"Purple Rain" greatest film soundtrack: Vanity Fair - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 10-25-2007, 09:31 AM

NEW YORK (Reuters) - If you've hummed along, tapped your feet, or even danced in your seat while watching "Purple Rain," "Saturday Night Fever" or "Trainspotting," you're not alone.

The soundtracks from those movies have been named among the 50 greatest by the editors of Vanity Fair magazine. The full list will be revealed next month in a one-time Conde Nast magazine, Movies Rock, for subscribers of its 14 titles.

"Purple Rain" topped the chart even though it was described as "perhaps the best badly acted film ever," editors at Vanity Fair said, while "Trainspotting" came in at No. 7 and "Saturday Night Fever" was eighth.

The Vanity Fair editors said the "Purple Rain" soundtrack was a flawless combination of "funk, R&B, pop, metal, and even psychedelia into a sound that defined the '80s."

"A Hard Day's Night" came in a No. 2, followed by "The Harder They Come," "Pulp Fiction," "The Graduate" and "Superfly." "American Graffiti" and "The Big Chill" rounded out the top 10.

"Saturday Night Fever's" soundtrack is "required listening for anyone looking to heat up the dance floor," the editors said. "The white suit? Not so much."

Movies Rock, which will feature stories and photos of the projects, stars, directors and musicians who created the selected movies, launches ahead of a two-hour CBS broadcast of the same title in December.

Dean Winchester · 10-25-2007, 03:27 PM

I definately agree with the list. Purple Rain is Prince at his zenith (even tho I would argue Sign O' The Times is a better album) and the album is perfect from beginning to end. It's one of those albums you can put on and play all the way through. Plus, the album stands on it's own, it helps if you've seen the movie but yet it works as just a stand-alone Prince album as well.

Mikado · 10-25-2007, 03:46 PM

While i really liked Purple Rain, I would put American Graffitti and any Beatles movie (incl Yellow Submarine) above it........obviously the people voting here were under 40!

Dean Winchester · 10-25-2007, 06:52 PM

I think Purple Rain has the upper hand over soundtracks like American Graffiti, The Big Chill and Forrest Gump because those songs were all brand new and created for the soundtrack. The other soundtracks are finely presented "classic hits" packages disguised as movie soundtracks. The songs on The Big Chill or American Graffiti were already established long before the movies came out and it was a nice collection of an era of time. Purple Rain and the Beatles soundtracks were all brand new songs for the movie

Ireneparalegal · 10-25-2007, 11:46 PM

I agree. I think soundtracks with original songs/recordings are the best work overall. Purple Rain, Saturday Night Fever and Grease are awesome pieces of work. Not to forget The Godfather, Rocky and Rocky 3.

I have the American Graffiti soundtrack on album and CD. I love the music on there, but it is not original, simply songs that are compiled for a movie. Big Chill is a movie I didn't care for and the same goes for its soundtrack.

Nighthawk76 · 10-27-2007, 11:37 PM

Even though I would have ranked Saturday Night Fever above Purple Rain, I still think that Purple Rain is one of the greatest albums ever recorded and I am happy to see that Vanity Fair picked it as their favorite. Purple Rain is Prince at his most brilliant.

10-25-2007, 09:31 AM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	"Purple Rain" greatest film soundtrack: Vanity Fair NEW YORK (Reuters) - If you've hummed along, tapped your feet, or even danced in your seat while watching "Purple Rain," "Saturday Night Fever" or "Trainspotting," you're not alone. The soundtracks from those movies have been named among the 50 greatest by the editors of Vanity Fair magazine. The full list will be revealed next month in a one-time Conde Nast magazine, Movies Rock, for subscribers of its 14 titles. "Purple Rain" topped the chart even though it was described as "perhaps the best badly acted film ever," editors at Vanity Fair said, while "Trainspotting" came in at No. 7 and "Saturday Night Fever" was eighth. The Vanity Fair editors said the "Purple Rain" soundtrack was a flawless combination of "funk, R&B, pop, metal, and even psychedelia into a sound that defined the '80s." "A Hard Day's Night" came in a No. 2, followed by "The Harder They Come," "Pulp Fiction," "The Graduate" and "Superfly." "American Graffiti" and "The Big Chill" rounded out the top 10. "Saturday Night Fever's" soundtrack is "required listening for anyone looking to heat up the dance floor," the editors said. "The white suit? Not so much." Movies Rock, which will feature stories and photos of the projects, stars, directors and musicians who created the selected movies, launches ahead of a two-hour CBS broadcast of the same title in December.
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10-25-2007, 11:46 PM	#5
Ireneparalegal LEGAL SPICE ;) Forum Legend Join Date: Jul 25, 2005 Location: OXNARD, CA - WHERE THE DALLAS COWBOYS TRAIN & PRACTICE Posts: 38,691	I agree. I think soundtracks with original songs/recordings are the best work overall. Purple Rain, Saturday Night Fever and Grease are awesome pieces of work. Not to forget The Godfather, Rocky and Rocky 3. I have the American Graffiti soundtrack on album and CD. I love the music on there, but it is not original, simply songs that are compiled for a movie. Big Chill is a movie I didn't care for and the same goes for its soundtrack.
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10-25-2007, 03:27 PM	#2
Dean Winchester Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Sep 28, 2003 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 14,803	I definately agree with the list. Purple Rain is Prince at his zenith (even tho I would argue Sign O' The Times is a better album) and the album is perfect from beginning to end. It's one of those albums you can put on and play all the way through. Plus, the album stands on it's own, it helps if you've seen the movie but yet it works as just a stand-alone Prince album as well.

10-25-2007, 03:46 PM	#3
Mikado Main st bridge Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 06, 2005 Posts: 25,892	While i really liked Purple Rain, I would put American Graffitti and any Beatles movie (incl Yellow Submarine) above it........obviously the people voting here were under 40!

10-25-2007, 06:52 PM	#4
Dean Winchester Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Sep 28, 2003 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 14,803	I think Purple Rain has the upper hand over soundtracks like American Graffiti, The Big Chill and Forrest Gump because those songs were all brand new and created for the soundtrack. The other soundtracks are finely presented "classic hits" packages disguised as movie soundtracks. The songs on The Big Chill or American Graffiti were already established long before the movies came out and it was a nice collection of an era of time. Purple Rain and the Beatles soundtracks were all brand new songs for the movie

10-27-2007, 11:37 PM	#6
Nighthawk76 Rachel Berry Forum Celebrity Join Date: Feb 28, 2003 Location: Illinois Posts: 23,254	Even though I would have ranked Saturday Night Fever above Purple Rain, I still think that Purple Rain is one of the greatest albums ever recorded and I am happy to see that Vanity Fair picked it as their favorite. Purple Rain is Prince at his most brilliant.