Ah, the 1970s, when flared jeans were a thing, disco was all the rage, and movie soundtracks were not just background noise but iconic masterpieces that continue to resonate 50 years later. Let’s jump into our vinyl-infused time machine and check out nine of the most monumental movie soundtracks that graced the ears of many a Boomer and GenXer back in the day.
Image Credit: IMDB / 20th Century Fox.
1. ‘Saturday Night Fever’ (1977)
“Saturday Night Fever” didn’t just give us John Travolta’s epic dance moves; it also gifted us with a soundtrack that made everyone’s hips shake. With the Bee Gees belting hits like “Stayin’ Alive,” “Night Fever,” and “How Deep Is Your Love,” this soundtrack truly defined the disco era. Winning a Grammy for Album of the Year, it has sold over 40 million copies worldwide, and for a good reason — it’s groovy, baby!
Image Credit: IMDb.
2. ‘Love Story’ (1970)
If you don’t immediately recognize Francis Lai’s Oscar winning theme song “Where Do I Begin?” the moment it comes on, were you even alive in the ’70s?
The film, directed by Arthur Hiller and based on the novel of the same name by Erich Segal, starred Ryan O’Neal and Ali MacGraw and became a cultural touchstone of the era. And the theme song kept it fresh in people’s minds.
While the rest of the movie score is made up of a lot of recognizable and not-so recognizable classical tunes, the sheer popularity and recognizability of the theme song makes it an easy addition to our list.
Image Credit: Amazon.com.
3. ‘Grease’ (1978)
We’ve got chiilllllls, they’re multiplin’, and we’re losin’ control. “Grease” gave us more than just a high school love story; it gave us a rock ‘n’ roll-infused soundtrack that had everyone singing along. With hits like “Summer Nights,” “Greased Lightnin’,” and “You’re the One That I Want,” this soundtrack sold over 38 million copies worldwide. Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta’s on-screen chemistry was electric, and the tunes were just as electrifying!
Image Credit: IMDb.
4. ‘Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope’ (1977)
John Williams’s epic score for “Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope” brought space battles and lightsaber duels to life. The iconic “Main Title Theme” is enough to send chills down any Jedi’s spine. Winner of the Academy Award for Best Original Score, this soundtrack transported audiences to a galaxy far, far away, long before SpaceX was even a glimmer in Elon Musk’s eye.
Image Credit: IMDb.
5. ‘American Graffiti’ (1973)
Directed by George Lucas and packed with 41 rock ‘n’ roll hits from the ’50s and early ’60s, “American Graffiti” was a nostalgia trip before nostalgia trips were cool. From Buddy Holly’s “That’ll Be the Day” to The Platters’ “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes,” this soundtrack captured the essence of teenage life in the era it depicted.
Image Credit: IMDb.
6. ‘Shaft’ (1971)
Can you dig it? Isaac Hayes’s funk masterpiece for “Shaft” still resonates today. The title track won the Academy Award for Best Original Song, and its wah-wah guitar and soulful orchestration epitomized the blaxploitation era. If you’ve got “Soulsville” and “Theme from Shaft” on your playlist, you’re one bad mother — (shut your mouth)!
Image Credit: IMDb.
7. ‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show’ (1975)
Dammit, Janet! You know we had to include Rocky Horror. “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” brought us an eclectic blend of rock, musical theater, and absolute madness. With songs like “Sweet Transvestite,” “Hot Patootie – Bless My Soul,” and, of course, “The Time Warp,” this cult classic soundtrack is as wild and unpredictable as Dr. Frank-N-Furter’s castle. Let’s do the Time Warp agaaain!
Image Credit: IMDB / 20th Century Fox.
8. ‘Jaws’ (1975)
Two notes. That’s all it took for John Williams to instill terror in beachgoers everywhere with his “Jaws” score. The ominous theme is still enough to make you think twice about dipping a toe in the water. The soundtrack won an Academy Award, proving that sometimes, less is more. Not to mention, the “duh duh, duh duh” is pretty much universally known at this point, and has transcended far beyond the 1970s.
Image Credit: IMDB / Universal.
9. ‘A Clockwork Orange’ (1971)
“A Clockwork Orange,” directed by the legendary Stanley Kubrick, presented a soundtrack as provocative and unsettling as the film itself. Think of it as a dystopian world where Beethoven meets synthesized madness, if you will. Composed by Wendy Carlos, the score blended classical pieces like Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony with eerie electronic compositions, creating a jarring contrast that enhanced the film’s disturbing themes.
Image Credit: IMDb.
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