Quincy Jones ‎– The Color Purple OST (1986, Qwest Records)

Media VG+
Sleeve VG+

Format : x2 LP
Cat N° : 925 389-1
Style : Soundtrack

Steven Spielberg’s films have gained recognition for their vibrant use of music, and while “The Color Purple” marks a thematic shift, it maintains the robust musical scoring evident across his works. Departing from the sweeping John Williams scores in movies like “Jaws,” “Close Encounters” and “E.T.,” the soundtrack for “The Color Purple” is overseen by co-producer and composer Quincy Jones. Jones, also renowned for producing artists like Michael Jackson, delivers a diverse musical landscape blending orchestral richness, Southern Gospel, jazz influences, and West African traditions. Despite the effective blend, a peculiar note emerges, with similarities between parts of this score and Georges Delerue’s work on “Our Mother House,” a 1967 film. This issue gained attention even in People magazine, but whether significant or not, the score proves captivating on film and the soundtrack album remains a pleasurable listen.