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 (not that she needed it at the time) 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 quite rightly 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).
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.
