The Guardians of the Galaxy soundtrack, appropriately titled Awesome Mix Vol. 1, sounds like a party starter.
When it comes to superhero movies, there have been several schools of thought. For scores, you're either going the straight-up triumphant route (John Williams, Alan Silvestri), or you're calling Danny Elfman or Hans Zimmer. When a soundtrack is of the dreaded "songs inspired by the movie" variety, we've been "treated" to bizarre curiosities like Prince's Batmansoundtrack, Madonna's Dick Tracy, or various collections of tunes by artists signed to whichever record label the studio owns (Sam Raimi's Spider-Man films, you will never be forgiven for foisting "Hero" and "Vindicated" on us).
Recent Marvel films (Iron Man 2's bizarre AC/DC greatest hits album aside) haven't ventured far from the "triumphant score" school of thought. Then along comes Guardians of the Galaxy with its space opera visuals and "Hooked on a Feeling" and "Spirit in the Sky" and "Cherry Bomb" and suddenly these things are fun and not to be dreaded. The Guardians of the Galaxy soundtrack is almost unironically entitled "Awesome Mix Vol. 1."
Here's the full tracklisting:
1. Blue Swede – Hooked on a Feeling
2. The Raspberries – Go All the Way
3. Norman Greenbaum – Spirit in the Sky
4. David Bowie – Moonage Daydream
5. Elvin Bishop – Fooled Around and Fell in Love
6. 10cc – I’m Not in Love
7. Jackson 5 – I Want You Back
8. Redbone – Come and Get Your Love
9. The Runaways – Cherry Bomb
10. Rupert Holmes – Escape (the Pina Colada Song)
11. The Five Stairsteps – Ooh Child
12. Marvin Gaye/Tammi Terrell – Ain’t No Mountain High Enough
Power pop maestros The Raspberries make an appearance, which is a welcome surprise. The unlistenable "Escape (The Pina Colada Song)" can be excused because of the presence of David Bowie's "Moonage Daydream." There had better be some kind of epic raygun battle going on during that guitar solo. Anyway, the whole thing is up for pre-order right now, or you can go make yourself a Spotify playlist or whatever it is one does these days.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll be off replacing those end credits songs in the first two Spider-Man movies with The Ramones or Television or something...
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