The Top 10 Soundtracks Of All-Time.
Sep 07 '09 (Updated Dec 13 '09)
The Bottom Line I still listen to each and everyone of these soundtracks from time depending on my mood and what I am doing. Some unbelievable orchestra play with some good solid songs.
My list will mostly consist of soundtracks that cater to the use of orchestras. While watching a movie, hearing an orchestra playing in the background is a good thing as long as the music matches the genre and the scene that you are watching. As I have always said, a good movie can't be excellent without having a solid soundtrack to go along with it. All of these movies are good movies and because of their soundtracks they are even better.
10) Mortal Kombat
I know that your looking at this movies soundtrack on a top 10 list has you saying to yourself "huh?". However, I just love the "Techno Mix" of scores used throughout this entire soundtrack and to me it squeezed in. It is the variety of ways that the Techno style is used, whether fast or slow, they all just seem to fit perfect with this movie and each scene they are used. With the stand outs "Demon Warriors/Final Kombat", "Control" (reptile's fight scene), and "Techno-Syndrome 7" Mix" (Main Theme), the soundtrack has always been one that I enjoy listening to while just driving in the car. There are 17 songs in all, performed by different artists, on the album which vary quite a bit in time. If you like Techno music at all, maybe this is something you would enjoy.
9) Conan The Barbarian:
There are two versions of this soundtrack and the one that makes my list is the second which is the Varèse Sarabande release. I feel lucky to have my hands on this because this release is extremely rare and hard to find. Unfortunately it is not print any longer, and if you do find it, you see it is rather expensive. Still, this soundtrack is full of the strongest "in your face" style orchestra play I have ever heard. All though the original orchestra play is not bad, with that same style, which is why I was purchased this version in the first place. This version is just so much better with previously unreleased music, lengthy unheard cues, and better all around production. This is probably music that will not be to most peoples liking of large orchestra play but, it is just so unique that it found it's way on my list.
8) Back to the Future 1:
Oh, I miss the fun days of the 80's and watching the movie Back To The Future puts me there every time I watch it. A lot of the reason is the music. Of course, having the king of soundtrack music Huey Lewis, writing and performing the main hit "Power Of Love" and another solid track "Back In Time" didn't hurt. What really puts this on my list is the variety of music. Getting some power of the 80' and going back in time to some of the 50's classics works out great. All though the classics like "Earth Angel" and "Johnny B. Goode" are not performed by the original artists they sound great. I even like the singing of Earth Angel better than the original myself. Then you can't forget that Eric Clapton performs a song produced by Phil Collins called "Heaven Is One Step Away" that fits right in. The overall soundtrack is a lot of fun and has hits from the 80's and 50's rolled up into one place.
7) Titanic:
All though this not really my style of of music, and this is my least favorite movie out of the 10 in my list, it does have a beautiful soundtrack. Well known composer James Horner (Braveheart) hosts a well put together collection of romantic themes but, with help. However, there have been a lot of rumors and speculation that haunts this soundtrack. It is known that the brilliant Enya was originally looked after for the soundtrack but, why she didn't is still a mystery. Rumor has it, that Horner would be writing the scores while Enya would just be singing. That was unaceptable to her. And with James Cameron (director) and Horner parting on bad terms after their work on the original Aliens movie it was a rough ride putting this together. Also, if you know Enya's work you may hear some very similar overtures in this soundtrack in her album Sheppard Moons (which was out first). Through the black cloud that may hover over this soundtrack, there is some beautifully orchestrated romantic scores inside of it. And having the crystal clear voice of the beautiful Celine Dion singing "My Heart Will Go On" is what really help put this soundtrack in my list. From the first score "Never An Absolution" to the last "Hymn To The Sea" this is a soundtrack to be relaxed too or be romantic with.
*Quick note* Celine Dion's song, written by Horner, almost didn't make it into the soundtrack.
6) Top Gun:
This soundtrack would have to be my favorite that features songs by different known artists. There is only one pure guitar ballad and that is the closing song "Top Gun Anthem" which I do really like. If you happen to play the guitar this is very easy to play and learn look it up (heck, I can even play it all the way through). Most of the other songs are a collection that you will only here one time in the movie. Despite the fact you don't hear a lot of the soundtrack throughout the movie, the songs are some great choices. The stand out songs, for me would be Kenny Loggins, "Danger Zone", "Take My Breath Away" from Berlin, and "Heaven In Your Eyes" by Loverboy. There are two different versions of this soundtrack. The second one released ,"Special Edition" is the one that made my list. This one includes songs like the original version of "Great Balls Of Fire" by Jerry Lee Lewis and "You've Lost That Loving Feeling" by The Righteous Brothers. I'm sure some will definitely disagree with this being a top 10 soundtrack but, the use of the songs during the movie and the songs themselves are what put them on mine. Plus, the main anthem is just excellent when they use it in the beginning and during the flight scenes.
5) Lord of the Rings:
The one soundtrack that truly helps this series of movies make my list is from the movie "The Two Towers". All three soundtracks have some excellent music and the ranking is based on all three movies. But, at the same time, they have some mediocre music as well. However, The Two Towers soundtrack is really enjoyable straight throughout, the entire series makes my list. With all of them composed by the famed Howard Shore you would expect them to have beautiful thematically-complex sound and you are not disappointed. The award winning soundtracks deliver a vary wide range of music, instruments, and sounds that fit the movies extremely well. With the scores of "The Bridge of Khazad Dum" and "May It Be" you really get a realization of the different themes found throughout these long and beautiful soundtracks. As I did mention before, there are some scores that did not effect me in the same way but, there are many more that did in the series.
4) Star Wars:
Two soundtracks from this long lasting series that make my list are "Star Wars: A New Hope", and "Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back". I'm not going to put them separate and will just add them as my 4th favorite soundtrack together. I remember having these when I was a small boy on records playing them on my parents old record player for hours at a time. Well respected composer John Williams, also well known for his work on Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Jaws, and the Harry Potter series, probably saved the large orchestrated themes from being extinct when he composed the first Star Wars. These soundtracks are full of masterful theme songs varying in sound and strength. With only a couple of pieces making to some other movies in the series like the "Main Theme" each of these two soundtrack's are very unique and different and stand a lone. And, with the introduction of my personal favorite theme the "The Imperial March (Darth Vader's Theme)" made these two movies legendary in my book.
3) Gladiator:
Although the famed composer Hans Zimmer has received most of the credit, and the one that stands out in most peoples mind for this well known soundtrack, he did not do it alone. With help from Lisa Gerrard and Klaus Badelt they put together some very memorable scores of orchestrated music. I personally enjoy Lisa Gerrard and Klaus Badelt pieces better than Zimmer's but, the soundtrack fits nicely together. Gerrard's work on the slower more peaceful pieces such as "The Wheat", "Reunion", and "Now We Are Free" are simply outstanding. With a movie named Gladiator you would expect to find more faster battle style scores which in fact are actually rather scarce in this soundtrack, and much to my liking. The ones that are here are mostly composed by Zimmer. Not taking anything away from Zimmer as a composer but, this soundtracks slower side it what stands out to me the most. In all, this is another beautiful soft orchestrated soundtrack that I can just kick back and relax to from time to time.
2) Braveheart:
Coming in at a close second is the soundtrack from the multiple award winning movie Braveheart. It is a lot like Last Of The Mohicans where the music really impacts certain scenes of the movie and is played in the background for a lot of the movie. Another soundtrack with beautiful orchestra play by famed composer James Horner which one him an Academy Award. The 18 song album produces some very strong, yet soft and beautiful, background scores with some pretty lengthy pieces of work. When it comes to the bagpipes and the introduction of the Kena flute the music your listening too really has you feeling that you are Scotland and in that era of time. An excellent collection that can be enjoyed whether you are watching the movie or not.
1) Last of the Mohicans:
This multi-composed (Trevor Jones and Randy Edelman) soundtrack makes my number one because of two factors. The first one is the obvious reason, every single song is just beautifully orchestrated. The second reason is because of how much you hear it throughout the movie. I can't think of another movie that plays it's soundtrack more during the movie than this one. This particular soundtrack makes every scene just unbelievably better. From the action scenes to the love scenes there is not a song on the soundtrack that you feel the need to seek through or dislike. The soundtrack also plays in order so if you just put it in and listen you can run through the movie, and the different scenes, in your head while each song plays. The music throughout the soundtrack is simply beautiful with a great orchestra sound. The music actually makes you feel what the movie is portraying especially during the love scenes. With this movie, there are some love scenes with action and the music fits that perfect as well. This soundtrack makes my #1 without any shadow of a doubt and if you have never heard it, check it out. Even if you have not seen the movie it is worth listening too.
Well, this is my list of my favorite all time soundtracks to date. If a movie comes out that is better than one on the list I will change the review. I hope that this was at least interesting reading to everyone and thank you for reading.
Almost Made The Cut
Lost Boys
Armageddon
Pirates of the Caribbean
The Crow (first movie)
James Bond (for the main theme and the hits throughout all of them)
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Member: D.J.
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In my little corner of Epinions relaxing, sipping beer, playing a game, listening to music.
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