Soundtrack

Generally speaking, the term soundtrack refers to the recorded sound in a motion picture.

In terms of film formats, the soundtrack is the physical area of the film which records the synchronized sound.

The term soundtrack is also commonly used to refer to the music used in a movie, and/or to a record album sold containing that music. Sometimes, the music has been recorded just for the film or album (e.g. Saturday Night Fever), though this is rare. In 1916, Victor Schertzinger recorded the first music specifically for use in a motion picture, and releasing soundtracks of songs used in films became standard in the 1930s.

Notable Soundtracks

• American Graffiti (massive-selling double album of rock oldies)
• Apocalypse Now (another hit, memorable use of the Ride of the Valkyries by Richard Wagner)
• The Bodyguard (by Whitney Houston and others, best selling of all time)
• Fast Times at Ridgemont High (successful soundtrack, using contemporary hits)
• Flashdance (launched several hit songs, surprise hit)
• A Hard Day's Night (early rock and roll soundtrack by The Beatles)
• The Harder They Come (massively successful soundtrack and movie, launched career of Jimmy Cliff, early mainstream reggae music)
• The Jungle Book (first soundtrack in the modern sense, scored by Miklos Rozsa)
• Mo' Better Blues (established Gang Starr's reputation and helped launch jazz rap)
• O Brother Where Art Thou (surprise bluegrass hit, Grammy winner)
• Saturday Night Fever (massive hit mostly by the Bee Gees, brought disco to the mainstream)
• Shaft (massive hit by Isaac Hayes, his biggest record)
• Star Wars (hugely popular movie, and music by John Williams that became the best selling score-only soundtrack of all time)
• The Stoned Age (early teen film focused on a cult band, Blue Oyster Cult)
• That's the Way of the World (film unsuccessful, soundtrack a huge hit for Earth, Wind & Fire)
• Till the Clouds Roll by (soundtrack and film inspired by life of Jerome Kern, early use of the release of a soundtrack to promote a film)
• Maceo (film showing summary of three Maceo Parker concerts in Cologne; this film and the brilliant soundtrack really catches the atmosphere of those concerts)

The Best-Selling Soundtracks

1. The Bodyguard 1992 16 times platinum
2. Saturday Night Fever 1977 15 times
3. Purple Rain 1984 13 times
4. Forrest Gump 1994 12 times
5. (tie) Dirty Dancing 1987, Titanic 1997 11 times
6. The Lion King 1994 10 times
7. Top Gun 1986 9 times
8. (Tie)Grease 1978, Footloose 1984 8 times
9. Waiting to Exhale 1997 7 times

See also:

• List of soundtrack composers