4 Essential Classic Rock Soundtracks

There are few things more magical than when the perfect song and film scene come together and create an unforgettable moment, and it’s all the better when a classic rock hit is utilized.

As of late, classic rock tunes have been the center of a film’s musical identity, as evident in the Guardians of the Galaxy films and most recently in the action hit Baby Driver, but they certainly aren’t the first films to pay tribute to rock’s greatest acts.  Let’s look back at these four soundtracks that paved the way.

Sure, there’s a lot of disco on this soundtrack, but the inclusion of Night Ranger’s “Sister Christian” and its corresponding scene alone are reason enough to be included on this lists.  The addition of Eric Burdon and War (“Spill The Wine”) and Electric Light Orchestra (“Living Thing”) is certainly a bonus.

Next to Quentin Tarantino, director Richard Linklatter might be one of the most gifted filmmakers that knows how to musically ccomplement a film.  The Dazed and Confused soundtrack is packed with hits, from Foghat (“Slow Ride”) to The Runaways (“Cherry Bomb”) to Aerosmith (“Sweet Emotion.”)

Okay…maybe Cameron Crowe might know a thing of twelve about soundtracks.  Similar to Boogie Nights and “Sister Christian,” can you imagine Almost Famous without Elton John’s “Tiny Dancer?”  We can’t!  Add Rod Stewart (“Every Picture Tells A Story”),  The Beach Boys (“Free Flows”) and Led Zeppelin (“That’s The Way”) to the mix, and you have one incredible soundtrack.

Considering the decades covered in the film, it’s no wonder the Forrest Gump soundtrack is so diverse and ranges from Creedence Clearwater Revival (“Fortunate Son”) to Fleetwood Mac (“Go Your Own Way.”)  This soundtrack was also a massive commercial success and was certified 12x’s platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.

Erica Banas is a rock/classic rock blogger. The first man she ever loved was Jack Daniel.  (True story.)