# Best Soundtrack CDs **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 8, 2006, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-soundtrack-cds/351856 "2006-04-08T14:06:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![N.Sane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f19dbf/32.png) [@N.Sane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N.Sane)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2006, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-soundtrack-cds/351856/1 "2006-04-08T14:06:47Z")
I’ve had the soundtrack for “With Honors” in my car for the last two weeks. It is so good! 1. Thank You - Duran Duran 2. I’ll Remember (Theme From ‘with Honors’) 3. She Sells Sanctuary - The Cult 4. It’s Not Unusual - Belly 5. Cover Me - Candlebox 6. Your Ghost - Kristin Hersh/Michael Stipe 7. Forever Young - The Pretenders 8. Fuzzy - Grant Lee Buffalo 9. Run Shithead Run - Mudhoney 10. Tribe - Babble 11. Blue Skies - Lyle Lovett 12. On The Wrong Side - Lindsey Buckingham I have the soundtracks for plenty of other shows, including Moulin Rouge and Chicago, and love singing along with them, but this is probably my favorite. So what are your favorites? ---
**Author:** ![zuma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9c0ed/32.png) [@zuma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zuma)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2006, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-soundtrack-cds/351856/2 "2006-04-08T15:56:01Z")
Saturday Night Fever? Nobody has ever attempted to challenge that one… nobody had the balls to. with honors or whatever, it’s an interesting question. Is there a soundtrack that can challenge Saturday Night Fever? ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2006, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-soundtrack-cds/351856/3 "2006-04-08T16:41:04Z")
> [@zuma](#): > > Saturday Night Fever? > > Nobody has ever attempted to challenge that one… nobody had the balls to. with honors or whatever, it’s an interesting question. Is there a soundtrack that can challenge Saturday Night Fever? The Blues Brothers can. ---
**Author:** ![Turek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/turek/32/18782_2.png) [@Turek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turek)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2006, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-soundtrack-cds/351856/4 "2006-04-09T02:14:41Z")
In the immortal (to me) words of Fox Mulder, “Purple Rain: great album, deeply flawed movie.” ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2006, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-soundtrack-cds/351856/5 "2006-04-09T02:20:11Z")
_Forrest Gump_ is a mixed bag as a movie, but has a [great soundtrack](http://www.mmguide.musicmatch.com/album/album.cgi?ALBUMID=467208) of 1960s to 1980ish hits. ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2006, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-soundtrack-cds/351856/6 "2006-04-09T02:28:30Z")
As overwrought teenage angsty of a movie that it was, **Pump up the Volume** had a pretty bitchin’ soundtrack, with Concrete Blonde, The Pixies, Soundgarten, Cowboy Junkies, and Sonic Youth. [Here’s the lineup.](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000002O8M/002-3828723-1353601?v=glance&n=5174). It would have been absolutely amazing had they gotten the Beastie Boys and Ice-T on board, but still, it’s the best soundtrack I own. ---
**Author:** ![Nic2004](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/4491bb/32.png) [@Nic2004](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nic2004)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2006, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-soundtrack-cds/351856/7 "2006-04-09T02:33:57Z")
The soundtrack from **Dazed and Confussed** is great. Lots of great old rock songs in that one ---
**Author:** ![Rachael\_Rage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/71c47a/32.png) [@Rachael\_Rage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachael_Rage)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2006, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-soundtrack-cds/351856/8 "2006-04-09T02:38:48Z")
Without question, the \*[Bill and Ted’s Bogus Journey\* soundtrack](http://www.cduniverse.com/search/xx/music/pid/1495915/a/Bill+And+Ted's+Bogus+Journey.htm). Not because it was a brilliant album (not in the _Saturday Night Fever_ & _Purple Rain_ sense), but because it is the most wonderful, horrible collection of late-80s hair bands one could hope to find on one shiny CD, including _both_ Winger _and_ Slaughter! As if that weren’t enough, it also featured songs from actual good bands, such as Faith No More, Megadeth, Primus and Kings X. Throughout the years and several CD collection purges, it has remained one of my most treasured items. The movie, by the way, was pretty bad. ---
**Author:** ![JKilez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e5b9ba/32.png) [@JKilez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKilez)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2006, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-soundtrack-cds/351856/9 "2006-04-09T02:40:40Z")
Some other contenders: [The Big Chill](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00000AFE8/ref=pd_sim_m_2/102-6202063-4097708?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance&n=5174) - Great mix of 60’s hits [Eddie & The Cruisers](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00000HZY6/qid=1144550338/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/102-6202063-4097708?v=glance&s=music) - John Cafferty does Bruce Springsteen. I do not have the faintest idea what the movie was about, but the soundtrack was quite popular. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2006, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-soundtrack-cds/351856/10 "2006-04-09T03:09:16Z")
The soundtrack from Tin Cup has been in my car for a couple of years. I never get tired of hearing it. It’s got the Texas Tornados, Keb’ Mo, Bruce Hornsby, Chris Isaak, Shawn Colvin, George Jones, Patty Loveless – excellent stuff. ---
**Author:** ![myskepticsight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cc9497/32.png) [@myskepticsight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/myskepticsight)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2006, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-soundtrack-cds/351856/11 "2006-04-09T03:14:08Z")
Almost Famous is one that gets played around my parents’ house often; I like it a lot. ---
**Author:** ![Flutterby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Flutterby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flutterby)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2006, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-soundtrack-cds/351856/12 "2006-04-09T03:20:31Z")
My favourite soundtracks in no particular order are City of Angels, Forrest Gump, Mr & Mrs Smith, O Brother Where Art Thou, Shrek 2, [Stubbs The Zombie](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000B5QWJ2/104-8250427-5173527?v=glance&n=5174), Cats, Spamalot and Once More With Feeling. I often find the only way to get lots of songs I like on one cd is to get soundtracks. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2006, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-soundtrack-cds/351856/13 "2006-04-09T03:24:26Z")
A few I have off the top of my head… **Dream with the Fishes** : [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000030KW/qid=1144552576/sr=11-1/ref=sr\_11\_1/103-9138077-6211807?n=5174](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000030KW/qid=1144552576/sr=11-1/ref=sr_11_1/103-9138077-6211807?n=5174) **Rushmore** : [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00000HZPY/qid=1144552634/sr=2-1/ref=pd\_bbs\_b\_2\_1/103-9138077-6211807?s=music&v=glance&n=5174](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00000HZPY/qid=1144552634/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/103-9138077-6211807?s=music&v=glance&n=5174) **Wonderland** : [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000C9JE0/qid=1144552674/sr=2-1/ref=pd\_bbs\_b\_2\_1/103-9138077-6211807?s=music&v=glance&n=5174](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000C9JE0/qid=1144552674/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/103-9138077-6211807?s=music&v=glance&n=5174) **Snatch** : [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000056JZJ/qid=1144552719/sr=2-1/ref=pd\_bbs\_b\_2\_1/103-9138077-6211807?s=music&v=glance&n=5174](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000056JZJ/qid=1144552719/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/103-9138077-6211807?s=music&v=glance&n=5174) **The Harder They Come** : [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000AKY4I/qid=1144552780/sr=2-2/ref=pd\_bbs\_b\_2\_2/103-9138077-6211807?s=music&v=glance&n=5174](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000AKY4I/qid=1144552780/sr=2-2/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_2/103-9138077-6211807?s=music&v=glance&n=5174) - Tamerlane ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2006, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-soundtrack-cds/351856/14 "2006-04-09T03:24:52Z")
**American Grafitti** – so good that it created the trend for using popular songs as the sound track. Everyone else is just copying. But, of course, the best sound tracks are those for musicals: **Kiss Me Kate Chicago The Music Man Damn Yankees The Pajama Game Oklahoma! Annie Get Your Gun** etc. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2006, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-soundtrack-cds/351856/15 "2006-04-09T03:27:29Z")
> [@Flutterby](#): > > , O Brother Where Art Thou, Which reminds me, I’m also fond of **The Big Lebowski** soundtrack: > **[Meredith Monk, Bob Dylan, Captain Beefheart, Elvis Costello, Yma Sumac, Nina...](https://www.amazon.com/Big-Lebowski-Original-Picture-Soundtrack/dp/B000001EYO)** > > Product description > > > > > > > > > 1998 soundtrack of the Coen Brothers masterpiece ft Bob Dylan, Yma Sumac, Captain Beefheart, Townes Van Zandt... > > > > > > > > > > > > > Amazon.com > > > > > > > > > One of the most inspired... - Tamerlane ---
**Author:** ![JKilez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e5b9ba/32.png) [@JKilez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKilez)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2006, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-soundtrack-cds/351856/16 "2006-04-09T03:29:54Z")
The true challenger to SNF: [Grease](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000001FDK/qid=1144551194/sr=1-35/ref=sr_1_35/102-6202063-4097708?s=music&v=glance&n=5174) - Olivia Newton-John conquers America And then there are single artists soundtracks that are classics: [Help!](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00005GL0O/qid=1144551922/sr=2-2/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_2/102-6202063-4097708?s=music&v=glance&n=5174) - The Beatles [A Hard Day’s Night](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000002UAF/qid=1144550975/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/102-6202063-4097708?v=glance&s=music) - The Beatles [Magical Mystery Tour](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00005GL0W/qid=1144551664/sr=1-2/ref=sr_1_2/102-6202063-4097708?s=music&v=glance&n=5174) - The Beatles [The Graduate](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000024PC/ref=pd_sim_m_8/102-6202063-4097708?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance&n=5174) - Simon & Garfunkel [The Great Rock ‘n’ Roll Swindle](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000002MGM/qid=1144553334/sr=1-2/ref=sr_1_2/102-6202063-4097708?s=music&v=glance&n=5174) - The Sex Pistols [Stop Making Sense](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000002L71/qid=1144551091/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/102-6202063-4097708?s=music&v=glance&n=5174) - Talking Heads [Magnolia](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00003A9NN/qid=1144551032/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/102-6202063-4097708?s=music&v=glance&n=5174) - Aimee Mann ---
**Author:** ![Whifton\_Polekitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/97f17d/32.png) [@Whifton\_Polekitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whifton_Polekitty)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2006, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-soundtrack-cds/351856/17 "2006-04-09T04:42:56Z")
_Repo Man_, possibly one of Emilio Estavez’s best roles. 1. Repo Man - Iggy Pop 2. T. V. Party - Black Flag 3. Institutionalized - Suicidal Tendencies 4. Coup D’Etat - Circle Jerks 5. El Clavo Y La Cruz - The Plugz 6. Pablo Picasso - Burning Sensations 7. Let’s Have A War - Fear 8. When The Shit Hits The Fan - Circle Jerks _Acoustic, not the version on Group Sex!_ 9. Hombre Secreto (Secret Agent Man) - The Plugz 10. Bad Man - Juicy Bananas 11. Reel Ten - The Plugz ---
**Author:** ![Monstre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@Monstre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monstre)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2006, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-soundtrack-cds/351856/18 "2006-04-09T06:03:55Z")
**Last of the Mohicans** soundtrack – just some incredible, excellent music. Primarily an orchestral score, and the first 11 or so tracks are based around the primary theme, all by the same composer. This was one of the things that impressed me immediately when I first saw the movie – the musical score. **Kill Bill** – some really good stuff in these soundtracks, and even better when seeing how the music is used to fit the scenes in the movie. ---
**Author:** ![Hung\_Mung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a88e4f/32.png) [@Hung\_Mung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hung_Mung)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2006, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-soundtrack-cds/351856/19 "2006-04-09T06:11:18Z")
I second **Last of the Mohicans**. Awesome soundtrack. I’ll add the [Singles](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000028MA/sr=1-1/qid=1144562842/ref=sr_1_1/103-3788164-5175057?%5Fencoding=UTF8&s=music) soundtrack and [The Crow](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000002IWH/sr=1-1/qid=1144562951/ref=sr_1_1/103-3788164-5175057?%5Fencoding=UTF8&s=music) soundtrack. I have a soft spot for the Varsity Blues soundtrack simply because it introduced me to Caroline’s Spine. ---
**Author:** ![Casey1505](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Casey1505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casey1505)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2006, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-soundtrack-cds/351856/20 "2006-04-09T14:54:56Z")
There are some great soundtracks listed here. _Pump up the Volume_ is one of my favorites. I miss my copy of _[An American Werewolf in Paris](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000000OL8/002-0104764-6156848?v=glance&n=5174)_, too. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-soundtrack-cds/351856.md?page=2)