Chariots Of Fire
One of the most memorable soundtracks of all time, Vangelis's Academy Award-winningChariots of Fireis such a landmark, it's become the stuff of parody whenever someone wants to punch a hole through sloppy sentimentality.  But just go back to this 1981filmto relive a perfect marriage of image and music. Vangelis captures the heroism, grandeur, and pain of this racing drama, from the opulent main "Titles" theme with its echoing snare drum and piano cadences to the electronically abstract setting of Sir Charles H.H. Parry's choral work, "Jerusalem." Vangelis's score hangs suspended between orchestral lushness and electronic mood, sweetness tempered by the underlying psychological themes of the film. Often forgotten on this album is the extemporaneous title suite that, in the days of LPs, took up the second side of the album. Here, Vangelis explores some of the film's music cues at length, weaving them into a minor keyboard symphony.--John Diliberto