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.
Midnight Cowboy
1969, United Artists
John Barry/Various
EMI Manhattan, CD, 1985, PRMCD 6 Rating:
John Schlesinger’s off-beat buddy movie about a Texan hustler turned prostitute (John Voight) and a seedy lowlife (Dustin Hoffman) who dream of leaving New York City for a life in the Florida sunshine, is one of John Barry’s more interesting, if less substantial scores; largely because his instrumental cues have to jostle for attention alongside a collection of psychedelic pop numbers and Nilsson’s much loved, and played, ‘Everybody’s Talkin’, which does steal the show somewhat; still, Barry uses it to his advantage by writing cues that expand upon the theme, such as ‘Joe Buck Rides Again’ and the stand-out ‘Midnight Cowboy’. The memorable ‘Florida Fantasy’, which I guarantee you have heard before, and the Mama’s and the Papas-esque ‘A Famous Myth’ by the Groop bring another dimension to the mix. Midnight Cowboy Movie Soundtrack. Review: Tim Mowbray.
Track Listing:
1. Everybody’s Talkin’.
2. Joe Buck Rides Again.
3. A Famous Myth.
4. Fun City.
5. He Quit Me.
6. Jungle Gym At The Zoo.
7. Midnight Cowboy.
8. Old Man Willow.
9. Florida Fantasy.
10. Tears And Joys.
11. Science Fiction.
12. Everybody’s Talkin’ (Reprise).
Based on Truman Capote’s ‘non-fiction novel’, Richard Brooks film was an overly long examination of events that led up to the murder of a quiet farming family in America’s Midwest during the 1950s. Following the trail of the two killers as they wind their way towards, and away from, the murder scene, the film was exceptional in its depiction of the two men with their juvenile dreams and disturbing backgrounds. Quincy Jones’ grimy jazz score is experimental and effective. While much of his later work tended towards the commercial, ‘In Cold Blood’ is not easy listening but remains one of his most intriguing pieces of work. Out of print and highly collectable, the original LP has yet to be released on CD but can be obtained through eBay or other specialist outlets. In Cold Blood Movie Soundtrack. Review: Tim Mowbray.
Track Listing:
1. In Cold Blood
2. Clutter Family Theme
3. Hangin’ Paper
4. Down Clutter’s Lane
5. Seduction
6. Perry’s Theme
7. Lonely Bottles
8. No Witnesses
9. I’ll Have To Kill You
10. Nina (Vocal by Gil Bernal)
11. Murder Scene
12. The Corner
Thunderball.
1965, United Artists.
John Barry.
Capitol, CD, 2003, 72435-80589-2-5. Rating:
While the original release of Thunderball was missing a huge chunk of the score, this remastered re-release is pretty much complete. The powerful main title performed by Tom Jones is here of course, but there is much more besides. One of the central missing elements of the original release were Barry’s striking action cues which are at their best when listened to loud, though many of the them have been segued together. Mr Kiss Kiss Bang Bang also plays a large part in this score, resurfacing in ‘Café Martinique’, ‘Death Of Fiona’ and two versions of the song itself. Though not everyone’s favourite film, Thunderball remains a highly listenable and surprisingly varied score. It is also a good length, running to nearly 80 minutes. Thunderball Movie Soundtrack. Review: Tim Mowbray.
Track Listing:
1. Thunderball (Main Title)
2. Chateau Flight.
3. Spa.
4. Switching The Body.
5. Bomb.
6. Café Martinique.
7. Thunderball.
8. Death Of Fiona.
9. Bond Below Disco Volante.
10. Search For Vulan.
11. 007 Theme.
12. Mr Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.
13. Gunbarrel/Traction Table/Gassing The Plane/Car Chase.
14. Medley (Bond Meets Domino/Shark Tanks/Lights Out For Paula/For King And Country).
15. Street Chase.
16. Medley (Finding The Plane/UnderwaterBallet/Bond with Spectre Frogmen/Leiter To The Rescue/Bond Joins Underwater Battle).
17. Underwater Mayhem/Death Of Largo/End Titles.
18. Mr Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.
