Lakeshore Records To Release Bernie - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

Los Angeles, CA (Top40 Charts/ CineMedia Promotions) Lakeshore Records will release the Bernie - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack digitally on May 22nd and in stores on June 12, 2012. The album features original score by Graham Reynolds (A Scanner Darkly, Five Time Champion) with songs by the film's Jack Black, Dale Watson, Mitote, Miss Leslie and Heybale!

"The Austin country music scene has some of my favorite musicians in the world," said Reynolds. "People like Dale Watson and Redd Volkaert are incredible talents that we Austinites are lucky enough to experience regularly. When Richard Linklater approached me about the score, I couldn't wait to dive into an intense project with them."

Called "the quintessential modern composer" by the London Independent, Austin-based composer-bandleader Graham Reynolds creates, performs, and records music for film, theater, dance, rock clubs and concert halls with collaborators ranging from Richard Linklater to DJ Spooky to Ballet Austin. His score to the Robert Downey, Jr. feature A Scanner Darkly was named Best Soundtrack of the Decade by Cinema Retro magazine.

As bandleader of the jazz-based but far reaching Golden Arm Trio, Reynolds has repeatedly toured the country and released four critically acclaimed albums. As Co-Artistic Director of Golden Hornet Project with Peter Stopschinski, Reynolds has produced more than fifty concerts of world-premier alt-classical music by more than sixty composers, including numerous pieces of his own. Reynolds' upcoming projects include the new HULU TV series Up To Speed.

Reynolds' approach to Bernie included joining together three components. He described, "I tried to weave one sound world while working with three distinct elements: songs with Jack Black, score featuring a string quartet, and Austin country music. Themes from old hymns weave their way into all three and each palette feeds the other."

In the tiny, rural town of Carthage, TX, assistant funeral director Bernie Tiede (Jack Black) was one of the town's most beloved residents. He taught Sunday school, sang in the church choir and was always willing to lend a helping hand. Everyone loved and appreciated Bernie, so it came as no surprise when he befriended Marjorie Nugent (Shirley MacLaine), an affluent widow who was as well known for her sour attitude as her fortune. Bernie frequently traveled with Marjorie and even managed her banking affairs. Marjorie quickly became fully dependent on Bernie and his generosity and Bernie struggled to meet her increasing demands. Bernie continued to handle her affairs, and the townspeople went months without seeing Marjorie. The people of Carthage were shocked when it was reported that Marjorie Nugent had been dead for some time, and Bernie Tiede was being charged with the murder.

On working with Jack Black, Reynolds said, "Working with Jack Black was a fantastic experience. He was hard-working, musically gifted, easy to work with, and sang beautifully. I think his fans will find the Jack they love in this film and its music while discovering whole sides they didn't know he had."

Track Listing

01. Love Lifted Me - Jack Black
02. Always First Class - Graham Reynolds
03. What Ever Happened to Sam - Dale Watson
04. Beautiful Dreamer - Jack Black
05. Ocean Liner - Graham Reynolds
06. Everything… About Drinkin' - Heybale!
07. Eee-gypt - Graham Reynolds
08. Symphony No. 1, Movement 5 (edit) - Graham Reynolds
09. El Colas - Mitote
10. Folding Underwear (What a Friend We Have In Jesus) - Graham Reynolds
11. Armadillo Gun (Oh Sacred Head, Now Wounded) - Graham Reynolds
12. Seventy-Six Trombones - Jack Black
13. I Can Get Over You - Miss Leslie
14. They Gave Me Life (Flee As A Bird) - Graham Reynolds
15. Hands on Hard Body (What a Friend We Have In Jesus) - Graham Reynolds
16. Les Hors d'Oeuvres et Boit - Graham Reynolds
17. He Touched Me - Jack Black
18. Back to the Cell (Oh Sacred Head, Now Wounded) - Graham Reynolds
19. Bernie What Have You Done - James Baker

Millennium Entertainment, together with Mandalay Vision and Wind Dancer Films present Bernie, currently in limited release. The Bernie -- Original Motion Picture Soundtrack on Lakeshore Records will be available digitally on May 22nd and in stores on June 12, 2012