[DISCOSUCKS...]

I've recently come upon an old interview with composer Howard Shore from 1991, around the time of The Silence of the Lambs. At one point, they're speaking of soundtrack albums:

But VIDEODROME was your first soundtrack album?
Yes. But I don’t bother too much with the soundtracks.

That’s the reason why there aren’t that many Shore scores on vinyl? So you think mainly of serving the movie, and your attitude is not commercially-oriented?
I’m not really interested in soundtrack albums. I don’t listen to them. I never listen to the ones I have done. But I know there’s a market for them, a very small group of people who are interested. I’m more interested in the music being in the picture. Sometimes it stands alone, but sometimes not. There was a point where I thought about it – “would this be a good piece on a record?” But now I totally don’t think about it. If somebody was interested in putting my music out on a record, I’m delighted. But to me, records and movies are two completely separate media.

So my question is: why do you collect soundtracks?

I'm interested to hear different perspectives, experiences and obsessions. Especially if they're beyond the kinda obvious ("I liked the film!")

[maxvelvet]

Well, the main (and undervalued) difference between normal music and soundtracks is that most of the scores evocates images. Most of the soundtracks are just music without words so the language is universal. It is a complete cerebral voyage. About the package we all know how good can be the artwork inspired from the music inspired from images...it's a full (blackest) circle!

P.S. I know that I didn't answer, the truth about collecting vinyl ost is that creates addiction!

[hncreature]

"most of the scores evocates images"..."It is a complete cerebral voyage" which makes for a perfect listening experience and by saying that...soundtracks ARE the perfect listening experience

[siforster]

I'm half tempted to just go "why not?"

I buy soundtracks (film now, videogames in the olden days) because the music is good - not really bothered by what filmy images it evokes (just as well in Judgement Night's case, as the film was bloody terrible). Same as I buy "normal" music, then...

[jgibbs4053]

Judgement Night terrible? I guess you forgot about Emilio Estevez and Denis Leary's great acting

[siforster]

I try to, constantly.

[chandler75]

I think it works both ways. I can appreciate listening to the music from my favorite films (e.g. "Jaws"), both because the music is great but also because it reminds me of the great film and evokes those images.

On the other hand, I bought "The New York Ripper" and liked the score a lot before having actually seen the movie. When I got around to the movie, having listened to and appreciated the soundtrack beforehand actually enhanced the viewing experience, I think.

But mostly, I think I listen to scores because I sometimes (well, often) like to listen to music without words and lyrics. And I don't like classical music or jazz. I used to like noise, but got tired of that. And as maxvelvet mentions, let's not forget about the package and collectability of soundtracks/scores...

[DISCOSUCKS...]

This is cool, thanks for all your thoughts guys. Interesting stuff....

So far, I'm nodding-in-agreement with Max, HNCreature + Rasmus, in mentioning the fact that most scores by definition are without words.....I was actually very late in coming to appreciate music with singing/lyrics, started off pretty much in my early teens preferring instrumental music. And of course, once I discovered the wild world of cinema --

"when they met....it was murder!"

Keep your observations coming please!

[hncreature]

Loves me some "Hart to Hart" and I too love the instrumentals...big surf music fan and some of my favorite parts in any Lp are the instrumentals

By images in maxvelvet's quote I'm going beyond the images from the movie - When listening to classical I can get a movie going in my head of what the music is representing to me...same with soundtracks - Though a soundtrack may represent a specific movie I can go beyond the images from the specific movie...granted a space soundtrack or spy soundtrack will keep me in the genre - Most soundtracks aren't so overall obvious that I know where every moment in the movie that matches a specific bit in the soundtrack...minus the theme/opening and endings - There are some movies that you can't get away from that...Jaws...Star Wars...Indiana Jones...and I'm sure many others but those are just SO obvious

I will say that when I hear that "dun da da dun dun..." again and again and again every time they show Indy in the movie I wanna rip the disc out of the player...yikes!

I do also like my soundtracks more songy...that could be confusing...than I do toney...meaning give me four minutes of a changing pace track rather than four minutes of holding a note or tone and changing it once or twice in that four minutes - I really like Lalo Schifrin's soundtracks...Bullitt / Enter The Dragon / Mannix...for that reason

I also can love a good soundtrack whether it be a fully orchestrated sound or a basic electronic sound as long as there is variety throughout

...and scene.

[ghostfires]

I've always been into soundtracks because the music typically lacks a very specific narrative, even though it is meant to be for a specific purpose in film. I think the cinematic quality of the music can easily be redirected to anything in your mind that you desire, and I thoroughly enjoy listening to music that I decide what it means for me. It gives a unique listening experience. Typical pop, rock, country, etc. has lyrics that guide your brain into following their narrative...and I hate that.

[hncreature]

Thank you ghostfires for saying what I was trying to convey in about an 1/8 of the words - Narrative...I like that

[masonhastie]

Ghostfires, I think you just summed up something that I was thinking in the back of my mind, but hadn't even formed into a complete observation for me. Thanks.

I love being guided sometimes, but quite often I need the freedom that a nice moody film score allows.

[Pitch]

[quote=8880]And I don’t like classical music or jazz.
[/quote]

This is a pretty sweeping statement!! Especially from someone who enjoys soundtracks. I guess I have the inverse experience.

I started my musical appreciation in the classical world, and moved on to an enjoyment of jazz and other instrumental, more improvised and free-form music. What I immediately recognised in soundtracks was the continuity from the classical world through to orchestral soundtracks. From the jazz world I saw the clear line to Quincy Jones and Lalo Schifrin's work for film. So soundtracks was a melting pot for some of my favourite genres, styles and artists.

Added to that a great love of film.

As others have said - the soundtrack music is emotive - taking you somewhere, whether reflecting a memory of the original film scene, or something totally different. It is designed to suggest, seduce and transport you somewhere else - and when it works that's what I love most about it.

[chandler75]

Pitch: Maybe I should have been more clear - I don't like "classical" classical music or "classical" jazz (which I know is still a broad term...). I've tried to listen to Mahler, Beethoven, Ellington, Parker etc. but never really found much joy in it. Basically it bored me stiff.

But I do greatly enjoy some of the sub-genres which might originate from the two genres in certain ways - the lounge-jazz of Umiliani, the eerie stabbing violins of Hermann, the funk of Schifrin... I guess what it boils down to is that I have a more open mind when it comes to soundtracks...

[freshoj]

All of the above reasons are great, but let's not forget how amazing a lot of soundtrack covers can be. I know that is at least one reason I am drawn to them. check the other threads for examples.

[horseloverphat]

I've always had a major interest in music & film and a particular interest in instrumental pieces. I personally enjoy the likes of Lynch, Badalamenti, Carpenter/Howarth, Schifrin, Pink Floyd, some classical Bach/Handel/Wagner etc, Future Sound of London/Amorphous Androgynous, Spector/wall of sound...you get the idea. I think these 'preferences' naturally led me to appreciate soundtracks & sonics, more readily than most. I honestly think (in general)that the film soundtrack/score is still a very much under appreciated aspect...perhaps due to the 'subliminal-like' subconscious effect that sound seems to have on the human mind/psyche...IMO it's much more subtle & immersive than imagery. It is the marriage of 'sound' and 'vision' in cinema/film that makes it an artform that transcends, the whole is far, far greater than the sum of its parts.

My first real dealings with soundtracks would've been the double lp/cd release of Apocalypse Now...the track 'strange voyage' is probably responsible for starting my interest in film music/scores.