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.
Malcolm X
Qwest/Reprise (1992)
Selected by Justin Chadwick
Although Denzel Washington was rightfully nominated (and should have won) for his starring role in Malcolm X at the 65th Annual Academy Awards, the fact that neither director Spike Lee nor the film itself were nominated in their respective categories remains a travesty of oversight. This is the definition of an epic film, a riveting homage to one of the most dynamic figures in American history, and it deserved way more recognition than it received upon its arrival nearly three decades ago.
OK, now that I’ve gotten that off my chest, let’s talk about the film’s stellar soundtrack. In the album’s liner notes, Lee describes the assemblage of featured songs as “the distinct sound of the African-American experience” that “reflects what it means to live, breathe, die and love, as the descendants of slaves.” Heavyweights of the rich African-American musical lineage abound, with the likes of Ray Charles, John Coltrane, Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Aretha Franklin, Billie Holiday, and Louis Jordan, among others, providing top-tier moments. And while the majority of the songs hark back to Malcolm X’s lifetime and rise to prominence during the mid-twentieth century, Arrested Development’s “Revolution” kicks off the album as a fitting contemporary offering.
All in all, it’s a nearly flawless collection, only slightly undermined by the curious omission of Sam Cooke’s anthemic “A Change Is Gonna Come,” which accompanied one of the film’s most memorable scenes, a reimagining of the moments leading up to Malcolm’s assassination.
LISTEN & WATCH: