Underrated Movie Soundtrack Vinyls To Scoop Up On eBay

1. Times Square

The only thing missing from the soundtrack to Allan Moyle’s Times Square is a song from Tim Curry, who plays a radio DJ. The cult film captured the underground sound of 1980, with cuts from The Pretenders, Talking Heads, and Ramones. Even the teen runaway stars of the film get to sing with David Johansen.

2. Natural Born Killers

Produced by Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails, the soundtrack to Oliver Stone’s Natural Born Killers is a sonic crime spree capturing the frenzy of the two murderous lovers on the run with some guns. Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, Jane’s Addiction, Cowboy Junkies, and Patti Smith slay the vibes.

3. All This and World War II

Nobody saw the film, but everyone loves the Beatles. All This and World War II lets an all-star cast of diverse pop voices, from Tina Turner to Frankie Lane, tell its story by rifling through the Lennon/ McCartney songbook. Rod Stewart’s “Get Back” and Peter Gabriel’s “Strawberry Fields Forever” are particular standouts. Isn’t it a pity there are no George Harrison songs.

4. Super Fly

Curtis Mayfield was a genius who made music that mattered since leading the Impressions. If Super Fly wasn’t a movie, the soundtrack would be considered one of the greatest concept albums in modern music history. “Freddy’s Dead” was the hit, but “Little Child Runnin’ Wild” gives you goosebumps.

5. Jungle Fever

It’s not up there with Talking Book or Songs in the Key of Life, but Stevie Wonder’s soundtrack to Spike Lee’s Jungle Fever is a solid album. Wonder lets every emotion coming from both sides of a biracial romance play out in the grooves. From feverous funk to soulful ballads, Stevie’s got a song for every mood.

6. Harold and Maude

Cat Stevens, now Yusuf Islam, had just brushed off pop stardom and was about to reemerge as a songwriter on his own terms in 1971. Hal Ashby’s Harold and Maude does the same. Suicidal teen Harold (Bud Cort) meets elderly Maude (Ruth Gordon), who redefines living. They couldn’t have done it without the songs.

7. Phantom of the Paradise

Before The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Brian De Palma’s Phantom of the Paradise rocked horror and rolled Faust. The devil comes in many forms, but no one would have expected crafty songsmith Paul Williams to bring evil into the world. Even the sock-hop retro tunes have death at the center. Williams seals the deal with, and for, “The Hell of It.”

8. After Hours

Hey, you like the Monkees? Maybe Joni Mitchell’s “Chelsea Morning” would be more appropriate. Either way, the soundtrack to Martin Scorsese’s After Hours sets the mood. The song collection is as satisfying and frustrating as the dark night it accompanies, from Bad Brains to Bach. It brilliantly comes together through pieces of Howard Shore’s score.

Super7’s fantastic line of music ReAction Figures pays tribute to the peerless Notorious B.I.G. with this release that comes on a card with imagery from his legendary “Ready to Die” LP.

DC Comics Record Player | ($40-$200)

Themed record players are a whole collectibles Pandora’s Box in their own right, so in the interest of brevity, we will just include one on this list—this 1970s model based on DC Comics. Showcasing illustrations of Batman, Wonder Woman, Superman, and Robin, this would be a great player to listen to those old Power Records on.

Spider-Man: Rock

Reflections

of a Superhero | ( $40-$300)

Originally released in 1975 by the small label Lifesong Records, this LP is best described as what would happen if The Who’s Tommy donned the Infinity Gauntlet. Narrator Stan Lee (in typical bombastic fashion) masterminds this concept album about Spidey’s life that features incredibly catchy jams like “Peter Stays and Spider-Man Goes” and “Doctor Octopus: Part II” in which Doc Ock savagely insults the members of the Marvel Universe. Throw in cover art from John Romita, and you’ve got a Spidey album that is a must-hear and proof that it’s what Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark should have been. It was issued on LP and CD, both of which are long out of print, but with some perseverance, you can grab one at a reasonable price.