This site was conceived as a side project by a "tekkie" friend of mine who suggested I use my journalistic experience to write about something I love. We bandied about some ideas before settling on this one - largely because I had collected movie soundtracks for much of my life and thought I could write about them. We wanted the site to be user friendly, well-written and reliable.
Over time, I hope to attract other writers keen to contribute to the site, who don't mind foregoing the financial benefits they may be used to in the short-term for something that may, or may not, be profitable further down the line.
The gradual demise of the cd format, re-emergence of vinyl, along with the expansion of blu-ray dvd and downloads translate to an ever-changing market place; despite this, most of us still buy cd's and dvd's and I hope that you will use the Amazon links on this site to buy online.
We have also included mini YouTube video links that accompany the reviews, so that you can listen to your favourite theme music while watching a related trailer or clip from the movie; because film is a visual medium, there seems no better way of presenting it.
Finally, a note on the type of soundtracks featured. Though purists generally view albums such as "Top Gun", "Flashdance" and others like them, as unworthy of coverage on a film soundtrack site, preferring instead to focus on orchestral scores, we have taken the view that these albums have earned their place based on their continued saleability and affection with a large section of cinema-goers. We wanted to reach as broad an audience as possible and have developed the site with this in mind, without forgetting those fans for whom composers such as Bernard Herrmann and Jerry Goldsmith, among many others, are considered on a par with the master composers. We hope you can find your best movie soundtracks on this site.
The Bodyguard.
Warner Bros., 1992.
Whitney Houston/Various.
Arista, CD, 1992, 07822 186992. Rating:
Whitney Houston’s movie debut about a pop diva (Houston, of course), under threat from a stalker, was clearly conceived as a publicity exercise to promote her singing career. Kevin Costner also stars as the bodyguard of the title with whom she falls in love. The soundtrack album is a slickly produced collection of tracks used in the film, including the smash ‘I Will Always Love You’ and ‘I Have Nothing’. Great for Whitney fans to whom this record is geared, not so good if you are interested in Alan Silvestri’s score, given a fleeting 2:43 seconds worth of space on an album running to over fifty minutes. Tracks by Lisa Stansfield and Kenny G. underlie the album’s unimaginative direction. An awful cover by Curtis Stigers of Elvis Costello’s ‘Peace, Love and Understanding’ requires an awful lot of all three from the listener to resist a quick trip to the trash can.
The Bodyguard Soundtrack. Review: Tim Mowbray.
Track Listing:
1. I Will Always Love You (Whitney Houston).
2. I Have Nothing (Whitney Houston).
3. I’m Every Woman (Whitney Houston).
4. Run To You (Whitney Houston).
5. Queen Of The Night (Whitney Houston).
6. Jesus Loves Me (Whitney Houston).
7. Even If My Heart Would Break (Aron Neville & Kenny G.).
8. Someday (I’m Coming Back) (Lisa Stansfield).
9. It’s Gonna Be A Lovely Day (S.O.U.L. S.Y.S.T.E.M.).
10. What’s So Funny ‘Bout…’ (Curtis Stigers).
11. Theme From ‘The Bodyguard’ (Alan Silvestri).
12. Trust In Me (Joe Cocker).
Nine To Five
1980, 20th Century Fox.
Charles Fox.
Intrada, Special Collection #84. Rating:
Charles Fox wrote a entertaining, if slight score to accompany the on-screen, often slap stick exploits of a group of female office workers who believe they have accidentally killed the boss with rat poison. Launching the film career of country singer Dolly Parton, ‘Nine To Five’ was a box office hit but relies solidly on the performances of its stars, including Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin to keep its ridiculous storyline in check. The highlight of the soundtrack album is undoubtedly Parton’s hit ‘Nine To Five’ but cues, ‘Violet’s Fantasy’, with its Disney-esque tone and the upbeat ‘Office Montage’ provide the listener with just enough to keep them interested. Just.
Nine To Five Movie Soundtrack. Review: Tim Mowbray.
Track Listing:
1. 9 To 5 - Dolly Parton.
2. Violet Steals Body.
3. Office Montage.
4. Judy’s Fantasy.
5. Hart Tries To Escape.
6. Pillow Fight.
7. Violet’s Fantasy.
8. Easy Time.
9. Dora Lee’s Fantasy.
10. Violet Poisoned The Boss.
11. Ajax Warehouse.
12. The Intruder.
13. Charlie’s Bar.
14. 9 To 5 (Reprise) - Dolly Parton.
The Dukes Of Hazzard.
2005, Warner Bros.
Various.
Columbia, CD, 2005, 520502 2. Rating:
Nathan Barr’s light but likeable score is unfortunately absent from this collection of country/MOR crowd pleasers with the likes of The Allman Brothers Band (‘One Way Out’) Lynard Skynard (‘Call Me The Breeze’) and The Charlie Daniel’s Band (‘The South’s Gonna Do It Again’) doing their best to bring a little life to Jay Chandrasekhar’s directorial disaster, based on the 1980s television series, about two good ole boys and the bad, bloated boss Hogg (played by Burt Reynolds) who is out to get ‘em. Though Jessica Simpson’s (who plays Daisy Duke in the movie) awful version of Nancy Sinatra’s ‘These Boots Are made For Walking’ sounds like a desperate grab at chart status, Ram Jam’s explosive ‘Black Betty’ and James Gang’s ‘Funk #49’ add a bit of edge to an album that while far from perfect could have been a whole lot worse.
The Dukes of Hazzrd Movie Soundtrack. Review: Tim Mowbray
Track Listing:
1. Uncle Jesse Tells A Joke (Dialogue).
2. These Boots Are Made For Walkin’ (Jessica Simpson).
3. One Way Out (The Allman Brothers band).
4. Pride And Joy (Stevie Ray Vaughan And Double Trouble).
5. Call Me The Breeze (Lynard Skynyrd).
6. The South’s Gonna Do It Again (The Charlie Daniels Band).
7. Flirtin’ With Disaster (Molly Hatchet).
8. Hillbilly Shoes (Montgomery Gentry).
9. Black betty (Ram Jam).
10. Soul City (Southern Culture On The Skids).
11. Change my Mind (The Blueskins).
12. Burn It Off (Blues Explosion).
13. Funk #49 (James Gang).
14. Good Ol’ Boys (Willie Nelson).
15. Uncle Jesse tells A Joke (Dialogue).
