The Top 10 Film Soundtracks
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Written by: Julie Webb
In honor of this week's Singles review, Film Frat has put together a top 10 best soundtracks list. Here are the 'tracks that helped these films become embedded in the minds of generations throughout the years (in no particular order): |
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| 1. |
Singles
"The Music of A Generation Searching for Itself." The tracks from this film featured artists that helped establish the Seattle grunge rock scene. Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Alice In Chains, Smashing Pumpkins all crank out some of their most rockin' tracks to date. Other artists such as Paul Westerberg and Jimi Hendrix are featured on this compilation as well (click here for a full review of the movie).
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| 2. |
Swingers
What can I say, finally a soundtrack that brought the suaveness back to swing. Features songs from some of the older greats such as Tony Bennett, Roger Miller, and Bobby Darin to a more modern version of the "big band" sound with the group Big Bad Voodoo Daddy. In proving to be a modern day cult-classic, 'Swingers' is undoubtedly the "Big Winner" on this list (click here for a full review of the movie).
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| 3. |
Saturday Night Fever
And you wonder who in the hell started the tight-ass polyester pants phase? Mr. John Travolta bustin' a groove in Saturday Night Fever, that's who. Now embedded permanently into music history, this soundtrack made the Bee Gees the kings of disco with tracks such as "Stayin' Alive" and "Jive Talkin" and made John Travolta the cultural icon he is today.
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| 4. |
Reservoir Dogs
This film not only broke Quentin Tarantino into the "scene," but the classic tracks such as "Hooked On a Feeling" (pre-Ally McBeal thank goodness) and "Stuck In the Middle With You" made this film another one for the cult classic list.
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| 5. |
The Harder They Come
The soundtrack from this film did wonders by providing an introductory taste of the world of reggae. Featuring true Jamaican music, it included six of the island's top artists -- with emphasis on Jimmy Cliff. This collection addresses issues such as religion, loyalty, and ghetto life through deep, melodic chords far more unique than anything produced in the States.
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| 6. |
The Graduate
The film did wonders for Simon and Garfunkel, and they did wonders for the film. The song "Mrs. Robinson" had a whole new meaning after people saw this film. The entire soundtrack is chock full of classics such as "Scarborough Fair" and "Sound of Silence" that helped define a generation.
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| 7. |
Pulp Fiction
From Al Green to Urge Overkill, this is a must-have for your CD collection. This soundtrack made the twist cool again, reintroduced surf-music legend Dick Dale, and even threw in the timeless smooth-swaying song "Son Of A Preacher Man". A completely random array of musical genres, the tracks helped carry Pulp Fiction all the way to cult-classic status (click here for a full review of the movie).
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| 8. |
Dirty Dancing
"Nobody puts Baby In the Corner"; here's the music that backed the unforgettable lines such as this. You can't help but feel the nostalgia of summer at Kellerman's when hearing tracks such as "I've Had the Time Of my Life," "Oh Loverboy," and "In the Still of the Night." Despite the cheesy theme of this album, it deserves credibility for the way it took the innocence of the '50s and twisted it into a form of '80s pop culture.
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| 9. |
Grease
The soundtrack of all soundtracks. Whether you love it or hate it, you've heard it at least once in your life. Starring in this cheesy college party pleaser, John Travolta and Olivia Newton John probably never imagined they would be such icons. The list of classics is endless: "Summer Lovin," "Oh Sandy," "Greased Lighting," and much more.
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| 10. |
Rocky IV
This adrenaline-packed, testosterone-filled collection of songs had everyone revved up in the spirit of Americana. Rocky IV had you shadow-boxing and feeling invincible with tracks such as Survivor's "Eye Of the Tiger" and "In The Burning Heart" and James Brown's groovin' "Living In America."
Honorable Mention Now for the runners-up. They didn't make the cut, but these soundtracks are definitely worthy of recognition: Run Lola Run (a German pop-culture flick, the soundtrack is full of intense, dynamic electronica that will have your heart racing); He Got Game (Public Enemy makes their comeback with this soundtrack); Top Gun (Kenny Loggins took "Highway to the Danger Zone" all the way to the top); Reality Bites (It made "My Sharona" cool again and U2 with their intense ballad "All I Want Is You"); Hackers (a compilation of eclectic trance as well as pumping drum 'n' bass by modern-day greats such as Orbital, Underworld, and Carl Cox); Harold and Maude (this '70s cult classic features a poignant soundtrack by folk singer Cat Stevens); The Crow (features brooding tracks from The Cure, Nine Inch Nails, Rage Against The Machine and Violent Femmes). Eager to sound off on our selections? Drop us a line and tell us which selections you agreed with, and which films you think we missed. You can purchase any of the top 10 soundtracks at amazon.com by clicking on the corresponding CD images above. |
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