Editor’s Note: The Albumism staff has selected what we believe to be the 100 Greatest Soundtracks of All Time, representing a varied cross-section of films and musical genres. Click “Next Soundtrack” below to explore each soundtrack in the list or for easier navigation, view the full introduction & soundtrack index here.
Love Jones
Columbia (1997)
Selected by Daryl McIntosh
One of the sexiest films of the ‘90s, Love Jones’ soundtrack was equally seductive. With excerpts of the film’s spoken word performances—“Brother to the Night (A Blues for Nina) - Darius' Poem" and “Nina's Poem (I am Looking at Music)"—at both ends of the track list, the producers held back nothing to make this soundtrack a success.
With names like The Brand New Heavies and Groove Theory, the soundtrack seemed well on its way to accomplishing its objective. Spawning one of Maxwell’s first major hits “Sumthin’ Sumthin’” and an understated Xscape performance with “In the Rain,” Love Jones may have even exceeded expectations and may be most widely known for introducing Duke Ellington & John Coltrane’s collaborative “In a Sentimental Mood” to a new generation.
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