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I Believe In Miracles - Film/OST (Sony Music) by Jonny Owen (interview)

“We needed something with strut and groove.”

'I Believe In Miracles' is a Film about Football, with a Music Soundtrack about Soul compiled by the director, Jonny Owen.

On Sunday 11th October 2015, at Nottingham Forest FC ground, the famous original, European Cup winning football team, gathered to celebrate the world premiere of 'I Believe in Miracles'. The film tells the story of the unprecedented five-year period when legendary manager Brian Clough took Forest from a mid-table Division Two club to the First Division (equivalent of 21st century Premier Division) title and two European Cup successes. It was screened in front of the Forest heroes and around 3,000 lucky fans. This really is a game of two halves as Sony release the accompanying 'I Believe In Miracles' Original Sound Track which launched a few days earlier in Central London, alongside the film with a vibrant, surreal party at Lights Of Soho, buzzing with a variety of talents and excitement for this, a great achievement done justice.

"Rock n Roll should be a bit dangerous", said Jonny Owen, in an interview, around the release of the ready made cult movie classic, 'Svengali' movie last year. As an award winning, multi talented actor, writer and producer whose roots are in music, he should know. 'I Believe In Miracles' is a film that he just had to make. TheZineUK caught up with him before the film and soundtrack are released.

In the first place, what made you feel so strongly, compelled you, to make this film?

Jonny: "I think it's the greatest story in the history of team sport for sure. How a middle table second division team going nowhere can become the best team in Europe is a remarkable story. We all love an underdog. I think it inspires us all and this is the greatest underdog story of them all. If you can't be moved by the 70's film footage of a young bunch of lads written off as nobodies storming Europe while some of the greatest disco records ever written play then you can't have a soul. "

It's a mighty compilation for one hell of a great story, if the trailer is anything to go by.

It mixes Rock (Brian Clough), and Soul seamlessly in one of life's great tales. In a twist of fate, art now imitates life; Brian Clough convinced Nottingham Forest, a team, largely written off by the fans and media, to beat the world’s best. An unprecedented feat, is Brian Clough still a legend in Nottingham, now?

Jonny; "He looms over the City like a colossus. People come from all over the world to see his statue. It's amazing really how one man can be held in such regard and how one man could be responsible for changing the very social history of a City. You know people traveled Europe because of what Brian Clough did. They literally went from going to Grimsby, to Barcelona and that changes you. It changes everything. Experience and travel opens your eyes and shows you the world and that's what Brian Clough did for that City. That's the gift he have them. And what a gift to give."

That legacy is mirrored in the film. 'I Believe In Miracles' features interviews with every player from that triumphant side, using unseen game footage of the time, and of the great man himself. Was it a labour of love to track down the 20th century Notts FC players from that era?

"It was the best job I've ever done, and ever will do. They are the legendary Nottingham Forest team of the late 70's. I remembered them vividly as a kid. That team had a real effect on me and you can't help but enjoy meeting them and tracking them down. They were absolute gents too. Funny, engaging and humble also. I think people will fall in love with them all over again."

What a life they've lived.

By the early 1980s Nottingham Forest were the leading football team in the country, yet in 1975 Brian Clough had gone from being football’s most exciting young manager to being seen as impossible to work with after walking out on Derby County, leaving Brighton under a cloud and being sacked as manager of Leeds United after just 44 days. His only offer of work came from a run-down second division club called Nottingham Forest who's brief glory days in the 1950's were seen as well behind them. It was predicted that Clough would last less than a season, but in five he'd won a remarkable two European Cups consecutively and produced one of the greatest domestic football teams in the game’s history. As close to a miracle as you can get.

From Robin Hood onwards, Nottingham keeps the mavericks coming. We had to ask; What's in the freakin' water of Nottingham? ('I Believe In Miracles' and Sleaford Mods/Invisible Britain are two strands of a creative hive of industry).

"I know!!... Shane Meadows! Vicky McClure! Jake Bugg! I mean it's getting ridiculous isn't it? Haha! It's definitely a quite remarkable City with a great heart and a people with a special spirit. I've adored living here. I've loved the welcome and how I've been made to feel. You can't help but be inspired living here and I'm delighted to be just a small part of what is a thriving arts scene. Long may it continue."

Audibly expressing that unity, this compilation is the perfect groove for the footballer's lifestyle of the time, champagne, “dolly birds” n fast cars, included.

1. The Jackson Sisters - I Believe In Miracles

2. Harold Melvin - The Love I Lost

3. Gloria Gaynor - Never Can say goodbye

4. Walter Murphy - A Fifth Beethoven

5. Heatwave - Boogie Nights

6. The Young Rascals - Groovin'

7. The Incredible Bongo Band - Bongo Rock

8. The Real Thing - Can You Feel The Force

9. Edwin Starr - 25 Miles

10. Keith Mansfield - Morning Broadway

11. First Choice - Are You Ready For Me

12. Kool & the Gang - Summer Madness

13. Archie Bell & the Drells– Strategy

14. Shirley Ellis - Soul Time

15. Janko Nilovic - Soul Impression

16. Cymande - Fug

17. Flashlight - Thank You Baby

18. Lyn Collins - Fly Me To The Moon

19. Baby Huey and the Babysitters - Hard Times

20. Tower of Power - We Came To Play

21. Mark Capanni - I Believe In Miracles

Brian Clough's story documented and immortalised with 21 Soul classics, is a genius move. 'I Believe In Miracles' is the stuff that dreams are made of.

In a recent interview with The Zine, musician, Cole Salewicz, noted “Football and music are synonymous. I have many dreams which prove this so.” It is This Feeling that runs through a large swathe of British Culture, often giving us that “back of the net” sensation which you don't even have to be a football fanatic to appreciate. Jonny is immersed in it (there was even a Svengali Movie team at the Footy n Music uniting Soccer Six events). A film and album for all, then.

Talking about the conception of the album, Jonny Owens’ explained: “I can actually remember the moment it happened. I was in a tiny, windowless edit suite in Nottingham with Owen Davies - the editor of our film, 'I Believe in Miracles'.

(left to right; Owen, Jonny at Notts FC Ground). We were talking about how most footballers have this reputation for appalling taste in music - so, wondered what could we do with this film about the great European Cup winning Nottingham Forest team of the late 70's, managed by one of the most charismatic managers that ever lived - music wise?

I suggested that we needed something with strut and groove...funk maybe...

Probably ridiculous when you think of football at that time. A time of rosettes and Bovril soup but also the first murmurings of the modern game, sleek Adidas kits, lighter balls and flash boots, but Owen immediately smiled and agreed. Let's give it a go! So we had some film footage - and I mean literal film footage from a tin with all the glorious colour that entails - and we played it on the screen alongside, straight off the net, a classic soul/funk classic called 'I Believe in Miracles' by the Jackson Sisters. I swear if there was ever a moment when a beam of light with angels singing should have shone upon us, it was that one. It looked and sounded breathtaking.

We both actually giggled at the absurdity of how good it sounded. Straight up. Two grown men laughing as we dug more and more classic soul, funk and disco out and put them to the images of this fantastic Forest team that are so alive in our popular consciousness 'montages' which in layman's terms is images cut to music.

Having been a musician, and on various sides of the film making process from writer and producer to actor and director, is being involved in the sound track the icing on the cake for you?

"It's my favourite bit! Haha..I really like that fact that people are starting to say that I'm becoming known for my soundtracks too. Only in the sense that they can expect something a bit a different and interesting. I'll always think of myself as a musician first and foremost. I started in a band and I'm sure in a parallel universe I'm a Rock Star but, alas, I live in this one and so have to make do with the next best thing and pick my own soundtrack. I'm happy with that!" ;)

First (awed!) reactions to the film, and much more @miraclesfilmuk

Thank you to Jonny Owen/Heather Ferguson at Minx Media/Playhard for the interview.

There was plenty of strut and groove at the party! Images by Jeff Moh;

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