Tuesday, May 12, 2009

They tried to sneak by us now didn't they?

I just read Entertainment Weekly's 100 Best Movie Soundtracks and I have to ask: Do the Beatles deserve to be at the top of every list?

Number One on EW's list is "Hard Day's Night'' -- which we're told is "the soundtrack that turned a nation into a glee club.'' Huh?

Please.

The tough part about ranking soundtracks is you have the serious contenders taken from musicals that really deserve to be in a category by themselves. Stellar soundtracks from films like "The Sound of Music'' (which was No. 2 on this list), "West Side Story'' (No. 4) and "Oklahoma!'' (No. 11). Call me a munchkin, but my favorite among the musical soundtracks would probably be "The Wizard of Oz.''

I don't have time today to assemble a personal Top 100 (who does?) but feel it's necessary to point out a glaring omission by the EW braintrust. Namely, the kick-ass, ear-carving soundtrack from "Reservoir Dogs.'' There's just no way this can't make a Top 100 list. Here's the track list:

Little Green Bag, George Baker Selection
Hooked on a Feeling, Blue Suede
I Gotcha, Joe Tex
Magic Carpet Ride, Bedlam
Fool For Love, Sandy Rogers
Stuck in the Middle With You, Stealers Wheel
Harvest Moon, Bedlam
Coconut, Harry Nilsson

Add the hilarious deadpan monotone of Steven Wright, who introduces the music as K-Billy's Supersongs of the 70s, splice in some memorable dialogue from the movie (like Harvey Keitel's "I'm hungry -- let's get a taco'') and you have all the elements for the best eight-song, 30-minute soundtrack ever assembled. I'm gonna slip it in my player right now.

Good enough to make the PSSST (Personal Six String Sanctuary Tout) list? As only Joe Tex could put it: Uh-huh, huh...

4 comments:

  1. The scene with a psycho Michael Madsen in the warehouse, wielding a straight razor as he gets ready to mutilate the undercover cop while thoroughly enjoying "Stuck In The Middle With You" is a classic. Can't hear that song without immediately thinking of that movie and that particular scene.

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  3. I agree with mtp4610 and will add a personal note that may piss off the blog admin. Notably missing from his personal list was another Tarantino film sound track; "Pulp Fiction." Honorable mention to, "Mexico and Mariachis,"...in spite of Rodriguez.

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