Tracksounds Rating = 7/10

Composed by David Benoit
Released by Varese Sarabande  1999

Jazz composer and pianist David Benoit has thrilled contemporary jazz enthusiasts for years. One might naturally expect a jazz score to come from him but instead he goes with a classic orchestral style.  His score for the Stars fell on Henrietta is a light Americana piece sonically depicting the struggles of an oil-driller during the great American depression. Many of the tracks reflect the main theme in one variation or another. Of course the piano is featured and is played in Benoit’s classic style. The banjo appears in the main theme played by Grant Geissman, which gives it that "plain-states" feel.  Also, the string sections are generally low and solemn representing the overall sadness of the time period.  This score would fall into the same category as Richard Hartley’s A Thousand Acres, Silvestri’s Forrest Gump, and many of James Horner’s lighter scores.

The Varese Sarabande well recorded release of this score is very short, but sweet. The average track length is well under two minutes, with only one track reaching four minutes in length. This is unfortunate for such a decent score.  Due to some sort of legalities, the actual orchestra name or players are not listed, aside from the soloists.  I'm sure it is some contract/union issue.  

One highlight is the final track, Theme and Variations, which is a solo piano performance by David Benoit. It is one of the longer tracks at just under four minutes, but in that brief time Benoit single-handedly brings the theme to life.  Also, the liner notes are more like "liner-pictures."  There are no notes at all on the movie, score recording, or anything else.  The back of the liner notes give you the basic credits for the film and that's it.  It could be that they were afraid to include extensive notes since the CD might be over before you finished reading them!  Clever! 

The themes are very simple and in the style that can very pleasing to have on as you read, do homework, write the bills, or, my favorite, take a nap!   Overall it is a   good score, but the tracks are much too short thus making overall disc length shorter than one would hope for.  I paid some $13 and only feel a bit cheated due to the length.  What there is of the score is quite nice.

Main Title

3:33

A New Start

2:26

The Hunt Begins

2:09

Festivies Begin

2:13

June 19th

2:12

Off to California

1:16

2:15

I'm So Sorry

1:32

The Plan Sputters

1:11

The Big Boom

2:04

Goodbye Mr. Cox

1:44

Category

Score

Composer 
David Benoit

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