VA - Dead Presidents OST [1996] + VA - Dead Presidents Vol. II OST [1996] (2 x CDs)

SOUL FUNK

VA - Dead Presidents OST [1996] + VA - Dead Presidents Vol. II OST [1996] (2 x CDs)

The Dead Presidents soundtracks, VA - Dead Presidents OST [1996] and VA - Dead Presidents Vol. II OST [1996] are two of the most potent soul-funk compilations ever tied to a film. Released by Capitol Records in conjunction with the Hughes Brothers’ gritty Vietnam-era crime drama, these albums dig deep into the Black musical canon of the late ’60s and early ’70s, offering a raw, politically charged, and emotionally rich listening experience.

Volume I is the more widely known, and for good reason. It’s stacked with stone-cold classics: James Brown’s “The Payback,” Aretha Franklin’s “Do Right Woman – Do Right Man,” and Curtis Mayfield’s “If There’s a Hell Below, We’re All Going to Go.” These aren’t just hits—they’re statements. The soundtrack mirrors the film’s themes of disillusionment, racial injustice, and survival, using music that was born from those very struggles. It’s a rare case where the soundtrack feels like a character in the film, pulsing with tension and soul.

Volume II, released just months later, is the real digger’s delight. Less obvious, more nuanced, and arguably more cohesive. It features rarities like The Dramatics’ “Get Up and Get Down,” The Impressions’ “I’m So Proud,” and The Intruders’ “Cowboys to Girls.” These tracks weren’t just background music, they were the emotional undercurrent of a generation. The sequencing is tight, the mastering warm, and the selections lean into the overlooked corners of Philly soul, Chicago funk, and Southern grit.

Both volumes are essential not just for fans of the film, but for anyone interested in the intersection of music and social commentary. They’re curated with purpose, not just nostalgia. Capitol Records nailed the balance, iving us soundtracks that honor the era, elevate the narrative, and stand alone as powerful compilations in their own right. (B)

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Track lists

Vol. 1

01 Sly & The Family Stone - If You Want Me to Stay 2:58

02 Isaac Hayes - Walk on By 4:34

03 James Brown - The Payback 7:41

04 Spinners - I'll Be Around 3:10

05 Barry White - Never, Never Gonna Give You Up 7:58

06 Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes - I Miss You 8:28

07 Dramatics - Get Up and Get Down 3:11

08 Curtis Mayfield - If There's A Hell Below 7:44

09 Aretha Franklin - Do Right Woman, Do Right Man 3:15

10 Jesse & Trina - Where is The Love 4:12

11 Al Green - Tired of Being Alone 2:48

12 O'Jays - Love Train 2:58

13 Isaac Hayes - The Look of Love 11:13

14 Danny Elfman - Dead Presidents Theme 4:21

Vol. 2

01 James Brown - I Got the Feelin' 2:40

02 Impressions, Rick Ward - Keep on Pushing 2:33

03 Undisputed Truth, Detroit Symphony Orchestra - Smiling Faces Sometimes 3:16

04 Curtis Mayfield - Right on for The Darkness 7:25

05 Temptations - Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me) 3:53

06 Intruders - Cowboys to Girls 2:39

07 Jerry Butler - Never Gonna Give You Up 2:57

08 Stevie Wonder, The Funk Brothers - I Was Made to Love Her 2:37

09 Impressions - (Man, Oh Man) I Want to Go Back 3:05

10 Sam & Dave - When Something is Wrong With My Baby 3:15

11 Curtis Mayfield - We the People Who Are Darker Than Blue [Live at Paul Colby's Bitter End, New York City/1971] 8:44

12 James Brown, The Jewels - Ain't That A Groove 3:32

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Music weaves itself into the fabric of our emotions, dances through the corridors of memory, and whispers to the soul of who we are. Sharing these stories deepens the connection, turning the experience into something timeless and profound.

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