Soundtrack American Hustle Legacy B+

The best compilation-designed soundtracks work well in a film and as a stand-alone music experience.

American Hustle evokes its 1970s setting very well, tapping rock, disco and pop. The music underscores and amplifies this tale of con men, the mob and the FBI and gives the storyline an extra kick. The music almost has the presence of a supporting character.

If there’s one small criticism, it may be that the CD is a little too reliant on tunes by Electric Light Orchestra and group leader Jeff Lynne, but the choices aren’t obvious, and “Long Black Road” is wonderfully used. Tom Jones’ “Delilah” gives a particular scene extra humor and depth; Jennifer Lawrence is unforgettably funny as she moves to Wings’ “Live and Let Die.” And yes, the disco comes alive in a surreal, sexy scene with Donna Summer’s erotic “I Feel Love” setting the tone and mood.

Then, to be true to the characters, we step outside the time with Duke Ellington’s wonderful “Jeep’s Blues” and Jack Jones’ telling “I’ve Got Your Number.”

This soundtrack has the feeling of a cassette put together for a friend; why else would Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes be singing “Don’t Leave Me This Way” (which is wonderful) instead of Thelma Houston, who hit No. 1 with the tune? It’s a dizzying, entertaining experience, like the film.

Hot tracks: Mayssa Haroo’s haunting, powerhouse take on “White Rabbit”; and “Jeep’s Blues,” “I’ve Got Your Number,” “Long Black Road” and Lynne’s fascinating and previously unreleased “Stream of Stars.” - ELLIS WIDNER Original Studio Cast Recording Meet John Doe Broadway RecordsC+

You might not think Meet John Doe, Frank Capra’s powerful but problematic 1941 film starring Gary Cooper and Barbara Stanwyck, was crying out for the musical treatment, but here it is.

When a journalist (Heidi Blickenstaff) is laid off at the nadir of the Great Depression, she fires a parting shot in her last column by inventing a fed-up citizen, “John Doe.” This leads to a series of manipulations, lies and a populist movement with a homeless former baseball player (James Moye) as its frontman and an unscrupulous mogul (Robert Cuccioli) pulling the strings.

The musical does tinker with the ending and a few characters but is otherwise faithful.

As a musical, some things work and some don’t. The singers are all good, with brassy Blickenstaff a standout. Some of the lyrics are clever and capture the fast-paced banter of the era.

It’s got a good message, but group numbers are jumbled and repetitive, and few songs capture the emotions for which they’re reaching. In all, it’s fairly dull and, for the most part, the songs are about as memorable as a parade of faceless John Does.

Hot tracks: “I’m Your Man,” “He Threw Me” - JENNIFER NIXON Soundgarden Screaming Life/FoppEP Sub Pop B-

If all you know of Soundgarden is the ’90s stadium rock albums and the “Black Hole Sun” video, then you owe it to yourself to check out this artifact from the band’s early days (and then go get the first two albums, Ultramega OK and Loud Love).

Raw and hungry, Screaming Life is Soundgarden developing its soaring yet earthy strain of metal, and lead singer Chris Cornell learning just how powerful his Robert Plant-from-Seattle-shriek is.

The four-song Fopp EP is uneven, but the band’s metallic sludge swing on the classic Ohio Players disco romp is a hoot, although the remix version is unnecessary.

Also included is “Sub Pop Rock City,” a bit of a joke song that first showed up on the Sub Pop 200 collection way back when grunge ruled the world.

Hot tracks: “Entering,” “Hand of God,” “Nothing to Say” - SEAN CLANCY

Style, Pages 27 on 12/31/2013