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.
Midnight Cowboy
United Artists Records (1969)
Selected by Andy Healy
The beauty of Midnight Cowboy is the way it weaves its way from “music from” songs and original score by John Barry. Barry’s work is haunting and sparse, layering lush strings, horns and harmonica to create a sense of escape. Interspersed are beautiful moments of folk, rock and trippy psychedelia with the floating “A Famous Myth” and jive rocking “Tears and Joy” from The Group, and Elephants Memory offering their expansive rock of “Jungle Gym At The Zoo” and the quintessential 60s trip “Old Man Willow.” Also in the mix is the soulful slow strut of “He Quit Me” by Leslie Miller, whose powerful voice just soars through the track.
But the crowning moment of Midnight Cowboy has to be Harry Nillson’s achingly beautiful cover of “Everybody’s Talkin.’” With its shimmering guitar intro, shuffling beat and journeyman lyrics, “Everybody’s Talkin’” is instantly iconic and the perfect summary of the hopes and optimism of the main characters. The fact the song bookends the soundtrack brings the soundtrack full circle, and it’s hard to hear “Everybody’s Talkin’” and not conjure up images of Hoffman and Voight hustling their way through New York.
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