Toward the end of her original tenure as part of John Mellencamp’s band, Lisa Germano wrote two original songs for Mellencamp’s directorial debut, Falling From Grace, which appeared on the film’s soundtrack in 1992.
Mellencamp had been a consistent source of encouragement for Lisa and her songwriting, urging her to record her own songs, which cultivated in the release of her debut album, On the Way Down From the Moon Palace, the year prior. “Bud’s Theme” and “Little Children,” the two tracks included on Falling From Grace, feel like they could have possibly been remnants from Moon Palace, but feel perfectly at home on this collection of music from artists that largely sit within the folk/country/singer-songwriter genre.
Released: 1992
Label: Mercury
Catalogue No: 314 512 004-2
Format: CD, LP, Cassette
Country: US, Germany
Availability: Moderate
Tracklist
| No. | Artist | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lisa Germano | Bud’s Theme | 2:22 |
| 2 | Nanci Griffith | Still Flat | 3:29 |
| 3 | Larry Crane | Whiskey Burnin’ | 4:48 |
| 4 | Dwight Yoakam | Common Day Man | 3:52 |
| 5 | John Mellencamp | It Don’t Scare Me None | 3:31 |
| 6 | Pure Jam | Searchin’ For the Perfect Girl | 3:13 |
| 7 | John Prine | All the Best | 4:02 |
| 8 | Qkumbrz | Hold Me Like You Used To | 3:06 |
| 9 | Buzzin’ Cousins | Sweet Suzanne | 4:01 |
| 10 | John Mellencamp | Nothing’s for Free | 3:30 |
| 11 | Lisa Germano | Little Children | 4:55 |
| 12 | Janis Ian | Days Like These | 3:48 |
| 13 | Larry Rollins | Falling From Grace | 5:06 |
“Bud’s Theme” would later be featured on Lisa’s 2002 self-released compilation, Rare, Unusual or Just Bad Songs. “Little Children” remains exclusive to this soundtrack.
Packaging & Design
Personnel
“Bud’s Theme” and “Little Children written by Lisa Germano
Compilation produced by John Mellencamp
Co-produced by Mike Wanchic
Engineered by Jay Healy
Mixed by Jay Healy, Mike Wanchic and John Mellencamp
Additional Engineering on “Whiskey Burnin” and “Little Children” by Mark Hood
Recorded and mixed at Belmont Mall Studio, Belmont, Indiana
Mastered by Bob Ludwig at Masterdisk
Design by Corsilo/Mazone
Photography by Wayne Maser and Marc Hauser
Critical Reception
The irony is that one of the year’s best soundtracks comes from an “unsuccessful” movie, “Falling From Grace,” directed by and starring musician John Mellencamp. Translation: The soundtrack will likely die an obscure death, denied the opportunity to grace the radio airwaves.It’s unfortunate, too, because the soundtrack for “Falling From Grace” (on Mercury) is a brilliant collection of original folk-rock (add in an overlay of country, too) tunes that reflects everything good about the much-maligned concept of “singer-songwriter.”
Jerry Sprangler
Deseret News
Mellencamp had arguably more fun putting together the film’s soundtrack, a 13-song set that included songs by Prine, Crane, Dwight Yoakam, the late folk singer Nanci Griffith and Janis Ian, along with instrumentals by Mellencamp band violinist Lisa Germano. Mellencamp sang two Crane-written songs, “It Don’t Scare Me None” and “Nothing’s For Free.” He also wrote “Sweet Suzanne,” which he recorded with the ad hoc band Buzzin’ Cousins featuring Prine, Yoakam, Joe Ely and McMurtry’s son James, whose 1989 debut Too Long in the Wasteland had been produced by Mellencamp.
Gary Grasff
Ultimate Classic Rock & Culture
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