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O Brother, Where Art Thou? (soundtrack)

The O Brother, Where Art Thou soundtrack was the soundtrack of music from the movie O Brother, Where Art Thou a United States film starring George Clooney. Set in the rural US South in the years of the Great Depression, three friends escape from a prison chain gang and search for fortune and love. The adventure is loosely based on Homer's Odyssey.

The soundtrack uses US music from the era when the film is set (American roots music): music appropriate to that time and place, a marked break from the current Hollywood practice. The score, produced by T-Bone Burnett, prominently features bluegrass, gospel, blues and country music. With the exception of one vintage track, most tracks are recent recordings by musicians who play in the vintage style. The tracks are by such artists as John Hartford, Gillian Welch, Ralph Stanley, Alison Krauss, The Fairfield Four and Norman Blake. Contrary to the Hollywood "common wisdom" that non-contemporary music alienates audiences, the soundtrack CD became a best seller.

Table of contents
1 Track listing
2 Personnel
3 U.S. album chart success

Track listing

  1. Po Lazarus performed by James Carter - 4:31
  2. Big Rock Candy Mountain performed by Harry McClintock - 2:16
  3. You Are My Sunshine performed by Norman Blake - 4:26
  4. Down in the River to Pray performed by Alison Krauss - 2:55
  5. Man of Constant Sorrow performed by Soggy Bottom Boys/Dan Tyminski - 4:16
  6. Hard Time Killing Floor Blues performed by King, Chris Thomas - 2:42
  7. Man of Constant Sorrow performed by Norman Blake - 4:28
  8. Keep on the Sunny Side performed by Whites - 3:33
  9. I'll Fly Away performed by Alison Krauss/Gillian Welch - 3:57
  10. Didn't Leave Nobody but the Baby performed by Emmylou Harris/Alison Krauss/Gillian Welch - 1:57
  11. In the Highways performed by Leah Peasall/Sarah Peasall/Hannah Peasall - 1:35
  12. I Am Weary, Let Me Rest performed by Cox Family - 3:13
  13. Man of Constant Sorrow performed by John Hartford - 2:34
  14. O Death performed by Ralph Stanley - 3:19
  15. In the Jailhouse Now performed by Soggy Bottom Boys/Tim Nelson - 3:34
  16. Man of Constant Sorrow [alternatetake] performed by Soggy Bottom Boys/Dan Tyminski - 4:16
  17. Indian War Whoop performed by John Hartford - 1:30
  18. Lonesome Valley performed by Fairfield Four - 4:07
  19. Angel Band performed by Stanley Brothers - 2:15

Personnel

U.S. album chart success

Billboard: 
2001	O Brother, Where Art Thou?	The Billboard 200	     No. 1
2001	O Brother, Where Art Thou?	Top Country Albums	     No. 1
2001	O Brother, Where Art Thou?	Top Internet Album           No. 40
2001	O Brother, Where Art Thou?	Top Soundtracks	             No. 1
2001	O Brother, Where Art Thou?	The Billboard 200            No. 1
2001	O Brother, Where Art Thou?	Top Country Albums	     No. 1
2001	O Brother, Where Art Thou?	Top Internet Albums          No. 38
2001	O Brother, Where Art Thou?	Top Soundtracks	             No. 1
2002	O Brother, Where Art Thou?	The Billboard 200	     No. 1
2002	O Brother, Where Art Thou?	Top Canadian Albums	     No. 3
2002	O Brother, Where Art Thou?	Top Country Albums	     No. 1
2002	O Brother, Where Art Thou?	Top Internet Albums	     No. 40
2002	O Brother, Where Art Thou?	Top Soundtracks	             No. 1
2002	O Brother, Where Art Thou?	Top Internet Albums	     No. 38
The only single to chart was "Man of Constant Sorrow", which peaked at #38 on the Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart.