Across the Universe Director Julie Taymor Reinvents the Movie Musical With Classic Songs That Defined a Generation

Visionary writer-director Julie Taymor (Frida, Titus, Broadway's The Lion King) and co-writers Dick Clement and Ian LaFrenais (The Commitments) bring the 1960s to life with Across the Universe. Interscope Records will release the Across The Universe-Original Motion Picture Soundtrack September 14th.

Featured on the soundtrack are 16 songs, including Joe Cocker singing "Come Together," Evan Rachel Wood singing "Blackbird," and Bono performing "I Am the Walrus" and the end title track "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds."

Also featured on the album are cast performances of "All My Loving," "I Want To Hold Your Hand," "It Won't Be Long," "I've Just Seen A Face," "Let It Be," "Something," "Oh Darling," "Across the Universe," "Helter Skelter," "Strawberry Fields," "Happiness Is A Warm Gun," and "Hey Jude."

"The entire concept of this musical," Taymor describes, "is that the lyrics will tell the story. They are the libretto, they are the arias, they are the emotion of the characters."

To give the music authenticity, the team recorded many of the songs using period appropriate equipment, such as analog tape and vintage microphones. Gohl recalls, "We were all on the same page in taking this approach and in our desire to avoid the digital pitfalls."

"With this material, everybody knows it so well," Goldenthal explains. "So the challenge was try to find an honest way -- staying within oneself -- of getting to the core of these songs and try to find other ways to support the beautiful words and music."

Revolution Studios presents a Matthew Gross/Team Todd production, a film by Julie Taymor, Across the Universe will be in select theaters on September 14, 2007. The Across The Universe - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack will be released by Interscope Records on September 14, 2007.