'Joy - Music From The Motion Picture' is the soundtrack for the David O. Russell film, JOY. A story of a family across four generations and centered on the woman who creates an empire and becomes a matriarch in her own right, Jennifer Lawrence stars as the titular Joy, with Robert De Niro and Bradley Cooper also along for the cinematic ride.

In JOY, allies become adversaries and adversaries become allies, both inside and outside the family, as Joy's inner life and fierce imagination carry her through the storm she faces. Luckily for us, the soundtrack to the film, featuring a wonderful array of musical talent, including Jennifer Lawrence herself, is out now and a pure delight to sit back, kick back and take in.

The quite excellent soundtrack album (which I only wish I had on vinyl LP, it's just that old school brilliant), kicks off in fine style with Cream's classic 'I Feel Free,' before heading into the sweepingly majestic instrumental that is 'Joy Romantic Theme' (David Campbell). Edgar Ramirez's near spoken word foreign tongue 'Aguas De Marzo' and Lee Morgan's bewitching over-ten-minutes long jazz trumpet combined with drum 'The Sidewinder' are next, and they are in turn backed by the dazzlingly beautiful 'I Want To Be Happy' from Ella Fitzgerald.

Next up is the angelic pairing of both 'In The Bleak Mid Winter' by Thomas Bullard, Choir of King's College, Cambridge, Benjamin Bayl and Stephen Cleobury, and 'Notre Pere, Op. 14' (Salzburg Bach Choir/Alois Glassman), and then a simply divine 'Mama Told Me Not to Come' from Edgar Ramirez and Ray De La Paz and The Pedrito Martinez Group. Taking all the best elements of the original from Three Dog Night (although it was actually written by Randy Newman for Eric Burdon's debut 1966 solo album), the guys reconstruct with a Latina bounce perfectly. 'Something Stupid' allows star Jennifer Lawrence to channel Nancy Sinatra, and along with Edgar Ramirez provides another real stand out highlight on this soundtrack album.

Indeed, five time Oscar nominee David O. Russell has commented, “There are songs here I have been waiting almost 40 years to use in a movie, from ‘Aguas de Marzo’, Ella Fitzgerald’s ‘I Want to Be Happy’, Bee Gees ‘To Love Somebody’, to the rare Nat King Cole ‘A House With Love In It,’ with his singular spoken radio introduction to the song." And the aforementioned Bee Gees tracks is exactly what comes next, and that is followed by a trio of orchestral compositions from David Campbell and/or West Dylan Thordson: 'I Am In Love,' 'Mop Drawing,' and 'Racing In The Street.'

Sleigh Ride' by the Ronettes is followed by another significant track, 'Stray Cat Blues, from the Rolling Stones’ acclaimed 1968 album Beggars Banquet. Blake Mills and David Campbell and West Dylan Thordson then bring us 'Texas,' Mills is then alone on 'Markham,' and the the aforementioned 'A House With Love In It' from Nat King Cole. The collection is bookended by another two versions of 'I Feel Free' – the original, which was an early hit for the Cream power trio of Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce, and Ginger Baker, now finds itself remade by Alabama Shakes vocalist Brittany Howard. Sandwiched in between these final two tracks is 'Joy Theme' from West Dylan Thordson.