Best Film Soundtracks

Guardian Report and Messageboard

Interesting result, and good point about the quality of the soundtrack album not being related to the quality of the film. Purple Rain is an inferior album to Parade though, which has some lovely tracks on it. Purple Rain sounds quite dated and, despite it's merits, has much guitar wankery that would not go down well in todays market.

Of films I've seen recently, Spun makes lovely use of some good songs and I would certainly look out for that soundtrack. Withnail and I uses music well as well, as does Vanilla Sky and a lot of Cameron Crowe's stuff.

There's a debate about what makes a soundtrack though - songs specially written for the film, existing songs appropriated for the film (24HPP, Withnail etc) or a recording of the actual film score - incidental music and all.

In the latter category, I'd say Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid takes some beating, although if it was still the 80s Mark Knopfler's soundtrack for Local Hero would walk it.

So come on - let's have a heated debate!

blue velvet

Grease

Singles

pump up the volume

2001 Space Odyssey

Trainspotting

Dead Mans Shoes-

for the sheer contrast of Laurent Garniers 'unreasonable behaviour' to the trip-folk of Clayhill for example. Ace.

Wonderland Eyes Wide Shut Brazil

El Jarvo wrote: On the ol' iPodicus -

Pulp Fiction. Everyone had that back in the mid-90's!

not this everyone.

Scarface: just for Rush Rush.

Total nonsense song out of the context of the film.

Anyone know what Royser's on about?

Harold and Maude - Good Cat Stevens stuff

El Jarvo wrote:

King John Honest John wrote:

El Jarvo wrote: On the ol' iPodicus -

Pulp Fiction. Everyone had that back in the mid-90's!

not this everyone.

Everyone who's anyone!

why didn't you say that first then

Moonstruck Stand By Me 24HPP Karate Kid II

Beaches

requim for a dream

El Jarvo wrote:

BIGINOIL wrote: Scarface: just for Rush Rush.

Is that the same one the Mondays covered?!

Yes.

Thought it was brilliant how Ryder subsitutes the word charleston for yeyo.

Thought the whole thing was brilliant. Mondays covering a Debbie Harry song?

The BEACH APOCALYPSE NOW pulp fiction 24 HOUR PARTY PEOPLE. The above i own on CD or DVD.Also bought the FRENCH/GERMAN version of SALVATION.But it is rather BLEAK... I do like CONTROL though which i just bought recently.Will have to watch this AGAIN on DVD.I couldn't really concentrate during the film as i had eaten all my STARBURST before the film started.

My rankings:

1. Singles

2. The Crow (I)

3. Judgment Night

4. Pretty In Pink

5. The Cable Guy

Two albums need an honorable mention. Although it was an excellent soundtrack album, more than half of the tracks were already released, are old songs, or songs that I've heard before prior to buying the album. So I already know what to expect with the soundtrack before buying the album.

Indeed*!*

Don't buy many of em but top of my head Bladerunner

I have the Salvation soundtrack but to this day i have still never seen that film.

I've only ever bought a few:

Dirty Dancing (I'm sorry I'm ashamed)

Lost Boys (still love this)

Flashdance (Gloria!)

Breakdance

The Beach

Control

In no order:

Pulp Fiction Resevior Dogs Singles Pretty In Pink American Grafitti X-Files The Crow Repo Man

Binoche wrote: Harold and Maude - Good Cat Stevens stuff

Yep.I ended up buying just about all Cat Stevens stuff just to get these songs. I find it strange that they never made a sound track for this brilliant film (my all time favourite film ,as it happens).

Is there a soundtrack to Dune? Some atmosphericly haunting Eno ambient doodlings in that film.Prob sound cack out of context though

Oh there is . just found it on amazon.But it's fcukin Toto that did the score!! Always thought it was Eno

Chris Nash wrote: Best I've ever heard is the soundtrack to 'Dead Man' written and played by Neil Young in (apparently) one take. Confusing film by Jim Jarmusch, starring Johnny Depp but great to watch. :)

Splendid choice, Chris!

I'd also go for:

Superfly Shaft Easy Rider Koyaanisqatsi And all the Morricone stuff of course, brilliant.

Got this Morricone CD.Can't go wrong with most of the stuff on it

'Platoon'.Fantastic soundtrack,worth it just to hear Merle Haggard sing 'Okie from Muskogge'. Also has Jefferson Airplane doing 'White Rabbit.

Trainspotting The Crow Natural Born Killers The Saint 24 Hours Party People

Binoche wrote: Harold and Maude - Good Cat Stevens stuff

yes! i try to watch the film at least once a month. one of my favourite films and soundtracks.

Don't forget Donnie Darko.

I'm a bit disappointed no ones mentioned it, so I'm going to pull one out of the old school for ya. Before my time, but surely a great soundtrack.

The Sting - Scott Joplin.

BIGINOIL wrote: Guardian Report and Messageboard

There's a debate about what makes a soundtrack though - songs specially written for the film, existing songs appropriated for the film (24HPP, Withnail etc) or a recording of the actual film score - incidental music and all.

In the latter category, I'd say Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid takes some beating, although if it was still the 80s Mark Knopfler's soundtrack for Local Hero would walk it.

Well done Biggy for the Local Hero mention, that and the soundtrack to the Last Emperor are fine examples of that type. The South Park movie as well.

Trainspotting and 24HRPP are my fave "song collection" types, by far.

Andrès wrote: Trainspotting The Crow Natural Born Killers The Saint 24 Hours Party People

Excellent. Control.

2. The God- Fathers. Good Fellas. Mean Streets '73. New York Stories. Casino. Taxi Driver. !Gorgeous.

3. Underworld. Underworld- Evolution. Danny Boyle's Sunshine- Sublime. Drugstore Cowboy '89.

4. Heat- 1995. New Dawn Fades Butchered by Moby but somehow still holds pace and its own. One of the best Car chases on Film..

5. So many. For Scores made specifically for the Film then Boat's Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson. Wynton Marsalis.. Drew an Ace.

Chris Nash wrote: I just thought of another - 'Restless Natives'.

Although the music is by Big Country, it fit with the film perfectly.

Always wondered what would happen if you tried to play a bass with an E-bow.

Best soundtracks......

2001 Any and all Morricone Grand Prix (fuck MUSIC, the soundtrack on this is just beautiful 1966 F1 cars screaming their tits off). Thunderbirds Are Go/Thunderbird 6/Journey to the far side of the sun/ anything else Barry I-am-God Gray wrote. You only live twice. C'mon that must get a vote just for that piece Leftfield remixed, and Orbital used to walk on stage too, the one that plays as the spaceships eat each other, the only name I have seen ascribed to it is "capsules in space". Not to mention it has the "magnificent 007" tune too DADA DADA DA DA D;DEEEEOOOOWWW

Anyone else find it funny that Jarvo walks around with Cowboy music playing on his iPod?

That explains the swagger and twitchy trigger finger

King John Honest John wrote:

El Jarvo wrote: On the ol' iPodicus -

Pulp Fiction. Everyone had that back in the mid-90's!

not this everyone.

Seconded.

...however, I was listening to the soundtrack to the 90's version of 'Romeo+Juliet'--A LOT.

*still do, for the radiohead, mundy, and cardigan tunes.*

'Breaking Glass'.1980.Hazel O'connor.Anyone else remember this one?

Trainspotting Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence Beyond the Sea Control (although I don't like The Killers' song on it)

El Jarvo wrote: Blade Runner. (Can't really say I'm a huge fan though I know a lot of people go ga-ga over it)

..The double 'Esper Edition' is the one.

Brian Eno's Apollo from For All Mankind

Solaris

Apocalypse Now

Most John Barry

14 K wrote: Danny Boyle's Sunshine- Sublime.

Still hasn't been released yet.

Disappointing.

Ongoing wrangles over copyright have insanely delayed the soundtrack. Underworld actually include one of their tracks "To Heal" on Oblivion with Bells.

I collect a fair few soundtracks. Most of the usual suspects mentioned above plus some forgotten gems like:

* Midnight Express: featured Moroder classic "The Chase" * Lost in Translation: plenty of Kevin Shields and several other inspired inclusions * Taxi Driver: haunting late night sax affair, perfect to driver around to on a rainy night when you're feeling alienated and homicidal

:\pimp3:

Some of the more minimal ones really stand out for me.

I've always loved 'Mulholland Drive', especially the piece of music at the start where the car is winding up the hill road.

Of course, 'Twin Peaks' is wonderful too, the series that is. Even though not a film, its worth a mention!

The first one I ever recalled hearing and certainly the most influential to me, was John Carpenter's score for 'Assault On Precint 13'. It's just pure, basic electro, but very powerful.

Shouldn't there be a distinction between original scores and soundtracks composed of already released songs? It's rare for the former to be worth listening to on its own, though maybe the Bladerunner one is an exception.

I liked the Run Lola Run soundtrack (noticed they used it in that episode of the Simpsons, where they tell the story from multiple character's viewpoints, as an in-joke I guess, when Lisa is running to get to school).

Dead Presidents? The Harder They Come, surely? Grosse Point Blank had some good stuff on it (e.g. the Specials version of Pressure Drop) SW9, if only for the two remixes of Guns of Brixton plus Alchemy

And the Tomb Raider soundtrack wasn't bad (Fluke, NIN, chemical brothers, basement Jaxx...), even if the film was complete crap.

depthcharge wrote:

14 K wrote: Danny Boyle's Sunshine- Sublime.

Still hasn't been released yet.

Disappointing.

Ongoing wrangles over copyright have insanely delayed the soundtrack. Underworld actually include one of their tracks "To Heal" on Oblivion with Bells.

* Taxi Driver: haunting late night sax affair, perfect to driver around to on a rainy night :\pimp3:

Very Disappointn'. Esp. as Looks '08 is now mentioned.. Also. Fear and Loathing in LV. If only for the Final Dead Kennedy Track. Perry Como- Magic Moments..

Matter of differences in Tastes and Human Nature but so many Scores'd benefit in using the energy set by the Dark- Rainy, Late- night Drives XFactor.

1. The Beach
2. Trainspotting
3. The Saint (though the film sucks)
4. Blow-Up

I heard those are good: Harder They Come, Harder They Fall Pulp Fiction Kill Bill Control. But I never heard them.

Well...

I've seen Control for my birthday... good soundtrack... I liked Radio On, more or less in the same kind.

Trainspotting. To be honest, I was completly stoned that day and went to the movies just for the soundtrack.

A Clockwork Orange.

The Virgin Suicides.

Bunker Palace Hôtel.

Any James Bond featuring John Barry's music. I also like the Persuaders' theme very much. But I fear to be out of subject...

And Get Carter. Well, I had a cd with Roy Budd's soundtracks of movies Mickeal Caine played in...

404 error wrote: Shouldn't there be a distinction between original scores and soundtracks composed of already released songs? It's rare for the former to be worth listening to on its own

Surely you have that backwards?

Original scores almost always kick the shit out of soundtracks in my book.

His Holiness, The Pope wrote:

404 error wrote: Shouldn't there be a distinction between original scores and soundtracks composed of already released songs? It's rare for the former to be worth listening to on its own

Surely you have that backwards?

Original scores almost always kick the shit out of soundtracks in my book.

How many times are there movies with soundtracks that have kickass scores? Usually the ones with unbelievable scores don't have a soundtrack attached to it...Gladiator, Last of the Mohicans, Conan the Barbarian (laugh, but the score is a work of art)....the only one close I can think of is a mixture of both..Leaving Las Vegas and maybe Lost Highway?

I also forgot City of Industry. Need to get the CD, but when you see the film and listen to the soundclips on Amazon, it's ace. Plus, the film got me into Lush.

Jiphy wrote:

Trainspotting. To be honest, I was completly stoned that day and went to the movies just for the soundtrack.

bonkers then. fuck the soundtrack.

Here are a few in no particular order:

Lost In Translation Pretty In Pink 2001 Smokey And The Bandit (I know, I know......) Team America World Police High School Musical I & II (hey, I have kids....)

EdelBrock wrote: [...] and maybe Lost Highway?

Miss Jiphy's favourite one.

Jiphy wrote:

EdelBrock wrote: [...] and maybe Lost Highway?

Miss Jiphy's favourite one.

Since you are in France, can I ask you if you liked the soundtrack to 8 Women?

His Holiness, The Pope wrote:

404 error wrote: Shouldn't there be a distinction between original scores and soundtracks composed of already released songs? It's rare for the former to be worth listening to on its own

Surely you have that backwards?

Original scores almost always kick the shit out of soundtracks in my book.

I agree with his holiness...

Songs specially written for the soundtrack is more exciting to listen/buy to, rather than old stuff that makes the OST a compilation album.

That is why 24HPP and Trainspotting is not in my list. I somtimes consider it a compilation album.

Indeed*!*

His Holiness, The Pope wrote:

404 error wrote: Shouldn't there be a distinction between original scores and soundtracks composed of already released songs? It's rare for the former to be worth listening to on its own

Surely you have that backwards?

Original scores almost always kick the shit out of soundtracks in my book.

Well 'your milage may vary' as they say.

Maybe I've just heard the wrong original scores. The Matrix movies, or example - I like several of the tracks used on the soundtracks (which I haven't heard elsewhere) while the orchestral score seems rather uninspired (even in the context of the films).

To me even good scores seem boring to listen to without the accompanying film. Possibly I just don't like anything 'orchestral'.

Some of "Say Anything"

LE Roberts wrote: Some of "Say Anything"

Can it be?

My Own Private Idaho?

:\pimp3:

depthcharge wrote:

LE Roberts wrote: Some of "Say Anything"

Can it be?

My Own Private Idaho?

:\pimp3:

Indeed it is.

A soundtrack for that film would have been good.

What's new, Depths?

After a few days looking for the soundtrack to Spun, it seems that there is no official release for any of it (not according to someone on this message board, anyway). I was surprised to find that Billy Corgan recorded some of the songs himself, as well as choosing some other songs that fit well. So it's more of a 'soundtrack' than I thought.

Good ol YouTube came up with the track I was actually looking for anyway. Nice home-made promo too.

Sub-Cultured*!* wrote: My rankings:

1. Singles

Indeed*!*

I totally agree with you on these ones:) and also Trainspotting and...Control!:D

browsing at my cassette tape collection, i found this OST:

I forgot to mention it in my post here.

Indeed*!*

Just discovered the soundtrack for Bartleby. Theremin, anyone?

Click on Bartleby, then on Music

Sentimental favorite: Pretty in Pink and Grease

All time favorite: Sound of Music

Sleeper favorite: Lost Highway (David Lynch movie) particulary the song by David Bowie "Deranged" absolutely brilliant!

twenny four hr party peeps trainspotting control to name but a few.....