If you don’t want to read, here’s the link to the mixtape.
For those who do want to read a bit, this month’s mixtape takes a different path, as it is one theme running across both sides. That theme is songs that were either written for a movie soundtrack, or were first featured on a movie soundtrack.
Yes, this was inspired by the piece I wrote a few months ago about songs that were revitalized by movies. I’ve been spending a lot of time in my favorite soundtracks since, and I just felt like pulling them all together in one rad mixtape. I hope you not only enjoy the songs, but make get kicked in the nostalgia a few times, thinking about these movies and where you were in life when they crossed your path.
Also, for those keeping track, both sides stay under 45 minutes, and I left just 20 seconds unused across both sides. As always, EVERY second matters!
As always, if you’re not already following me over on Facebook, Bluesky or Instagram, please do so.
Side A:
I absolutely HAD to start this mixtape with what may be my all-time favorite “non album” track ever - Pearl Jam’s “Breath.” Granted, the entire soundtrack to Singles is legendary, but this is definitely one of the stand-out tracks. The version found on Singles is a re-recording of the original, which was an outtake from the Ten sessions, and I honestly prefer this version. Crank it up!
When the soundtrack to Spawn came out, it was a revelation to many who enjoyed LOUD music. Sure, it could be argued as a slight copycat of Judgement Night, but it easily stands on its own. The pairing of Slayer and Atari Teenage Riot has been a favorite of mine since it first came out, and I am more than happy that it has been a favorite of my older kid since he was 6.
About halfway through listening to the song above, I realized that the ONLY song that could follow was Nine Inch Nails’ “The Perfect Drug.” Released between Nine Inch Nail’s iconic The Downward Spiral and The Fragile, this track gave fans just enough sustenance to get them through the final months before the release of the latter. It also introduced an entire generation to the films of David Lynch, with which the NIN aesthetic fits perfectly.
Is there a more iconic “written for a movie” song than Blondie’s “Call Me?” Possibly not. Written for the 1980 film American Gigolo, it’s arguably the band’s most famous song. Debbie Harry’s vocal is extraordinary, but the drumming from the late Clem Burke cannot be overlooked as the driving force of this song.
Let us not forget that the entire Purple Rain album is technically a soundtrack. I mean, not technically…it IS a soundtrack…but such an incredible recording that it stands on its own. While “When Dove Cry” isn’t my favorite song from the album (“I Would Die 4 U”), I felt it fit perfectly in this space on the mix.
Ice-T’s “New Jack Hustler” will always have a special place in my heart, and make me feel like a badass whenever I am walking with it in my headphones. The background and samples are phenomenal, and Ice’s lyrical delivery stands as some of the best of his career.
The soundtrack to The Harder They Come is unquestionably one of the most important musical moments in history. Along with the music of Bob Marley, this soundtrack was critical to the popularization of reggae music outside of Jamaica. The title track to the movie is an absolute classic, and an excellent introduction to Jimmy Cliff.
I mean, do I really need to explain why Simple Minds’ "Don’t You (Forget About Me)” is on this mixtape? Regardless of your age, this is a once-in-a-lifetime song, but ironically, Simple Minds and many other bands initially declined to record the song. Thankfully, they changed their…minds…and we have one of the best soundtrack moments of all time!
As the story goes, actor Ethan Hawke heard his neighbor singing a song, and told Reality Bites director Ben Stiller that he should use it in that movie. The neighbor in question was unsigned singer-songwriter Lisa Loeb, and “Stay (I Missed You)” because the first artist to top the Billboard Hot 100 without being signed to a label. For anyone coming of age in 1994, this song is forever burned into our collective subconscious.
OK, I know…some of you are freaking out because “Radiohead’s “Exit Music (For A Film)” was on OK Computer…it’s not from a movie!” Well, I’ve got sour news for ya, Jack…this song was written for the 1996 film Romeo+Juliet, which was released a few months before OK Computer. It plays during the film’s credit, but at the band’s request, it was left off of the soundtrack album. The title of the song was largely literal, so there’s some knowledge for ya!
DING! Time to flip to side 2!
Side B:
Understandably, most people gravitate toward the title track to the Super Fly soundtrack. However, “Pusherman” has always been my favorite from Curtis Mayfield’s entire catalog - and I know that may seen almost sacrilegious to some. The groove, the grit - it just doesn’t get much better than this song.
I remember an era when EVERY alterna-teen and goth kid had the soundtrack to The Crow on them at all times - or at least the poster on their wall. There are so many outstanding cuts on this one, but Stone Temple Pilot’s “Big Empty” is easily one of the best. While they would re-release it on their Purple album a few months later, it first appeared on The Crow’s iconic soundtrack.
You can file both the movie Last Action Hero and AC/DC’s “Big Gun” under: things I absolutely love, even though most people think are really cheesy. I’d also argue that this is the last “great” moment in the AC/DC catalog. An outright rocker, I challenge you NOT to crank this one to eleven!
Public Enemy’s phenomenal Fear Of A Black Planet turned 35 years old last week, but before it was the closing track to that album, it was a central part of Spike Lee’s 1989 film Do The Right Thing. Chuck D has referred to this song as the most important in the entire PE catalog, and it is unquestionably one of the greatest and most important songs ever recorded.
Terminator 2. Guns N’ Roses. Need I say more? No, I really don’t. Just get ready to break off your volume knob!!
The only film to get two songs on this mixtape is Singles, as I could not in good conscious leave “Drown” off of such a music collection. Though it was written shortly after Smashing Pumpkins released their debut album, and would appear on the 2011 re-release of Gish, it’s first appearance was in Singles. This is easily one of the best songs in the Pumpkins’ catalog, and the opening riff is as 90s’ alt-rock as it gets.
Jumping into the WayBack machine, Cat Stevens/Yusuf’s iconic “If You Want To Sing Out, Sing Out” first appeared in the 1971 film Harold and Maude. The soundtrack to the film wasn’t released until 2007, but the song came out as a single in 1984. I just love this song - it’s that simple.
I’ve written before about how much I love the music that Billie Eilish and her brother Finneas create, and this is one of their best. Billie’s voice is front and center, with little to get in the way of her raw talent. If radio were still a ‘thing,’ this one would have ruled the airwaves for all of 2023, and may have been one of the few things bigger than the Barbie movie for which it was written. These lyrics are phenomenal, and her delivery is truly perfect.
Is my adoration for alt/indie films from the early 90s becoming apparent? If not, I am guessing the inclusion of a song from Tank Girl will drive that point home. Belly (a band I adore beyond words) contributed “Thief,” and it is one of their finest musical moments. Though it would be released as the b-side to the “Now They’ll Sleep” single, it’s appearance here precedes it by a few months. Also, apologies to the band for including this, as they rightfully despise Spotify.
For decades, this version of Soundgarden’s “Like Suicide” has been one of my most treasured musical gems. Until it’s inclusion on 20th anniversary release, it could only be found on the hard-to-find soundtrack to the 1994 film S.F.W. I saw that film when it first came out, and was instantly in love with this song. One of Chris Cornell’s finest performances, I felt it was the perfect way to close out this month’s mixtape.
I hope this mixtape brought back some amazing memories, and perhaps turned you on to some tunes you’d never heard before! As always, share and enjoy.
This was an awesome mixtape and you definitely covered a LOT of ground. A couple I would add would be the Crazy Heart soundtrack. Jeff Bridges & Ryan Bingham had some amazing songs. I would also argue that the latest A Star is Born was also well done. The theme from Shaft is also iconic and not to be forgotten. From an instrumental perspective, any of the Star Wars movies are wonderful to listen to.