Various Artists

Smoke: Motion Picture Soundtrack

Smoke is a wonderful movie, and its soundtrack is suitably solid.  What makes it stand out from most film-oriented compilations, however, are the two tunes recorded by the Jerry Garcia Band:  Cigarettes and Coffee and Smoke Gets in Your Eyes. Unfortunately, the more recent incarnations of the Jerry Garcia Band found its way into the studio far too infrequently, and these selections highlight the greatness that it could have achieved. As it stands, however, these are the final recordings of the Jerry Garcia Band.  The rest of the set features a few throw-aways, but there's some other good stuff, too (such as Louis Prima's Brooklyn Bridge and Tom Waits' Downtown Train).  Still, it's Garcia that makes it all worthwhile.  

1 Star:   Pitiful
2 Stars: Listenable
3 Stars: Respectable
4 Stars: Excellent
5 Stars: Can't Live Without It!!