Film OST al***s.

Curiously I've spent most of the morning listening to Hans Zimmer soundtracks on Spotify (Da Vinci Code, Beyond Rangoon, Call Of Duty) and am about soundtracked out!

When in the mood I love them and have recently been on a bit of a Ryuichi Sakamoto kick too.

Re: Blade Runner. Check out Vangelis' soundtrack to Antarctica. Though not as good as BR (what is?) it was written around the same time and it shows. Myspace Antarctica album link

Once upon a time, I was too cool to like film music. Now I listen to it suprisingly frequently.

As mentioned, Vangelis has produced some gorgeous stuff, and I've don't think I've ever heard 80s synth sound as vulnerable as in 'Abraham's Theme' from Chariots of Fire. (I prefer Antarctica to Blade Runner.)

Following on from Gary, I love Sakamoto's 'Acceptance' from Little Buddha.

Some long-term or recent fave soundtracks for which I have pics to hand include:


Madredeus - Ainda
What started as a soundtrack of a film turned into a film of the soundtrack!


Nick Cave and Warren Ellis - The Assasination of Jesse James
A mesmerising film, and the soundtrack plays a big part.


Peter Gabriel - Passion: Music for the Last Temptation of Christ
Other notables that I enjoy include:

Plus some others that I either don't have the pics to hand or do, but feel too guilty about taking up to much screen real-estate to post...

• A slew of minimalist(ish) soundtrack music from the 80s and 90s such as those by Nyman--the Piano or his soundtracks to Peter Greenway's films of that era (musn't forget the Nyman-esque Belly of an Architect)
  
• Philip Glass - Koyaanisqatsi
  
• Neil Diamond - Jonathan Livingston Seagull
  
• Mark Knopfler - Local Hero and Cal
  
• Baraka - Sounds a bit old new-agey now, but L. Subramaniam's Wandering Saint and Dead Can Dance's Host of Seraphim still get frequent plays.
  
• Ennio Morricone - Lots! But 'twould be sacrilegious to overlook The Mission or Once Upon a Time in the West
  
• Tyker - Run Lola Run. Sounds pretty dated now, but still gets my foot tapping!
  

Great film (the original not the remake, which was poor) and superb soundtrack by Paul Giovanni - IMHO, the greatest musical ever made.

Another vote for The Wicker Man OST

I also have the 3 disc collector's edition dvd with: Original Theatrical Release, Director's cut and also a soundtrack CD. Either version of the film is excellent, but i don't recommend the soundtrack from the 3 dvd set because it lacks the superb mastering of the 2 cd OST version that came out later (the one ROTF has a picture of above). That really is a superb reproduction.

~<>~

Other favourites of mine include:



The Fearless Vampire Killers (1965): Krzyszot Komeda's musik on this film is perfect for the job, the OST is really an example of this perfection, beautifully close recording, not to everyone's taste perhaps but i appreciate the classical instrumentation mixed on and off with vocal's that captivates the atmosphere completely.
This is also the best vampire film every made, no point in watching any others, they're far too silly.

~<>~



The Girl On A Motorcycle (1968): A great film (and a sad film) albeit a bit dated these days i still feel this is underrated.
The OST is not the best reproduction (i have it on cd and vinyl) but the musik is uplifting and journeys well from one track to the next with good flow as an album.

~<>~



Psychomania (1972): The film is really crap, but it's the sort of crap film you love to watch anyway (go on admit it!) because is has a certain funk and feel about it (and Beryl Reid’s in it too).
imho the OST could/should have been better worked, it contains good music and some spoken film dialogue but doesn't flow as well as it ought. Still very good but more for the die-hard fans (pun intended) this one ; )

Debs

I've never seen these films and they are not very good by all accounts, but the music is stunning

Disc One (US Movies) -
Nighthawks Theme / Mean Stalkin' / The Bust / Nighthawking / The Chase / I'm a Man / The Chopper / Tramway / I'm Comin' In / Face to Face / Flight of the Hawk / Best Revenge Orchestral Suite / Playing For Keeps / The Dreamer (Love Theme) / Wha'dya Mean / Outgoing Tide / For Those Who Win / The Runner.

Disc Two (Italian Movies) -
Inferno (Main Title) / Rose's Descent Into the Cellar / Taxi Ride (Rome) / The Library / Sarah in the Library Vaults / Bookbinder's Delight / Rose Leaves The Apartment / Rose Gets It / Elisa's Story / A Cat Attic Attack / Kazanian's Tarantella / Mark's Discovery / Mater Tenebrarum / Inferno Finale / Cigarettes, Ices, Etc / Inferno Extras / La Chiesa (The Church- Main Theme) / The Possession / Prelude 24 / La Chiesa Revisited / Murderock / Not So Innocent / Prelude to Candice / Don't Go In the Shower / Coffee Time / Candice / New York Dash / Tonight Is Not Your Night / The Spillone.

Disc Three (Japanese Movies) -
Harmagedon (Theme of the Floi) / Jo and Michiko / Sonny's Skate State / Zamedy Stomp / Challenge of the Psionic Fighter / Children of the Light / Godzilla vs Gotengo / Godzilla Final Wars Title / EDF Headquarters Fight / EDF Museum / Infant Island / Rodan Attacks NYC / Earth Defense Forces Theme / Motorcycle Battle / Godzilla Awakens / Love Theme / Monster Zero Theme / Cruising The Cirro Stratus / Godzilla Theme I. Ifukube / Godzilla Final Wars End Titles.

I am honoured to think that an earlier posting (re: The Deep) has resulted in a new thread.

Quickly scanning the films/composers listed so far I have to say that I remain in a minority. Whilst I like some works by Hans Zimmer he doesn't feature in my top 10 or 20 ... composers. And Vangelis may have produced some excellent themes but one album is enough for me.

My OST collection is 1,000+ with numerous additional themes pushing that total (of films) closer to the 1,500 mark. I've loved film music for 40 years (or more) and whilst my tastes have broadened the genre remains my true (music) love. Many will have heard the names but not know any music: John Barry, Elmer Bernstein, James Horner, Ron Goodwin, Georges Delerue, Ennio Morricone, Bruno Nicolai, Jerry Goldsmith, Henry Mancini, John Williams, Carlo Rustichelli, Gianni Ferrio, Roy Budd, Basil Poledouris, John Scott, Richard Rodney Bennett, Michel Legrand, Francis Lai, Mark Isham, Ryuchi Sakamoto, Stelvio Cipriani, Piero Piccioni, David Arnold, Bill Conti, Michael Kamen, Francesco De Masi, Danny Elfman, Alan Silvestri, George Duning, Alexandra Desplat, Rachel Portman, Nico Fidenco, Dave Grusin, Bernard Herrmann, Hans Zimmer ...

I may not love everything they've composed but they are all favourite artists.

This one is good:


And this one fits the film so well:


But this is the ultimate soundtrack for me:

Seminal British gangster flick with a magnificent jazzy soundtrack from the late Roy Budd.



Not strictly an OST album but few people have ever used music as skilfully as Michael Mann and this compilation has most of his best bits (except Tangerine Dream);

The excerpts from Heat by Moby are particular highlights.