What constitutes a soundtrack ?

[Dean1700 4]

Does anyone here think that a "TOP GUN" type soundtrack should be considered a soundtrack at all?

I am of the opinion that a soundtrack should only be called such if it is the score only, with an occassional song. A CD that features only songs or very little score music, such as the OST Back To The Future, should be called a compilation. Does any one else think differently?

[John Crichton 4]

If the collection of songs accurately reflects what's used as score in the movie, I have no problem calling it a soundtrack. But don't expect me to buy it.

If, on the other hand, the CD is a bunch of songs that aren't in the film proper it should be "music inspired by" or something.

John- who usually doesn't parse words so much.

[Morlock 9]

I do. It is songs that are part of the soundtrack, thus it is the soundtrack. It would make my collecting a whole lot easier if everything called 'soundtrack' was indeed the score, but calling those song CDs soundtracks is perfectly valid.

[JoeinAR 1,759]

there used to be a thing called a Songtrack,

and there is the old thing called Original Score.

now there are things called inspired by...

the ultra awful beyond all belief Blair Witch Project didn't even have a score yet it has one that is Inspired by.

there's the soundtrack with music inspired by the Passion of the Christ.

In someones mind its a legit effort, though I do have the Top Gun soundtrack somewhere, and I must admit, I like it, I really like it.

[Morlock 9]

I also have it somewhere, though I rarely listen to it beyond the Faltermeyer stuff.

[WLW 0]

This IS a bit messy, since all dialogue and sound effects are also part of the "sound track(s)." As long as they say what part(s) of the sound track you are buying, I have no problems.

[IrishCal24 0]

there's the soundtrack with music inspired by the Passion of the Christ.

Gee, I hadn't realized Elvis recorded a song post-mortem. "Inspired by", my ass!

[Olivier 5]

Literally, the soundtrack is everything audio-- the final mmix of dialogue, sound effects, song and music.

Musically, if a song appears in a movie, it is indeed legitimately part of the soundtrack album-- the trick being to use only 3s of a song to warrant its inclusion on the CD.

You may not like the songs, but if the director / music supervisor chose to include them in the movie, okay.

The real problem is those awful totally unrelated songs that are crammed into albums, taking the place of the film's music.