Mick Jagger / Ry Cooder / Randy Newman / Merry Clayton
Performance: Original Motion Picture Sound Track
Rare & Collectible Vinyl Records

1970 UK Original in laminated cover. Music By Jack Nitzsche. Also features The Last Poets, Buffy Sainte-Marie and Merry Clayton. LP looks unplayed. In the annals of rock soundtracks, "Performance: Original Motion Picture Sound Track" stands as a curious artifact, capturing the zeitgeist of a countercultural era. As noted by esteemed critic Robert Christgau, the album is a vibrant tapestry that blends the disparate worlds of rock, blues, and avant-garde experimentation, mirroring the film's exploration of identity and transformation. With contributions from artists such as Mick Jagger, Ry Cooder, and Randy Newman, the soundtrack weaves a sonic narrative that is as eclectic as it is evocative. Jagger's rendition of "Memo from Turner" epitomizes the album's raw energy, his voice a haunting embodiment of the film's psychedelic descent into chaos.

The record diverges from traditional soundtracks by eschewing a singular thematic approach, opting instead for an aural collage that reflects the movie's unconventional narrative structure. As Lester Bangs might have observed, the soundtrack defies easy categorization, serving as both a product of its time and a timeless exploration of musical boundaries. The juxtaposition of genre elements—from the sultry, blues-infused "Gone Dead Train" by Randy Newman to the ethereal, off-kilter "Wake Up Niggers" by The Last Poets—creates an immersive listening experience that demands attention. In its audacious blend of styles and moods, the "Performance" soundtrack transcends its cinematic origins, becoming a standalone work that continues to intrigue and challenge listeners.