Martin Scorsese spends his post-production time running between his record collection and the editing suite. The album accompanying his latest, a Taxi-Driver-in-a-Manhattan ambulance opening here next Thursday, is no exception.

Apart from R.E.M.'s What's The Frequency Kenneth, it shows Scorsese hasn't bought a record since Raging Bull. Oh well, he still likes the Clash (Janie Jones, I'm So Bored With the USA), Johnny Thunders (You Can't Put Your Arms Around a Memory), the Who (Bell Boy), as well as a fair dollop of vintage soul (Van Morrison, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, the Marvelettes).

And he makes amends for his one lapse in taste - the inclusion of UB40 snorer Red Red Wine - with the inclusion of one terrific obscurity, the Cellos' Rang Tang Ding Dong (I Am A Japanese Sandman), a doo-wop ditty that's plain kooky.