We all have that one soundtrack that we can listen to over and over. The movie might be so so but the music is what makes the film -- and the television show. Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, released in 1937, was the first commercially released soundtrack. And soundtracks can be both made from your favorite songs, or from arranged scores.
Let's take a look at some of our favorite movie and television soundtracks. There are so many not mentioned - maybe it will be a sequel posting.
Pulp Fiction
This song gave us some memorable and unforgettable music and movie moments. Face it, anytime you hear Chuck Berry's You Can Never Tell, you start to twist and you do the eye thing. Neil Diamond's Girl You'll be a Woman Soon is made eerily modern by Urge Overkill, old time hits by Rickie Nelson, The Statler Brothers, and Dusty Springfield fit this timeless hit as accurately as Vincent stabs the syringe into Mia's chest. Top Gun
1986's hit had some wonderful music moments - and some songs didn't make the first cut of the soundtrack. Subsequent releases included songs such as Great Balls of Fire and the classic, You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling.
Danger Zone by Kenny Loggins Playing with the Boys by Kenny Loggins
Lead Me On by Teena Marie
Take My Breath Away by Berlin
Hot Summer Nights by Miami Sound Machine
Heaven in Your Eyes by Loverboy
Through the Fire by Larry Greene
Destination Unknown by Marietta
Top Gun Anthem by Harold Faltermeyer & Steve Stevens
Dirty Dancing
(I've Had) The Time of My Life by Bill Medley, Jennifer Warnes
Be My Baby by The Ronettes
She's Like the Wind by Patrick Swayze
Hungry Eyes by Eric Carmen
Stay by Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs
Yes by Merry Clayton
You Don't Own Me by Blow Monkeys
Hey! Baby by Bruce Channel
Overload by Alfie Zappacosta
Love Is Strange by Mickey & Sylvia
Where Are You Tonight? by Tom Johnston
In the Still of the Night by The Five Satins
Singles
THIS film is my generation. If you weren't already into grunge, by the time this film came out, you were. Mudhoney, Mother Love Bone, Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains
Would? by Alice in Chains
Breath by Pearl Jam Seasons by Chris Cornell
Dyslexic Heart by Paul Westerberg
The Battle of Evermore (live Led Zeppelin cover) by The Lovemongers
Chloe Dancer/Crown of Thorns by Mother Love Bone
Birth Ritual by Soundgarden
State of Love and Trust by Pearl Jam
Overblown by Mudhoney
Waiting for Somebody by Paul Westerberg
May This Be Love by The Jimi Hendrix Experience
Nearly Lost You by Screaming Trees
Drown by The Smashing Pumpkins
Goodfellas
This soundtrack is only a glimpse of all of the songs used in the movie. It is a treasure trove of musical gifts and surprises. Forty seven songs can be heard throughout the film as they relate to the action and directly to the characters. Rags to Riches by Tony Bennett
Sincerely by The Moonglows
Speedoo by The Cadillacs
Stardust by Billy Ward and His Dominoes
Look in My Eyes by The Chantels
Life Is but a Dream by The Harptones
Remember (Walking in the Sand) by The Shangri-Las
Baby, I Love You by Aretha Franklin
Beyond the Sea by Bobby Darin
Sunshine of Your Love by Cream
Mannish Boy by Muddy Waters
Layla (Piano Exit) by Derek and the Dominos
Cocktail
The 1988 film had the starpower but it also had the musical power and produced many hits of the day.
Wild Again by Starship
Powerful Stuff by The Fabulour Thunderbirds
Since When by Robbie Nevil
Don't Worry, Be Happy by Bobby McFerrin
Hippy Hippy Shake by The Georgie Satellites
Kokomo by The Beach Boys
Rave On by John Cougar Mellencamp
All Shook Up by Ry Cooder
Oh, I Love You So by Preston Smith
Tutti Frutti by Little Richard
Trainspotting
The songs are gritty and grinding just like this classic Scottish film. It put Iggy Pop back on the charts
Lust for Life by Iggy Pop
Carmen Suite No.2 by Georges Bizet
Deep Blue Day by Brian Eno
Trainspotting by Primal Scream
Temptation by Heaven 17
Atomic by Sleeper
Temptation by New Order
Nightclubbing by Iggy Pop
Sing by Blur
Perfect Day by Lou Reed
Dark and Long (Dark Train) by Underworld
Think About the Way by Ice MC
Mile End by Pulp
For What You Dream Of by (Full-on Renaissance Mix) by Bedrock featuring KYO
2:1 by Elastica
Herzlich Tut Mich Verlangen by Gabor Lehotka
A Final Hit by Leftfield
Statuesque by Sleeper
Born Slippy .NUXX by Underworld
Closet Romantic by Damon Albarn
American Graffiti
The 1973 soundtrack gave us over 40 songs of our beloved youth. These were songs from times of innocence and exploration of the post WWII generation. This film and its music is a time capsule of the era.
Saturday Night Fever
The Departed
This 2006 remake of a Japanese crime drama brought Boston Southie gangs back to the big screen with a soundtrack that contains classic songs by The Rolling Stones and The Beach Boys.
Comfortably Numb by Roger Waters / Van Morrison and The Band
Sail On Sailor by The Beach Boys
Let It Loose by The Rolling Stones
Sweet Dreams by Roy Buchanan
One Way Out by The Allman Brothers
Baby Blue by Bad Finger
I'm Shipping Up To Boston by Dropkick Murphy's
Nobody But Me by The Human Beinz
Tweedle Dee by LaVern Baker
Sweet Dreams (of you) by Patsy Cline
The Departed Tango
Beacon Hill
The Big Chill
I Heard it Through the Grapevine by Marvin Gaye
My Girl by The Temptations
Good Lovin' by The Young Rascals
The Tracks of My Tears by The Miracles
Joy to the World by Three Dog Night
Ain't Too Proud to Beg The Tempation
Natural Woman by Aretha Franklin
I Second That Emotion by Smokey Robinson and The Miracles
A Whiter Shade of Pale by Procol Harum
Tell Him by The Exciters
Rocky IV
It might not by the best Rocky but this soundtrack has inspired more stair climbs and fist-pumping than any other.
Burning Heart by Survivor
Heart's on Fire by John Cafferty & The Beaver Brown Band
Double or Nothing by Kenny Loggins & Gladys Knight
Eye of the Tiger by Survivor
War by Vince DiCola
Living in America by James Brown
No Easy Way Out by Robert Tepper
One Way Street by Go West
The Sweetest Victory by Touch
Training Montage by Vince DiCola
Blues Brothers
She
Caught the Katy
Peter Gunn
Theme
Gimme
Some Lovin'
Shake
a Tail Feather
Everybody Needs Somebody to Love
The Old
Landmark
Think (Teddy White, Aretha Franklin)
Theme
from Rawhide
Minnie
the Moocher
Sweet Home Chicago
Jailhouse Rock
Pump Up the Volume
This 1990 movie starring Christian Slater introduced my to Leonard Cohen and Concrete Blonde.
Everybody Knows (Leonard Cohen) by Concrete Blonde
Why Can't I Fall in Love? by Ivan Neville
Stand (Sly and the Family Stone) by Liquid Jesus
Wave of Mutilation (UK Surf) by Pixies
I've Got a Miniature Secret Camera by Peter Murphy
Kick Out the Jams (MC5) by Bad Brains with Henry Rollins
Freedom of Speech by Above the Law
Heretic by Soundgarden
Titanium Exposé by Sonic Youth
Me and the Devil Blues (Robert Johnson) by Cowboy Junkies
Tale O' The Twister by Chagall Guevara
Until the End of the World
Most of you have never heard of this 1991 film. It's artsy, it's in two parts, and it's by Wim Wenders.
Opening Title by Graeme Revell
Sax And Violins byTalking Heads
Summer Kisses, Winter Tears by Julee Cruise
Move with Me (Dub) by Neneh CherryThe Adversary by Crime & the City Solution
What's Good by Lou Reed
Last Night Sleep by Can
Fretless by R.E.M.
Days by Elvis Costello
Claire's Theme by Graeme Revell
(I'll Love You) Till The End Of The World by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
It Takes Time by Patti Smith (With Fred Smith)
Death's Door by Depeche Mode
Love Theme by Graeme Revell
Calling All Angels by Jane Siberry with k.d. lang
Humans from Earth by T-Bone Burnett
Sleeping in the Devil's Bed by Daniel Lanois
Until the End of the World by U2
Finale by Graeme Revell
Purple Rain
Let's Go Crazy by Prince and the Revolution
Jungle Love by The Time
Take Me with U by Prince and the Revolution featuring Apollonia
Modernaire by Dez Dickerson and the Modernaires
The Beautiful Ones by Prince and the
Revolution
When Doves Cry by Prince
Computer Blue by Prince and the Revolution
Darling Nikki by Prince and the Revolution
Sex Shooter by Apollonia 6
The Bird by The Time
Purple Rain by Prince and the Revolution
I Would Die 4 U by Prince and the Revolution
Baby I'm a Star by Prince and the Revolution
HELP!
Help!
You're Going to Lose That Girl
You've Got to Hide Your Love Away
Ticket to Ride
I Need You
The Night Before
Another Girl
She's a Woman
A Hard Day's Night
I'm Happy Just to Dance with You
You Can't Do That
Miami Vice
For five seasons in the 1980's Crocket and Tubbs always got into mischief while saving Miami from prostitutes and drug lords. They also introduced us each week to some of the hottest songs on the radio. In the September 16th edition of Time Magazine, in a article called Cool Cops, Hot Show, it was stated that upwards of $10,000 was set aside to get popular songs into the show. U2, Sheena Easton, Phil Collins, El Debarge, Bryan Adams, and numerous other superstars were rocketed to instant stardom when their songs were heard on the show.
Original Miami Vice Theme by Jan Hammer
Smuggler's Blues by Glenn Frey
Own the Night by Chaka Khan
You Belong to the City by Glenn Frey
In the Air Tonight by Phil Collins
Miami Vice Instrumental by Jan Hammer
Vice by Melle Mel
You Better Be Good To Me by Tina Turner
Flashback by Jan Hammer
Chase by Jan Hammer
Evan by Jan Hammer
Northern Exposure
This is one of my favorite shows. It was known for its quirks and for me the music. While the DVD didn't deliver the music, the show will always have those wonderful music moments in my memory. Come one, a funeral fling for a former biker to Procol Harum's Whiter Shade of Pale? Theme from Northern Exposure by David Schwartz (Pilot, Kodiak)
Jolie Louise by Daniel Lanois (Pilot, The Body in
Question, Old Tree)
Hip Hug Her by Booker T. and the MG's
(Animals R Us; My Mother, My Sister)
At Last by Etta James [Slow Dance]
Everybody Be Yoself by Chic Street Man (Spring Break)
Alaskan Nights by David Schwartz (It Happened in Juneau, Our
Tribe)
Don Quichotte by Magazine 60 (Jules et Joel)
When I Grow Too Old to Dream by Nat 'King' Cole and His Trio (The Big
Kiss)
Emabhaceni by Miriam Makeba (Roots)
Gimme Three Steps by Lynyrd Skynyrd (My Mother, My Sister)
Bailero from Chants d'Auvergne by F. VonStade, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
