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The 1971 cult-classic Harold & Maude portrayed the December/May romance between a suicidal teen (Bud Cort as Harold) and a sassy septuagenarian with a lust for life (Ruth Gordon as Maude). The quirky dark comedy glided along on the introspective lyrics and upbeat acoustic folk music of Cat Stevens (the stage name for British singer-songwriter Yusuf Islam). The childlike lyrics served as a tacit narrator, providing insight into the characters’ inner lives. This 50th Anniversary Edition arrives with incidental film dialogue, classical tracks, and a 36-page booklet with essays, photos, and lyrics. The nine Cat Stevens tracks—remastered by Geoff Pesche at Abbey Road Studios—are culled from Stevens’ Mona Bone Jakon and Tea for the Tillerman. Those include “Tea for the Tillerman,” “Where Do the Children Play,” “Miles from Nowhere,” “On the Road to Find Out,” “Trouble,” and “Don’t Be Shy.” The film’s unofficial theme, “If You Want to Sing Out, Sing Out,” appears three times here: a previously unreleased take, a piano duet with the film’s main characters, and a banjo version. There is an irrepressible charm to this soundtrack—think of its tender tone and life-affirming message as an instruction manual for healing a troubled soul.
By Greg Cahill
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