http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20071024/lf_nm_life/soundtracks_dc They must not have considered orchestral scores.
orchestral: (I had that picture of the Enterprise that came with the album on my bedroom wall from '79 through college. I had it in my classroom for a few years too. ) other:
"American Graffiti" is definitely tops for me. I'm thinking "Good Morning Vietnam" had a good one too, and let's not forget "Heavy Metal" But also high on my list is the soundtrack from both "Eddie and the Cruisers" movies, and "Xanadu" P.S. I had a copy of ST:TMP movie poster on my wall for my years too. I agree with Chuck, it's a great score.
The Purple Rain soundtrack is solid choice for the number one spot. Not a clunker on the album and it's riddled with hits. One of the best complete albums of all time.
Didn't read the list but I'll assume The Blues Brothers soundtrack is highly ranked. I'll add a few soundtracks that haven't been mentioned or are often overlooked. Rocky Star Wars Electric Dreams Something Wild Amadeus Cocktail Batman 50 First Dates
there really ought to be three catagores: Orchestral Original (non-Orchestral) music and movies that use existing work There are los of good candidates for the first. Purple Rain is almost certainly the best of the second category, and film like American Graffetti, GMV, etc would be in the latter category. It really isn't the same thing to compose all new work as prince did (or as Jeff Lynne did in Xanadu) as it is to just mix and match old standards.
Another vote for Conan the Barbarian. That's good workout music. At least that's what I seem to remember.
Batman? No way in hell! What the late Shirley Walker did with the basic theme for Batman the Animated Series should have made Danny Elfman tuck his tail between his legs in shame and go back to playing frat parties with Oingo Boingo, he's not even in her league!
Danny Elfman plus Prince hacking it for a buck? No thanks, we'll have to agree to disagree here. Some of Shirley Walker's music for the Bat.
The Lost Boys soundtrack still sends shivers up my spine. Star Wars (I refuse to call it 'episode 4 ) has one of the greatest orchestral scores of all time. Romy and Michelle's High School Reunion brings back some great memories. I could watch Singin' in the Rain once a week* for the rest of my life. I could watch Fiddler on the Roof daily**. Especially 'Tradition' and 'Sunrise, Sunset'. And there have to be honourable mentions for The Sound of Music and The Rocky Horror Picture Show (one of my all-time top-5 films). And This is Spinal Tap. And... Hell, I think I'd better hit 'submit' now, before this post reaches Async-like length... *Watched it three days ago **Watched it last night.
Let us also remember David Lynch's Dune, with the Vangelis soundtrack. Or was it Toto? That was good stuff. The musical score that crescendoes at the end, when Alia announces: For he IS the Kwizatz Haderach! still sends chills up and down my spine every time. That, and the end title tune, 'Take my Hand' that comes right after. EDIT- It was Toto. Vangelis did the Bladerunner soundtrack.
That's because whenever John William's score for Superman is placed in competition with other film's scores, the other movie's music is invariably found wanting.
I love Chuck's STMP soundtrack recommendation, but I also have to add Star Trek V: The Final Frontier as well. Many people didn't like the movie (I do like it), but the soundtrack was terrific! J.
