Soundtracks To Our Lives...

Whether it’s the synth-driven cool of Pretty in Pink, the classic soul and blues energy of The Blues Brothers or the emotional atmosphere created by Interstellar, movie soundtracks have become a huge part of music collecting culture.

At Rockaway Records we’ve seen a massive rise in soundtrack collecting across both vinyl and CD. Some collectors are chasing nostalgia, others are discovering iconic songs through film for the very first time, while many film fans simply love owning a physical piece of the movies they adore.

What makes soundtrack collecting so interesting is the variety. Some soundtracks are packed with famous songs from major artists, while others are original film scores created specifically to build emotion and atmosphere within the movie itself.

A soundtrack album and a score album are actually two different things. Soundtracks usually feature songs heard throughout the film.. often from various artists.. while scores are the orchestral or instrumental music composed for the movie itself. Legendary film composers like Hans Zimmer, John Williams and Ennio Morricone have created scores that are just as collectable as classic rock albums.

Vinyl especially has become the perfect format for soundtracks. The large artwork, coloured vinyl editions, gatefold packaging and limited pressings make them incredibly display-worthy. 

CD soundtrack collecting is also still incredibly popular, particularly for movie fans hunting down expanded editions, bonus tracks or hard-to-find compilations from the 80s, 90s and early 2000s.

You can shop all soundtracks at Rockaway Records here...

VINYL SOUNDTRACKS

CD SOUNDTRACKS

or read on for some of our favourite soundtrack albums of all time... in no particular order.

Our Top 10 Soundtracks Of All Time

Pretty in Pink
A defining soundtrack of the 1980s. Packed with new wave, alternative and synth-pop classics from bands like The Psychedelic Furs, New Order and OMD. Interestingly, “Pretty In Pink” by The Psychedelic Furs actually existed before the film and inspired the movie’s title.

The Blues Brothers
More than just a comedy soundtrack.. this album helped introduce a whole new generation to classic blues and soul music. Featuring legends like Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles and James Brown, it’s one of the greatest musical films ever made.

Trainspotting
A perfect snapshot of 90s British music culture. The soundtrack mixes Britpop, electronic music and punk attitude with tracks from Iggy Pop, Blur, Underworld and Pulp.

O Brother, Where Art Thou?
One of the most influential soundtrack albums ever released. This collection helped spark renewed mainstream interest in bluegrass, folk and old-time Americana music in the early 2000s. The soundtrack actually became more commercially successful than the film itself.

American Graffiti
Essentially a time capsule of early rock and roll culture. Directed by George Lucas before Star Wars, the film features wall-to-wall classic hits and captures the feeling of cruising America in the early 60s.

Pulp Fiction
Quentin Tarantino completely changed soundtrack culture with this one. Rather than using current chart hits, he revived forgotten classics and deep cuts. Tracks like “Misirlou” and “Girl, You’ll Be A Woman Soon” became iconic all over again thanks to the film.

Grease
One of the best-selling soundtrack albums of all time. Songs like “Summer Nights,” “Greased Lightnin’” and “You’re The One That I Want” are still instantly recognisable generations later.

Purple Rain
Not only an incredible soundtrack, but arguably one of the greatest albums ever recorded full stop. Prince blurred the line between soundtrack and studio album here, creating a record that completely overshadowed the movie itself.

Interstellar
An example of how powerful a film score can be without relying on songs. Hans Zimmer used church organs and massive ambient soundscapes to create one of the most emotionally powerful science fiction scores ever made.

Guardians of the Galaxy
This soundtrack made classic 70s pop and rock cool for a whole new generation. Sales of songs from artists like David Bowie, Redbone and Blue Swede surged again after the film’s release.

Why People Love Collecting Soundtracks

Soundtracks sit in a unique place between music and film collecting. They trigger nostalgia in a way regular albums often can’t. Hearing one song can instantly transport someone back to a favourite scene, cinema experience or period in their life.

For some collectors, soundtrack albums are about discovering new music. Many legendary songs became famous because of films or TV shows. For others, it’s about the artwork, coloured vinyl variants, limited editions or simply owning a physical connection to a beloved movie.

There’s also something incredibly fun about soundtrack collections because no two are ever the same. One shelf might jump from horror synth scores to disco musicals to sci-fi orchestral masterpieces.

And honestly… soundtrack albums just look fantastic in a collection.

Whether you’re chasing cult classics, blockbuster scores, nostalgic 80s compilations or modern coloured vinyl releases, soundtrack collecting has become one of the most exciting areas of physical media.

If you’re hunting for soundtrack vinyl or CDs, we regularly stock a huge range in-store at Rockaway Records... from classic movie favourites through to hard-to-find collectable editions and modern soundtrack reissues.