Movie soundtrack question/discussion -- help me pick out a gift.

[southerngirlwriter]

What is the best movie soundtrack you know of? By "best," I don't just mean that it has good songs -- but rather, that the songs are the right music for the emotions and actions of the movie.

(I'm collecting ideas for a gift for a friend who's a movie fanatic.)

Since I'm being nosy, I'll tell you my favorite.

I don't think any movie soundtrack moment will top, at least in my mind, "A Time To Kill," when a child-like voice is singing, "Precious Lord" as Carl Lee Hailey bursts out of the courthouse closet and kills the rapists who hurt his little girl. I get chills just remembering it.

Thanks in advance. My friend will appreciate a gift in an arena about which I know nothing. :)

[Arbustosux]

1. How about....

The Mission, or

Chariots of Fire

on a lighter side, I really like She's Having a Baby

[MrSoundAndVision]

7. and

she's having a baby is such a piece of shit movie. I mean, come on, Kevin Bacon!!! Remember the 80s chick he almost hooked upi with, and she was so understanding...complete garbage. And then his wife's supa-hot ex-boyfriend shows up (? Baldwin), and she's all not tempted...what garbage.

[Arbustosux]

17. maybe so....

but he/she didn't ask for classic movies, only sound tracks that are enjoyable. I enjoyed the soundtrack...end of story.

[LuLu550]

2. for classic sound tracks,

go with anything by Henry Mancini

[Redneck Socialist]

3. Probably not what you are looking for, but

Repo Man has to have

The. Best. Soundtrack. Ever.

[MrSoundAndVision]

14. man I like your name...

and your movie, starring Emilio Estevez? Is that right?

[Redneck Socialist]

28. Thank you and...

...yes

[MrSoundAndVision]

4. THE BEST WITH A CAPITAL B!

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly soundtrack

The gunfight at the end, all that guitar reverb, the flamenco guitar, that movie's tempo is defined by it's soundtrack. Ennio Maricone is the guy that did it.

[TacticalPeek]

32. Along with NightTrain below, I'll make it three for Ennio.

But I'll plug "The Untouchables".

Beautiful, triumphant symphonic parts, but also a very moving, touching sax solo where, after the Sean Connery character is killed, Kevin Costner is in his office holding Connery's police whistle, ruminating.

Themes and motifs so well done; sometimes I've almost gone out to buy that soundtrack just for that solo (reprised later with flute, I believe).

That Ennio is one prolific son-of-a-gun.

[slackdude]

35. A few of my favorites

Shaft - Besides the obviously awsome theme song, the whole thing is just sweet funk from Issac Hayes (I believe he won an Oscar or a Grammy for it)

Superfly - A great companion piece to the Shaft soundtrack, it's all Curtis Mayfield and it rules. The 2 disk 2th anniversary edition is the one to get.

Naked Lunch - Howard Shore conducting the London Symphony Orchestra with Ornette Coleman playing free jazz sax over it all. It's the symphonic equivalent to William Burroughs smacked out writing style.

Ennio Morricone's score for The Good The Bad and the Ugly has been mentioned already. Don't stop there. Fistfull of Dollars and For a Few Dollars More round that out nicely.

Backbeat - All early Beatles tunes played by a who's who of 90's rock: Dave Grohl, Dave Pirner, Mike Mills, Thurston Moore and Greg Dulli.

[LuLu550]

5. I'm only thinking of old sound tracks, I'm sorry

Big Chill is great for Motown - would be loved by a Baby boomer

[southerngirlwriter]

10. Yes, he's turning 58 soon

He's my adopted daddy. :) I think this might be an exceptional idea!!

I won't make this thread ten times longer by thanking everyone individually, so thank you all! I am writing these down and will check out their reviews on amazon and other sites and then decide! :)

[madrchsod]

20. if he likes motown

get the sound track from- "standing in the shadows of motown" or better yet the dvd. great movie and sound track

[kodi]

6. West Side Story music: Leonard Bernstein, libretto: Stephen Sondheim

even as i hear the music i can see in my mind Jerome Robbins dances

[TacticalPeek]

22. I like to be in America! O.K. by me in America! Ev'rything free in America

For a small fee in America!


Whatta show! In a class by itself.


http://www.westsidestory.com/index.html

[Mrs. Venation]

8. Oh, Brother, Where Art Thou

This was a very funny movie, and the sound track is perfect for the film. I think the music was one of the primary reasons the film did so well.

Mrs. Venation

[southerngirlwriter]

12. Mrs. V!!

How are you? We've been trying to help Bertha figure out how to stop snoring in order to improve your restfulness quotient in life. Hope things get better!! :hug:

[Mrs. Venation]

24. Hi SGW

There's another sound track I'd recommend: Songcatcher This movie was rather obscure, but the music is fabulous. I am originally from southern Appalachia, and the music in this film is what I grew up with. I would consider purchasing the movie as your gift.

I appreciate your concern, SGW. Here's a hug rightbackatcha. :hug:

[Arbustosux]

19. I agree...

The soundtrack was wonderful...full of music I would have never been exposed to had I not watched the movie.

[pinkpops]

21. Compiled by T-Bone Burnett - as is the Cold Mountain sound track

I like them both. The Cold Mountain is "traditional" music in the first 8-9 tracks, classical symphonic stuff toward the end. I put traditional in quotes because some are contemporary in a traditional style.

[southerngirlwriter]

23. Didn't he produce the first album by

the Counting Crows?? I think their later stuff is awful, but that first album was really something special.

[oxymoron]

9. I'm a big Bernard Herrmann fan.

He did some of his best work with Hitchcock ("The Man Who Knew Too Much," Vertigo, "North By Northwest").

I also love the soundtrack to "Lawrence of Arabia".

[MrSoundAndVision]

11. Others

The Crow is decent if you're older than 25.

The Big Lebowski! That a good one too.

[Catshrink]

13. Cats!

What else?

[lovedems]

15. I am partial to Pulp Fiction

But that is one of my favorite movies. I remember the first time I saw it thinking the music was perfect for the scene.

[NightTrain]

16. Once Upon a Time in the West

The music really captures the film's mood and setting. Hell, even if you've never seen the movie, you'll be able to envision the cowboys of old riding their horses across the plains as the soundtrack plays!

[otohara]

18. go here - tower records soundtracks

http://www.towerrecords.com/Music/Default.aspx?sub_genre=Orig+Film+Soundtrack

Pulp Fiction
Moulin Rouge

[Whitacre D_WI]

25. First, I should say I'm not a Cat Stevens fan. BUT...

...the relationship between soundtrack and film has never, IMHO, been more perfectly defined than that of "Harold and Maude."

Of course, I don't think you can find the soundtrack anywhere (if it was ever released separately).

[southerngirlwriter]

27. interesting...

I had a writing teacher tell me once that I should watch that movie. I never did. Perhaps I will. Thanks. :)

[Whitacre D_WI]

29. One of my favorite films ever.

A truly beautiful love story (and I'm not often taken in by them "sweet" movies).

[TacticalPeek]

33. In that case, you have something wonderful to look forward to.

:)

[NashVegas]

34. Oh, You Should!

It's one of the most beautiful and twisted movies, ever.

Favorite line: "I wouldn't say it was for her benefit."

[NashVegas]

26. Some Good Movie Soundtracks

The Crow
RotK
Children of Dune
Harold & Maude
Pretty in Pink
The Passion (Peter Gabriel)
Fiddler on the Roof
Goodfellas
Requiem for a Dream

[Rabrrrrrr]

30. Conan The Barbarian. IMO, the best soundtrack ever

And for just what you want - the misic is excellent and wodnerful, but I've never experienced any other movie, except perhaps Koyaanisqatsi, in which the music was so perfectly and well suited for what was happening on screen.

Palodorous, the composer, NAILED the music for that film, right on the head, in every conceivable way.

[aquanut]

31. Koyaanisqatsi

Wierd wild stuff.