The Commitments (soundtrack)

The music to the 1991 musical comedy-drama film The Commitments featured two soundtrack albums accompanied its release. The first album, entitled The Commitments (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) was released on 13 August 1991 under the MCA Records label featuring 14 tracks; it was produced by Paul Bushnell, Kevin Killen and Alan Parker and was a chart-topping success upon release, being certified Platinum twice by the Recording Industry Association of America for selling 2 million units in the United States and thrice by the British Phonographic Industry for selling 3 million units in the United Kingdom. At the 1992 Brit Awards, the album won the Brit Award for Best Soundtrack.[1]

After the commercial success of that soundtrack, MCA Records released a follow-up entitled The Commitments Vol. 2 (Music from the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) on 17 March 1992 featuring 11 tracks, albeit being less successful than the previous release. Both soundtracks were combined and released as a deluxe edition double album by Geffen Records in 2017, that also accompanied five tracks from cast member Andrew Strong's solo album Strong (1993).

The Commitments (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

The Commitments (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Soundtrack album by
various artists
Released13 August 1991
Genre
Length46:16
LabelMCA
Producer

The Commitments (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) is the soundtrack album to the film released by MCA Records on 13 August 1991.[2] The album which was produced by Kevin Killen, Paul Bushnell and Alan Parker, featured fourteen songs which appeared in various scenes of the film.[3][4]

Commercial performance

The soundtrack album was a commercial success, reaching the number one position of the New Zealand Albums Chart.[5] It also reached number one on the Australian Album Chart, and was certified 5× platinum.[6] The Commitments was present for a total of 76 weeks on the Billboard 200 and peaked at No. 8.[7] According to The Daily Telegraph, it has soundtrack has sold 12 million copies worldwide.[8]

Reception

AllMusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine called the album "a bit generic",[9] while Robert Christgau called it "a cross between The Big Chill and The Blues Brothers" with performers who "sacrifice idiosyncrasy for competence".[10] Alan Young of Consequence wrote, "With the film’s soundtrack in check, not just the North Side Dubliners earn a piece of soul, but the gift is shared by everyone who desires a getaway and a simpler, honest approach to the world."[11]

Track listing

The Commitments (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (1991)
No.TitleWriter(s)Original artistLength
1."Mustang Sally"Mack RiceWilson Pickett4:02
2."Take Me to the River"Al Green, Mabon "Teenie" HodgesAl Green3:36
3."Chain of Fools"Don CovayAretha Franklin2:58
4."The Dark End of the Street"Dan Penn, Chips MomanJames Carr2:34
5."Destination Anywhere"Nickolas Ashford, Valerie SimpsonThe Marvelettes3:08
6."I Can't Stand the Rain"Ann Peebles, Don Bryant, Bernard "Bernie" MillerAnn Peebles3:12
7."Try a Little Tenderness"Jimmy Campbell and Reg Connelly, Harry M. WoodsOtis Redding4:31
8."Treat Her Right"Roy Head and the TraitsRoy Head and the Traits3:35
9."Do Right Woman, Do Right Man"Penn, MomanAretha Franklin3:15
10."Mr. Pitiful"Redding, Steve CropperOtis Redding2:07
11."I Never Loved a Man"Ronny ShannonAretha Franklin3:09
12."In the Midnight Hour"Pickett, CropperWilson Pickett2:21
13."Bye Bye Baby"Mary WellsMary Wells3:21
14."Slip Away"William Armstrong, Marcus Daniel, Wilbur TerrellClarence Carter4:27

Charts

Certifications

Sales and certifications for The Commitments (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[27] 5× Platinum 350,000^
Canada (Music Canada)[28] 2× Platinum 200,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[29] Platinum 15,000^
Sweden (GLF)[30] Gold 50,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[31] 3× Platinum 900,000^
United States (RIAA)[32] 2× Platinum 2,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

The Commitments Vol. 2 (Music from the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

The Commitments, Vol. 2: Music from the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Soundtrack album by
various artists
Released17 March 1992
Genre
  • Soul
  • movie musical
Length35:53
LabelMCA
Producer
  • Paul Bushnell
  • Kevin Killen

The Commitments Vol. 2 (Music from the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) is the follow-up to the first soundtrack album, produced by Killen and Bushnell and released by MCA Records on 17 March 1992.[33] It included four more songs from the film, as well as seven additional songs performed by the cast.[34][35]

Commercial performance

Unlike its predecessor, Vol. 2 proved less successful than the previous release, peaking at No. 118 on the Billboard 200 chart.[36] The album also reached No. 6 on the Australian Album Chart, and was certified gold.[6]

Reception

Billy Altman, writing for Entertainment Weekly awarded the album a "B", praising the performers for "sounding more mature and together on their seven newly recorded cover versions here than on four left over from the film".[37] Erlewine, in his review for AllMusic awarded the album three stars out of five and described it as being "plain and forgettable".[38]

Track listing

The Commitments Vol. 2 (Music from the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (1992)
No.TitleWriter(s)Original artistLength
1."Hard to Handle"Allen Jones, Al Bell, Otis ReddingOtis Redding2:23
2."Grits Ain't Groceries"Titus TurnerLittle Milton3:44
3."I Thank You"Isaac Hayes, David PorterSam & Dave3:40
4."That's the Way Love Is"Norman Whitfield, Barrett StrongMarvin Gaye4:08
5."Show Me"Joe TexJoe Tex2:56
6."Saved"Jerry Leiber and Mike StollerLaVern Baker2:54
7."Too Many Fish in the Sea"Whitfield, Eddie HollandThe Marvelettes2:45
8."Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa (Sad Song)"Redding, Steve CropperOtis Redding2:52
9."Land of a Thousand Dances"Chris KennerChris Kenner3:16
10."Nowhere to Run"Holland–Dozier–HollandMartha and the Vandellas3:39
11."Bring It On Home to Me"Sam CookeSam Cooke3:41

Charts

Certifications

Sales and certifications for The Commitments Vol. 2 (Music from the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[50] Gold 35,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[51] Gold 7,500^
United Kingdom (BPI)[52] Gold 100,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

The Commitments (Deluxe Edition)

The Commitments (Deluxe Edition) is the double-disc soundtrack combining both the first and second soundtrack, featuring 25 songs in total. In addition, the album also contains five songs from the cast member Andrew Strong's solo album Strong (1993).[53]

Reception

AllMusic's Erlewine described the combination as "all competent, respectful tribute to classic '60s R&B and soul".[54] Kingsley Abbott of Record Collector noted that the album offers "constant variety and interest".[55]

Chart performance

The Commitments (Deluxe Edition)
Chart (2024) Peak
position
UK Album Downloads (OCC)[56] 48
UK Soundtrack Albums (OCC)[57] 22

References

  1. ^ "Brit awards winners list 2013: every winner since 1977". The Guardian. 21 February 2013. Retrieved 4 July 2016.
  2. ^ The Commitments (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (CD). MCA Records. 13 August 1991. MCAD 10286.
  3. ^ The Commitments (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (Vinyl). MCA Records. 13 August 1991. MCA 10286.
  4. ^ The Commitments (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (Cassette). MCA Records. 13 August 1991. MCAC 10286.
  5. ^ a b c d Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 64.
  6. ^ a b Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (pdf ed.). Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
  7. ^ a b c "The Commitments – Chart history". Billboard. Retrieved 4 July 2016.
  8. ^ Kendall, Paul (29 September 2013). "Whatever happened to The Commitments?". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022. Retrieved 4 July 2016.
  9. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Review: The Commitments (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 11 January 2013. Retrieved 4 July 2016.
  10. ^ Christgau, Robert (3 December 1991). "Consumer Guide: Turkey Shoot". The Village Voice. New York. Archived from the original on 1 March 2002. Retrieved 1 January 2013.
  11. ^ Young, Alex (3 December 2009). "Cinema Sounds: The Commitments". Consequence. Archived from the original on 7 June 2023. Retrieved 8 August 2025.
  12. ^ "Australiancharts.com – Soundtrack / The Commitments – The Commitments". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
  13. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Soundtrack / The Commitments – The Commitments" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
  14. ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 1677". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved August 18, 2025.
  15. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Soundtrack / The Commitments – The Commitments" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
  16. ^ "Charts.nz – Soundtrack / The Commitments – The Commitments". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
  17. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Soundtrack / The Commitments – The Commitments". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
  18. ^ "Scottish Albums Chart Top 50 – 2 to 8 October". Official Charts Company. 2 October 1994. Archived from the original on 18 August 2020. Retrieved 7 August 2025.
  19. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Soundtrack / The Commitments – The Commitments". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
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  26. ^ "Top 100 Albums 1993" (PDF). Music Week. 15 January 1994. p. 25. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
  27. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1993 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
  28. ^ "Canadian album certifications – Various Artists – The Commitments". Music Canada. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
  29. ^ "New Zealand album certifications – Various – The Commitments OST". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  30. ^ "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 1987−1998" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 May 2011. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
  31. ^ "British album certifications – Commitments – The Commitments - Ost". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
  32. ^ "American album certifications – The Commitments – The Commitments (Soundtrack)". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
  33. ^ The Commitments Vol. 2 (Music from the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (CD). MCA Records. 17 March 1992. MCAD 10506.
  34. ^ The Commitments Vol. 2 (Music from the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (Vinyl). MCA Records. 17 March 1992. MCA 10506.
  35. ^ The Commitments Vol. 2 (Music from the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (Cassette). MCA Records. 17 March 1992. MCAC 10506.
  36. ^ "The Commitments – The Commitments Vol 2". Billboard. Retrieved 21 August 2011.
  37. ^ Altman, Billy (27 March 1992). "The Commitments Vol. 2". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 4 July 2016.
  38. ^ "The Commitments, Vol. 2 – Original Soundtrack". AllMusic. Retrieved 4 July 2016.
  39. ^ "Australiancharts.com – Soundtrack / The Commitments – The Commitments Vol. 2". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
  40. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Soundtrack / The Commitments – The Commitments Vol. 2" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
  41. ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 2115". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved August 18, 2025.
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  43. ^ "Charts.nz – Soundtrack / The Commitments – The Commitments Vol. 2". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
  44. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Soundtrack / The Commitments – The Commitments Vol. 2". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
  45. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Soundtrack / The Commitments – The Commitments Vol. 2". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
  46. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Soundtrack / The Commitments – The Commitments Vol. 2". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
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  51. ^ "New Zealand album certifications – The Commitments – The Commitments Vol 2". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
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  53. ^ The Commitments (Deluxe Edition) (CD). Geffen Records. 11 September 2007. 173 580-2.
  54. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Review: The Commitments [Deluxe Edition]". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 8 August 2025. Retrieved 8 August 2025.
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