While you watch a movie because you like the story and its characters, you also can’t help but get lost in the music that goes along with it. In fact, many movies are acclaimed far more for their soundtracks than the movie itself. Ever since humans first figured out how to make excellent use of the silver screen, music has been vital to keeping audiences in suspense from start to finish. If you are a soundtrack fan, here are five of the all-time best you need in your collection.
The 1987 classic that starred Patrick Swayze had a soundtrack that became an instant classic upon its release. From Swayze’s “She’s Like the Wind” to the Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes Oscar-winning “I’ve Had the Time of My Life,” you can’t go wrong with these songs.
The Alfred Hitchcock thriller, though now over 60 years old, is still considered one of the all-time great horror flicks. In addition, it also had a great soundtrack that definitely should be part of your horror vinyl collection. If you want to experience the tension that built throughout the film, listen to the orchestral maneuvers in the track “The Murder,” where co-star Janet Leigh meets her demise in the famous shower scene.
Released in 1992, “The Bodyguard” soundtrack shot to the top of the charts thanks to the late Whitney Houston’s incredible rendition of “I Will Always Love You.” The biggest-selling soundtrack in history with more than 42 million copies sold, this is a must-have for your collection.
If you want to talk about musicians who influenced movies, you’ve got to include The Beatles. While their movie “Magical Mystery Tour” was panned by critics, its music was not. With such songs as “Hello, Goodbye,” “I Am the Walrus,” “The Fool on the Hill,” and of course the title track itself, you’ll go on your own musical magical mystery tour when you listen to this soundtrack.
Even if you were not a fan of Prince before his 1984 movie “Purple Rain,” you likely were after you saw the movie and bought the soundtrack. With such classic hits as “When Doves Cry,” “Let’s Go Crazy,” and the title track “Purple Rain,” this soundtrack had people craving for more from Prince.
Whether you add only one of these soundtracks or all five to your collection, you’ll spend hours listening to some of the best music to ever be heard on the silver screen.