5 Favourite Movie Soundtracks
By: Julia Prendergast
In honour of National Film Score Day, we put together a list of five of our favourite film scores:
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The Graduate (1967)
The Graduate’s soundtrack became massively popular and launched Simon & Garfunkel’s single, ‘Mrs. Robinson’, to a new level of fame. Simon & Garfunkel also contributed songs such as ‘Scarborough Fair’ and ‘April Come She Will’, though not to overshadow Dave Grusin’s orchestral swing.
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The Big Chill (1983)
The Big Chill’s soundtrack has definitely lent itself to a party or two since its release in 1983. From Creedence Clearwater Revival and Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, to Procol Harum, this soundtrack can satisfy any craving for the classics.
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Dirty Dancing (1987)
Believe it or not, the Dirty Dancing soundtrack sold roughly 32 million copies worldwide after its release. The movie features a mainly pop score, from the likes of the Five Satins and the Ronettes, fitting in perfectly with Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes’ Oscar-winning rendition of ‘(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life’.
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Trainspotting (1996)
This film, managing to remain full of life while depicting awful tragedies, kicks off with Iggy Pop’s ‘Lust for Life’. What follows is a collective of tracks ranging from post-punk disco to some 90’s rave favourites, and beyond. Lou Reed’s ‘Perfect Day’ also finds its spot on the soundtrack, adding his signature style to the mix.
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Straight Outta Compton (2015)
This movie follows the history of the legendary hip-hop group N.W.A. While their tracks play heavily throughout the film (no complaints here!), we also get a taste of the legends that inspired Dr. Dre himself. Roy Ayers and his song ‘Everybody Loves the Sunshine’ is featured, which helped Dr. Dre to find his West Coast, bass-heavy sound. This soundtrack is more like a collection of some influential recordings from the ‘80s and ‘90s.