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.
Based on writer Truman Capote’s investigation into the murder of a family in America’s Midwest in the 1960s, Capote, the movie, is an insightful exploration into the relationship between Capote and killers Perry Smith and Richard Hickock, who hanged for the crime. Hailed as the first ‘non-fiction novel’, combining fact presented as fiction, the book ‘In Cold Blood’, published after the murders, explores the glaring polarities between the lives of the murder victims and those of the murderers; the American dream gone sour. Capote, the album, is less a soundtrack, more a reminder of just how powerful the book was and remains. Made up largely of readings from it, recorded by Capote himself in 1966, supplemented by Mychael Danna’s understated score, the album tells the story of the film via the book in chronological order. Meanwhile, Danna’s score punctuates the story, though running to only fifteen minutes it never manages to get a foothold. ‘Not Much Time Left’ and ‘Epigraph’ are stand out cues but the album is entitled ‘Capote’ for a reason, and Mychael Danna is very much in the supporting role. Capote Movie Soundtrack. Review: Tim Mowbray.
Track Listings:
1. Out There (Mychael Danna).
2. “The Village Of Holcomb…” (Truman Capote).
3. “The Two Young Men Had Little In Common…” (Truman Capote).
4. Spoon Feeding (Mychael Danna).
5. “This Is It, This Is It, This Has To Be It…” (Truman Capote).
6. “Holcomb Is Twelve Miles East Of The Mountain Time Zone Border…” (TC)
7. N.Y. Reading (Mychael Danna).
8. “Eight Non-Stop Passenger Trains…” (Truman Capote).
9. If One Bird (Mychael Danna).
10. “It was Midday Deep In The Mojave Desert…” (Truman Capote).
11. “It Was Late Afternoon…” (Truman Capote).
12. “Perry Noticed Them First…” (Truman Capote.
13. “At Five That Afternoon…” (Truman Capote).
14. Not Much Time Left (Mychael Danna).
15. “Dewey Had Watched Them Die…” (Truman Capote).
16. I Thought He Was A Very Nice Gentleman (Mychael Danna).
17. Epigraph (Mychael Danna).
18. Answered Prayers (Mychael Danna).
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
Get Carter
1971, Warner Bros.
Roy Budd.
Cinephile, 1998, CINC0001 Rated:
Written and recorded on a meagre budget of £450 and with a total of three musicians, Roy Budd’s second film score, ‘Get Carter‘, has become a cult classic. A jazz musician himself, Budd was perfectly equipped to create a cool, edgy crime score for the eponymous anti-hero played by Michael Caine. The infamous title track (’Carter Takes A Train‘), re-recorded by the Human League for their album ‘Dare’ has become one of film’s best known cues. Based on Ted Lewis’ book ‘Jack’s Return Home’, ‘Carter’ begins as many gangster films (metaphorically, I mean) end, with the lead character leaving, rather than entering London. Set in Newcastle, amid concrete tower blocks and criminal damage, Mike Hodges directorial debut is a harsh, violent thriller with a rather bleak ending. Budd’s score effectively combines early 1970s pop (’Looking for Someone’ and ‘Love Is A Four Letter Word‘) with jazz and lounge (’Something On My Mind’). His instrumental cues, dominated largely by electronic piano, harpsichord, double bass and tablas, are equally impressive, particularly ‘Goodbye Eric!’ and ’Goodbye Carter!’. Another strong cue, ‘The Girl In The Car’ is a funky, high-speed romp full of unpredictability and excitement. While Budd’s soundtrack may not appeal to everyone - it sounds dated, stuck very much in a particular time and place - it is a stylish, varied (within its genre) and voluminous creation, packed with excellent liner notes and dialogue from the film. Definitely worth your time. Get Carter Movie Soundtrack. Review: Tim Mowbray
Track Listing:
1. Intro.
2. Dialogue.
3. Main Title (Carter Takes A Train).
4. Dialogue.
5. Looking For Someone.
6. Dialogue (The Race Track).
7. Something On My Mind.
8. Dialogue.
9. Getting Nowehere In A Hurry.
10. Dialogue.
11. The Girl In The Car.
12. Dialogue.
13. Love Is A Four Letter Word.
14. Dialogue.
15. Livin’ Should Be This Way.
16. Dialogue.
17. Manhunt.
18. Dialogue.
19. Goodbye Eric!
20. Goodbye Carter!
21. Hallucinations.
22. Plaything.
23. How About You.
24. Getting Nowhere In A Hurry (Instrumental).
25. Hallucinations (Instrumental).
