Lost Highway (soundtrack)

1997 soundtrack album by Various artists

Lost Highway is the soundtrack album for the 1997 David Lynch film of the same name. It was produced by Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails, and includes original music from the film recorded by Reznor, Angelo Badalamenti and Barry Adamson, as well as songs by other artists used in the film. The album reached No. 7 on the Billboard 200 and reached Gold status in the United States and Platinum in Canada.^[7][8] The album was re-released on vinyl in November 2016 by Dutch label Music On Vinyl.^[9]

Background

At the suggestion of a mutual friend, David Lynch chose Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails to produce the soundtrack to his film Lost Highway (1997). Lynch wanted the soundtrack to feature well-known artists of his choosing who were inspirational to him, as well as commercially viable.^[10] Among the artists chosen were Marilyn Manson, Nine Inch Nails, David Bowie, Lou Reed, The Smashing Pumpkins and Rammstein.^[10]

When deciding the album's musical direction, Reznor came to the conclusion that it should appeal to fans of Lynch who hate pop music; at the same time, he wanted it to "have some degree of accessibility for the 13-, 14-year-old kid who buys it because I have a new song on it; or for the Smashing Pumpkins fan who buys it for that."^[11]

Track listing

Certifications

Notes

• "Song to the Siren" by This Mortal Coil is used in the film, but was not included on the soundtrack album.
• Additional production on "Videodrones; Questions" and "Driver Down" by Peter Christopherson.^[12]
• The songs which have been edited for the soundtrack can be heard as originally recorded on the following albums:
  • David Bowie: "I'm Deranged" from Outside (1995).
  • Barry Adamson: "Something Wicked This Way Comes" from Oedipus Schmoedipus (1996).
  • Rammstein: "Rammstein" and "Heirate Mich" from Herzeleid (1995).
  • Marilyn Manson: "I Put a Spell on You" from Smells Like Children (1995).

References

1. "20 Movie Soundtracks with the Best Collection of Songs".
2. "Nine Inch Nails - Came Back Haunted".
3. Allmusic review
4. "Various Artists (Soundtrack): Lost Highway: AV Club Review". 29 March 2002. Retrieved 23 December 2016.
5. Entertainment Weekly (3/7/97, p.67) - "...Industrial pretty boy/soundtrack architect Trent Reznor skillfully balances fresh salvos by Nine Inch Nails, Marilyn Manson, and the Smashing Pumpkins with...noir soundscapes....Even the most discerning listener won't be bored." - Rating: A
6. "Soundtrack: Lost Highway: Pitchfork Review". 2001-11-26. Archived from the original on 2001-11-26. Retrieved 2011-12-28.
7. "American album certifications – Soundtrack – Lost Highway". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved December 14, 2022.
8. "Canadian album certifications – Various Artists – Lost Highway - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack". Music Canada. Retrieved December 14, 2022.
9. Music on Vinyl
10. Rife, Katie (May 25, 2017). "Lost Highway put David Lynch onto America's car stereos". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on December 10, 2017. Retrieved December 10, 2017.
11. Gilmore, Mikal (March 6, 1997). "Trent Reznor: Death to Hootie". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on September 2, 2017. Retrieved December 10, 2017.
12. "Various - Lost Highway (Cassette) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2011-12-28.