The Best Soul Movie Soundtracks
Contents
From Aretha Franklin to Marvin Gaye, these are the best soul movie soundtracks that will get you movin’ and groovin’.
The Best of the Best
When it comes to soul music, there are a few timeless soundtracks that have graced our ears over the years. From classic Motown hits to more modern R&B, soul music has always had a way of moving us. In this article, we’ll be taking a look at the best soul movie soundtracks of all time.
The Bodyguard
The Bodyguard is a 1992 American romantic thriller film directed by Mick Jackson, written by Lawrence Kasdan, and starring Kevin Costner and Whitney Houston. It was co-produced and released by Warner Bros. and distributed by Warner Bros.Pictures.
The film’s soundtrack became the bestselling album of all time, selling more than 45 million copies worldwide. The film’s lead single, “I Will Always Love You”, became one of the best-selling singles of all time and won three Grammy Awards, including Record of the Year.
Waiting to Exhale
The soundtrack to the 1995 film Waiting to Exhale was released on December 19, 1995, by Arista Records. The album was produced by Babyface and features contributions from Whitney Houston, TLC, Céline Dion, Faith Evans, Patti LaBelle, Brandy, Aretha Franklin, Bobbi Kristina Brown, Chaka Khan and Macy Gray. It features the number-one hit singles “Exhale (Shoop Shoop)” by Houston and “Let It Flow” by TLC. The album received critical acclaim upon release and was a commercial success; it topped the Billboard 200 in the United States for four weeks and has been certified octuple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
How Stella Got Her Groove Back
When it comes to a good soundtrack, How Stella Got Her Groove Back has one of the best. The movie, which was released in 1998, is a classic romantic comedy that tells the story of a divorced mother who falls in love with a younger man while on vacation in Jamaica. The soundtrack features a mix of reggae, R&B, and hip-hop, which perfectly complements the film’s feel-good vibe. Here are some of the best tracks from the How Stella Got Her Groove Back soundtrack.
1. “Heartbeat” by Donnelle Hicks
2. “Red Red Wine” by UB40
3. “Here Comes the Hotstepper” by Ini Kamoze
4. “Kiss from a Rose” by Seal
5. “One Love” by Bob Marley & The Wailers
The Contenders
As the title implies, this listicle will be discussing the best soul movie soundtracks. This list will cover a wide range of films, from cult classics to recent blockbusters. While the focus will be on the music, we will also be taking a look at the films themselves and how the soundtracks enhance the experience.
Set It Off
1996’s Set It Off is a classic heist movie with an all-black cast, headlined by Jada Pinkett Smith, Queen Latifah, and Vivica A. Fox. The film was a critical and commercial success, grossing over $41 million on a budget of $9 million. Set It Off is also notable for its soundtrack, which featured some of the biggest names in hip-hop and R&B at the time.
The soundtrack was executive produced by LaFace Records founder L.A. Reid and featured contributions from Babyface, Jermaine Dupri, Missy Elliott, Sean “Puffy” Combs, and Timbaland. The album was a success, peaking at #2 on the Billboard 200 and #1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. It has been certified platinum by the RIAA.
Some of the standout tracks on the album include Dupri’s “Set It Off” (featuring Da Brat), Elliott’s “The Morning After (Interlude),” Combs’ “Can’t Nobody Hold Me Down” (featuring Mase), Fox’s “Don’t Wanna Be a Player” (featuring Big Punisher), and Latifah’s cover of Donnie Hathaway’s “Someday We’ll All Be Free.”
Love & Basketball
Love & Basketball is a 2000 American romantic drama film directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood and starring Omar Epps and Sanaa Lathan. The film tells the story of Quincy McCall (Epps) and Monica Wright (Lathan), two high school basketball players who fall in love.
The film soundtrack was released on April 18, 2000, by Epic Records. It peaked at number 21 on the Billboard 200 and number five on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. The album was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on June 13, 2000.
Brown Sugar
released in 2002, is a romantic drama film directed by Rick Famuyiwa and written by Michael Elliot. The film stars Taye Diggs and Sanaa Lathan. The film is about friends Dre (Diggs) and Sidney (Lathan) who reconnect after Dre’s marriage to Nina (Nicole Ari Parker) causes Dre to question his life and look back on his past relationship with Sidney.
The film’s soundtrack was released on September 17, 2002, by Motown Records. It peaked at number 31 on the Billboard 200 and number five on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. Brown Sugar received mostly positive reviews from music critics.
The Underdogs
Released in 2006, “The Underdogs” is a masterpiece of a soul movie soundtrack. It features a wide range of artists, from Otis Redding and Al Green to Marvin Gaye and Isaac Hayes. The music is moving and nostalgic, and it perfectly captures the feeling of the film.
Soul Food
If you’re in the mood for a heart-warming film with an excellent soundtrack, then look no further than Soul Food. The 1997 movie directed by George Tillman Jr. centers around the trials and tribulations of the Josephs family, and features an impressive cast including Vivica A. Fox, Nia Long, and Brandon Hammond.
The critically-acclaimed film was nominated for multiple awards, and won the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Motion Picture. In addition to its critical success, Soul Food also features an incredible soundtrack with contributions from R&B heavyweights like Boyz II Men, Macy Gray, Aretha Franklin, Gladys Knight, and many more.
If you’re looking for a great movie to watch with an even better soundtrack, then be sure to check out Soul Food. You won’t be disappointed.
The Wood
The Wood is a 1999 American romantic comedy-drama film written and directed by Rick Famuyiwa and starring Omar Epps, Richard T. Jones, Taye Diggs, and Sean Nelson. The film’s soundtrack was released on April 6, 1999, through Manifesto Records. It peaked at number 31 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and at number 17 on the Heatseekers Albums in the United States.
Beauty Shop
Beauty Shop is a 2005 American comedy film directed by Bille Woodruff. The film stars Queen Latifah as Gina Norris, a hairstylist who opens her own shop after she gets fired from an upscale salon. Kevin Bacon, Alicia Silverstone, Djimon Hounsou, Andie MacDowell, Mena Suvari, and Freddy Rodriguez also star in the movie.
The film’s soundtrack was released on March 15, 2005, by Jive Records. It features mostly R&B and hip hop music. The first single from the album was “Lose Myself” by Ashanti. Other charting singles included “Gonna Get Mine” (featuring Snoop Dogg) by B5 and “NATURAL WOMAN” (featuring Just Jack) by Macy Gray.
