In the Musicals Group discussion of Hedwig and the Angry Inch, I mention that the soundtrack CD as one that became an album that I listened to as an album, not just as a way of mentally running the movie through my head.
Another such CD for me is the soundtrack to Once.
In that post, I call those “the only two CDs I’ve bought” that have functioned as “music” albums and not “soundtrack” albums – there are a few more great ones that I excluded on one technicality or another:
The soundtrack to Phenomenon, an old John Travolta flick, which a friend of mine gave me (i.e., I didn’t buy it :D). Eric Clapton, Marvin Gaye, Bryan Ferry – I love it. And it’s fun to go back and rewatch the movie and see (hear) where the music comes in – a song might be playing on a radio in the background, for instance.
Purple Rain. Do I need to say more? (Technicality 1: I bought it on vinyl. Technicality 2: I had been listening to the album for months before I saw the movie.)
Hair (original broadway cast): On vinyl, obviously. The first album I ever bought for myself. I was in 7th grade.
I will also throw in Stay Awake, though technically it is not a “soundtrack” as such, but a various-artists collection of songs from classic Disney films.
Crazy/Beautiful - Latin-flavored hip-hop, mellow girl singer-songwriter, a couple of rockers - a diverse bunch of music that works together incredibly well. This is one of those where the soundtrack is its own statement and a really good one at that…
**The Saint **- great techno; and it includes The Sneaker Pimps’ 6 Underground, an incredibly languid, sexy tune…
The Graduate - it must be said. Great stuff
I assume folks will cite Garden State, **O Brother Where Art Thou **and a few other famous ones…
Easy Rider. In the fall of '69, my freshman year in college, it seemed almost EVERYONE had this great album in their collection. I’m pretty sure it was the first rock soundtrack album ever.
Across the Universe I love most of the singers on the album (with the exception of Dana Fuchs, whose voice is just a little too gravelly for me), and you can’t go wrong with Beatles covers.
Forrest Gump Great collection of hits through four different decades.
Lost Boys Yes, I know this is cheesy, but I like quite a few of the songs.
Prince of Egypt An animated re-telling of the story of Exodus. The movie is okay at best, but the music is really quite astounding.
Walk the Line Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon have surprisingly good voices, and they bring a freshness to the music.
Vanilla Sky: REM, Bob Dylan, Sigur Ros, Paul McCartney, Peter Gabriel, Radiohead. It’s hard to go wrong with that lineup.
It’s not just my favorite movie soundtrack, but it’s in my top 5 favorite albums of all time. Even the Cameron Diaz tune on it is a good listen.
Cameron Crowe is truly the master when it comes to putting together movie music.
Agree on Once. I’ve been a fan of Glen Hansard’s since The Commitments, which has what is probably my favorite soundtrack of all time. It’s hard to make good covers of those great soul originals, but the Commitments did a fantastic job of it.
Pretty in Pink introduced me to a number of bands I either didn’t know or didn’t know well. Same with Pulp Fiction.
Movies - Let the Right One In, gorgeous orchestral music with a few odd instruments thrown in, notably the Waterphone. “Eli’s Theme” is one of the most beautiful tunes I’ve ever heard. Also, the best movie of 2008.
Spirited Away, I can see the movie in my head when I listen to it.
Team America, hilarious lyrics and surprisingly lush orchestral instrumental tracks.
American Graffiti, what’s not to like?
And a third recommendation for Once. Best movie of 2007 and a great soundtrack.
Musicals - Spring Awakening, great lyrics and it rocks.
Rent, what’s not to like? Well, the sing-songy phone calls aren’t that great without the visuals and the context, but still and all…
Television - Cowboy Bebop, I just counted and I’ve got 8 soundtrack albums from this great show plus a compilation of my own making.
One of my favorite soundtracks is the one for I Am Sam. Beatles covers by the likes of Eddie Vedder, Sheryl Crow, Sarah McLachlan, Heather Nova, The Black Crows, The Wallflowers… it’s great!
I also really like the Dumb and Dumber soundtrack.