Chef (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) is the soundtrack to the 2014 film of the same name directed by Jon Favreau released on May 6, 2014 by Milan Records.[1] The album featured selections of music chose by music supervisor Mathieu Schreyer[2] — a combination of Latin jazz, New Orleans jazz, Afro-Cuban jazz, salsa, soul, funk and blues,[3] which serve as background to the storyline as it moves through Miami, New Orleans and Austin, respectively.[4] It also featured additional incidental music was scored by Lyle Workman.[1]

Chef (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Soundtrack album by
Various artists
ReleasedMay 6, 2014
Genre
Length73:24
LabelMilan

Reception

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The album received generally positive response from critics. Ryan Leas in his review for Stereogum called it as "one of the best soundtrack moments of the month", praising the music for Chef and wrote "Most of the music, accordingly, is a great time — lively Afro-Cuban rhythms and giddy brass bands and Gary Clark, Jr.’s blues licks serve as markers for the food truck’s three stops of Miami, New Orleans, and Austin, lining up nicely with how each city’s cuisine is represented specifically. Collectively, the whole movie has an air of celebration about it for America’s various inherited sounds and tastes."[4] In his review for The New York Times, Stephen Holden called it as "a terrific soundtrack that mixes salsa, soul music and country blues with Caribbean styles".[5]

Joe Leydon of Variety wrote "the eclectic mix of musical selections chosen by music supervisor Mathieu Schreyer could encourage many ticket buyers to rush home and download the entire soundtrack — but not before they first satiate their stoked appetites."[6] Zeba Blay of Digital Spy called it as "genuinely wonderful soundtrack full of well-placed classic soul and funk".[7] Writing for Slate, Dara Stevens opined that the soundtrack was considered as one of the aspects on how Chef "turned out to be the indie hit of the summer".[8] Linda Barnard of Toronto Star wrote "A grabby soundtrack (shades of Swingers' fantastic big band tune-work) heavy on soul and Afro-Cuban beats from the likes of Pete Rodriguez and Perico Hernandez, makes each cooking scene look like a music video."[9]

Track listing

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No.TitleArtistsLength
1."I Like It Like That"Pete Rodriguez4:25
2."Lucky Man"Courtney John3:16
3."A Message to You, Rudy"Grant Phabao, Carlton Livingston and Lone Ranger5:50
4."Cavern"Liquid Liquid5:17
5."C.R.E.A.M"El Michels Affair2:54
6."Hung Over"The Martinis2:07
7."Que Se Sepa"Roberto Roena3:14
8."Ali Baba"Louie Ramirez4:16
9."Homenaje al Benny (Castellano Que Bueno Baila Usted)"Gente de Zona4:00
10."Mi Swing Es Tropical"Quantic & Nickodemus3:56
11."Bustin' Loose"Rebirth Brass Band3:55
12."Sexual Healing"Hot 8 Brass Band4:59
13."When My Train Pulls In"Gary Clark Jr.7:13
14."Travis County"Gary Clark Jr.3:39
15."West Coast Poplock"Ronnie Hudson and the Street People5:29
16."Oye Como Va"Perico Hernandez4:06
17."La Quimbumba"Perico Hernandez6:05
18."One Second Every Day"Lyle Workman2:22

Charts

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Chart (2014) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[10] 96
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)[11] 94
US Billboard 200[12] 160
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[12] 22
US Top Soundtracks (Billboard)[12] 5

Chef Vol.2 (Original Soundtrack Album)

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Chef Vol. 2 (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Soundtrack album by
Various artists
ReleasedMay 6, 2015
Genre
  • Latin jazz
  • Afro-Cuban jazz
  • New Orleans jazz
  • salsa
  • country music
  • blues
  • soul
  • funk
Length48:12
LabelMilan

Chef Vol. 2 (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) is the soundtrack that contains previously unreleased songs that are featured in the film. It was released on May 6, 2015 by Milan Records, the same date as the original album released.[13]

No.TitleArtistsLength
1."Brother John Is Gone / Herc-Jolly-John"The Wild Magnolias5:29
2."Get Down"Freedom Express3:26
3."Bang Bang"Joe Cuba4:06
4."Hustler"Willie Colón6:32
5."Tabaco Y Ron" (TM Juke & The Jack Baker Trio Rework)Greenwood Rhythm Coalition4:41
6."Acid"Ray Barretto5:06
7."Travis County" (Live)Gary Clark Jr.3:42
8."Deep Gully"Outlaw Blues Band5:47
9."Cissy Strut" (Single Version)The Meters3:05
10."Nueva Orleans"The Heavyweights Brass Band feat. Ogguere3:05
11."Hung Up On My Baby"El Michels Affair3:13

References

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  1. ^ a b "'Chef' Soundtrack Details". Film Music Reporter. April 20, 2014. Retrieved July 15, 2014.
  2. ^ Hallock, Betty (May 12, 2014). "'Chef' star Jon Favreau, Roy Choi to host El Jefe pop-up at Pot on Thursday". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 15, 2014.
  3. ^ O'Sullivan, Michael (May 15, 2014). "'Chef' movie review: Jon Favreau makes a satisfying return to his indie roots". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved January 12, 2023. "Chef" is filled with rich, spicy flavors, from its soundtrack of Cuban and New Orleans jazz and Texas blues [...]
  4. ^ a b Leas, Ryan (May 30, 2014). "The Best Soundtrack Moments of May 2014: Chef, X-Men, Filth, & More". Stereogum. Retrieved July 15, 2014.
  5. ^ Holden, Stephen (May 8, 2014). "Man in the Kitchen Is Hungry for Love". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved January 12, 2023.
  6. ^ Leydon, Joe (March 8, 2014). "SXSW Film Review: 'Chef'". Variety. Retrieved January 12, 2023.
  7. ^ "Chef review: Tribeca Film Festival 2014". Digital Spy. April 24, 2014. Retrieved January 12, 2023.
  8. ^ Stevens, Dana (August 25, 2014). "Why Does Your Mother-in-Law Want You to See Chef So Much?". Slate Magazine. Retrieved January 12, 2023.
  9. ^ "Chef serves up food for the soul: review". thestar.com. June 5, 2014. Retrieved January 12, 2023.
  10. ^ "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 22 September 2014" (PDF). ARIA Charts (1282). Australian Web Archive. September 23, 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 23, 2014. Retrieved September 26, 2014.
  11. ^ "Spanishcharts.com – Soundtrack – Chef". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 24, 2014.
  12. ^ a b c "Chef Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved August 24, 2014.
  13. ^ Chef, Vol. 2 (Jon Favreau's Original Motion Picture Soundtrack), May 6, 2015, retrieved January 12, 2023