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.
Batman Movie Soundtrack.
1989, Warner Bros.
Danny Elfman.
Warner, CD, 1989, 259 7722 Rating:
Though director Christopher Nolan’s recent ‘Batman’ films have to some degree distracted from Tim Burton’s original, Danny Elfman’s impressively dark score reminds us that at least certain aspects of the franchise were best the first time around. An effective ‘Main Title’ featuring a powerful four note ascent, used to represent the two sides of the Dark Knight, is pitted against the Joker’s schizophrenic waltz that builds to a fantastic climax in ‘Waltz To The Death’. Action cues, ‘Charge Of The Bat Mobile’ and ‘Attack Of The Batwing’ utilise the main theme with choirs, heavy percussion (a highlight of this score) and brass, while ‘Final Confrontation’ is a full throttle fight to the death, including a new motif accompanying the Joker’s fateful fall from the rooftop. While Elfman’s expanding canon of work continually demonstrates both his creativity and commercial awareness, ‘Batman’ remains one of his strongest scores to date, packed full of high points and plenty of gothic atmosphere. Batman Movie Soundtrack. Review: Tim Mowbray.
Track Listing:
1. Batman.
2. First Confrontation.
3. Clown Attack.
4. Roasted Dude.
5. Descent Into Mystery.
6. Joker’s Poem.
7. Charge Of The Batmobile.
8. Up The Cathedral.
9. Final Confrontation.
10. Roof Fight.
11. Flowers.
12. Batman To The Rescue.
13. Photos.
14. Beautiful Dreamer.
15. Bat Cave.
16. Love Theme.
17. Attack Of The Batwing.
18. Waltz To The Death.
19. Finale.
Back To The Future.
1985, Universal.
Alan Silvestri/Various.
MCA, CD, 1985, MCAD-6144 Rating:
Robert Zemeckis’ time travel actioner starring Michael J. Fox remains as much fun as it was on release, with hero Marty McFly attempting to save time while ensuring his mum and dad get hitched. Alan Silvestri’s score is perfectly matched to the movie’s energetic, good-natured feel, though this is primarily a pop album, whether the songs hail from the 1950s (‘Johnny B. Goode’, ‘Earth Angel’) or the 1980s, most notably, chart smash, ‘The Power Of Love’ performed by Huey Lewis and The News (see YouTube clip below). Fortunately, some good compiling has left us with a worthwhile, well-judged album; the score deserves a separate release. Back To The Future Movie Soundtrack. Review: Tim Mowbray.
Track Listing:
1. Power Of Love - Huey Lewis & The News.
2. Time Bomb Town - Lindsay Buckingham.
3. Back To The Future - Alan Silvestri.
4. Heaven Is One Step Away - Eric Clapton.
5. Back In Time - Huey Lewis & The News.
6. Back To The Future Overture - Alan Silvestri.
7. Wallflower (Dance With Me Henry) - Etta james.
8. Night Train - Marvin Berry & the Starlighters.
9. Earth Angel - Marvin Berry & the Starlighters.
10.Johnny B Goode - Marty McFly & The Starlighters.
Planet of The Apes.
1968, 20th Century Fox.
Jerry Goldsmith.
Intrada, CD, 1992, FMT 8006D. Rating:
Based on a novel by Pierre Boulle, about a planet populated by a tyrannical army of talking, testosterone-fuelled apes, Franklin J. Schaffner’s film is both effective and intelligent; Goldsmith’s Academy Award nominated landmark score however is an avant garde masterpiece, overflowing with atmosphere and intensity. Though much has been made of cue ‘The Hunt’ (which debuts on this cd) with its interesting use of a ram’s horn, signifying the first appearance of the apes on horseback, this score is full of high points, most notably ‘Main Title’ that depicts the vast, barren planet landscape and ‘The Clothes Snatchers’, a mischievous, playful cue full of detail. The experimental nature of the score – Goldsmith had French horn players reverse their mouthpieces and used stainless steel mixing bowls to create various effects – is both highly engaging and full of unexpected moments. While Goldsmith would produce many fine film scores, such as (the equally experimental) ‘Alien’, released thirteen years later, ‘Planet Of The Apes’ remains one of his masterworks. Stunning. Planet Of The Apes Movie Soundtrack. Review: Tim Mowbray.
Track Listing:
1. Main Title.
2. The Revelation.
3. The Clothes Snatchers.
4. The Hunt.
5. New Identity.
6. The Forbidden Zone.
7. The Search.
8. The Cave.
9. A Bid For Freedom.
10. A New Mate.
11. No Escape.
