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The most-selling soundtrack ever?
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Topic: The most-selling soundtrack ever?

Thor

Oscar® Winner

I'm sure this question has been posed before (and I should probably know this), but here it goes again. And: I'm ONLY LOOKING FOR THE FACTS here. Speculation is fun, but very confusing. Also, if you are in a position to list the top 5 (five) in each question, that would be great, but the overall "winner" will do:1. What is the best-selling original, instrumental soundtrack of all time? STAR WARS? DR. ZHIVAGO? GONE WITH THE WIND? TITANIC? CHARIOTS OF FIRE? What?
2. What is the best-selling soundtrack of all time (song albums included): THE BODYGUARD? SOUND OF MUSIC? GREASE? FOOTLOOSE? WIZARD OF OZ? What?
Furthermore, if someone could provide FIGURES, it would be interesting to compare these to types of soundtracks and their numbers. Thanks!
posted 04-06-2000 07:18 AM PT (US) 
Alwin

Oscar® Winner

I'm not sure about #2, but I "think" the highest selling soundtrack with songs are The Bodyguard (with all the Houston Songs, it was a multi-platinum smash that was on Billboard forever).Then there was the Titanic soundtrack with that cruelly underplayed Celine Dion song...
That was up there too, in terms of sales. My best guess is 8-10 million copies, but then again, I may be way off.posted 04-06-2000 08:24 AM PT (US) 
Will

Oscar® Winner

Titanic is the ONLY score soundtrack that actually made it to the No. 1 spot in Top 10 albums here (and perhaps other countries as well). It's sad to see that other worthy scores (Star Wars - the best example) were not being recognized by the public.
posted 04-06-2000 09:43 AM PT (US) 
Jasom

Oscar® Winner

The best selling score was Titanic and the best selling soundtrack was The Bodyguard.
Those are the facts.Jasom np-Dark Crystal(Trevor Jones)
posted 04-06-2000 09:46 AM PT (US) 
PeterK

FishChip

I am sure these numbers can be verified, but Titanic sold roughly 20 million copies, while The Bodyguard sold 16 million copies (these are figures for US sales only). Titanic was the first score album to take the #1 spot on the Billboard pop chart since Vangelis claimed it in 1981 with Charitos of Fire.PeterK
posted 04-06-2000 09:57 AM PT (US) 
PeterK

FishChip

LOL. Charitos of Fire. Sounds like a hot bag of chips. Sorry!NP - "Rules of Engagement"
posted 04-06-2000 09:58 AM PT (US) 
H Rocco
Oscar® Winner

I saw a list of top-selling soundtracks recently -- I think it was in Hollywood Reporter -- and was VERY surprised to see that the original LP of LORD OF THE RINGS is one of them. There were actually two versions of this, one a pair of picture discs, and the other a pair of standard LPs. Both had crummy sound, the Intrada CD is so much better mixed, it's like hearing a whole other score. But it's interesting that such a composer as Rosenman, not commonly considered accessible even by fans, was able to move so many copies. It must have been that merry merry march.
posted 04-06-2000 12:51 PM PT (US) 
Marian Schedenig

Oscar® Winner

I was also very surprised when you wrote this the first time. But it's good that way, the score is one of the great masterpieces of film music. And the Intrada release is well worth your money, even if you have the original CD release. Not only for the 4 additional cues, but also for the far better sound quality.
posted 04-06-2000 01:33 PM PT (US) 
Timmer

Oscar® Winner

The Bodyguard took over Saturday Night Fever I believe!As I remember,STAR WARS was top selling orchestral score till TITANIC!
John Barry had big hit's with GOLDFINGER and DANCES WITH WOLVES!
NP : Tallis Fantasia - Vaughan Williams
Yo,Thor.....You heard this one yet??posted 04-06-2000 05:49 PM PT (US) 
Thor

Oscar® Winner

Thanks, guys. However, there are still enough suggestions to make me a bit dizzy. Jasom seemed very certain, though. Maybe TITANIC and BODYGUARD are the ones, then.No, Tim, I still haven't gotten around to that piece. I just don't have the time to search the CD bins these days (I'm an actor in a film, so that consumes a lot of time!!). But I will eventually (I hope).
[This message has been edited by Thor (edited 07 April 2000).]
posted 04-07-2000 09:17 AM PT (US) 
H Rocco
Oscar® Winner

Hmmm, that went right over everyone's heads.HEY! HEY! THOR'S AN ACTOR IN A FILM!
Details, please!
posted 04-07-2000 03:15 PM PT (US) 
Marian Schedenig

Oscar® Winner

Wow! You're right, H, I didn't notice this when I read Thor's message. Details, too!NP: The Cider House Rules (Rachel Portman, for the 4th time now today)
posted 04-07-2000 03:31 PM PT (US) 
Thor

Oscar® Winner

Oh, sorry for creating much ado about nothing. It's nothing much, really. Just a 3 minute film project here at the university - a "threesome drama". I play this lunatic and unstable tenant who shares his flat with his equally "retarded" friend. One day, they decide to answer an ad in a local paper: a girl looking for a place to live. The girl moves in and all kinds of weird rivalry and odd situations occur between the two guys, with a harsh outcome. I won't go into detail beyond that, but it's a smart, little 3 minute film (made professionally, of course) bordering on absurd comedy.Hopefully, we'll be able to put the film out on the net when everything is finished (we're in the editing phase right now), and if/when it does, I'll give you the address. Hang in there and witness the dawn of a new Jack Nicholson!

posted 04-11-2000 07:55 AM PT (US) 
H Rocco
Oscar® Winner

Awriiiiight! This is worth a whole separate thread! (How else is everyone going to find out?)NP: THE WIND & THE LION (wasn't it Marian who said he just taped that? Whatcha think, whoever it was?)
posted 04-11-2000 10:58 AM PT (US) 
Marian Schedenig

Oscar® Winner

Right, it was me. Just taped the movie though, not the score. I don't really know what to think of the film, but the score was really good (and will probably get better through repeated listenings once I have the CD). Is it officially available?NP: Still messing around with my "Matrix" DVD.
posted 04-11-2000 02:24 PM PT (US) 
Timmer

Oscar® Winner

Still available on Intrada MAF 70050, As far as I know Marian?!As far as I'm concerned it's amongs my top 5 Goldsmith scores!,WITHOUT ANY SHADOW OF A DOUBT!!!
please Do yourself a favour and find this at all cost!!!
NP : agnes of God is just finishing, I just might put on The Wind And The Lion?!!
posted 04-12-2000 05:46 PM PT (US) 
jonathan_little
Oscar® Winner

Yeah, The Wind and the Lion as a score is great, but the sound quality on the album is poor (still MUCH better than nothing.)
posted 04-12-2000 08:31 PM PT (US) 
H Rocco
Oscar® Winner

All hail THE WIND & THE LION.(NP: KING SOLOMON'S MINES, ironically, but hey, it's the same guy and a similar idiom)
posted 04-12-2000 09:23 PM PT (US) 
Marian Schedenig

Oscar® Winner

Timmer: Don't worry. The moment I see it, it's mine!
posted 04-13-2000 10:21 AM PT (US) Old Infopop Software by UBB
