Stage & Screen

Buying soundtracks on vinyl: film music, scores and collector’s editions

In short: The Vinyl Room currently has 403 soundtrack records. Two worlds meet here: older editions – such as Italian film music by Ennio Morricone, Stelvio Cipriani and Pino Donaggio – and new collector’s editions with coloured vinyl, gatefolds and art prints. One focus: Joe Hisaishi’s music for the films of Studio Ghibli.

Soundtrack or score – what’s the difference?

A score is the music composed specially for the film, mostly instrumental – what plays under the pictures. A soundtrack can also include the songs used in the film. Collectors look for both, but with scores they pay special attention to the composer: Morricone, Hisaishi, Ryuichi Sakamoto or Danny Elfman.

Why film music on vinyl?

Because the big format suits film music: covers with poster art, gatefolds with stills, often detailed liner notes about the film. Many scores of the sixties and seventies are sought-after collector’s items today. New editions make newer film music collectable too – the US label Waxwork Records is known for horror and cult soundtracks on coloured vinyl with heavy gatefolds. Then there is library music: music that publishers produced in advance for film and TV, for example on the French label Editions Montparnasse 2000.

Which labels matter to collectors?

• Waxwork Records – US, horror and cult on coloured vinyl; our biggest soundtrack label.
• Studio Ghibli Records – Joe Hisaishi’s music for the films of Hayao Miyazaki.
• Milan – a film music label of French origin.

From our stock

Scores

Waxwork Records

Studio Ghibli

Soundtracks

Browse by style: Soundtrack · Score · Theme

FAQ

What is a score? The music composed specially for the film, mostly instrumental – unlike a soundtrack, which can also include songs.

Is coloured vinyl worse than black vinyl? Not as a rule. Good coloured pressings sound very good; mastering, pressing and condition are what count.

What is library music? Music that publishers produced in advance for film, TV and advertising. Today many of these records are sought-after collector’s items.

Do you have new, sealed soundtracks? Yes, some are still factory sealed. You’ll find them in the filter under “Mint / Sealed”.

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