2001: A Space Odyssey

The original soundtrack album to the iconic 1968 Stanley Kubrick film by the same name. Known for its use of many classical and orchestral pieces, it is credited for giving many classical compositions resurgences in popularity. From very early in production, Kubrick decided that he wanted the film to be a primarily nonverbal experience that did not rely on the traditional techniques of narrative cinema, and in which music would play a vital role in evoking particular moods. The film is notable for its innovative use of classical music taken from existing commercial recordings. In the early stages of production, Kubrick had actually commissioned a score for 2001 from Hollywood composer Alex North, but during postproduction, Kubrick chose to abandon North’s music in favor of the now-familiar classical pieces. The soundtrack was a commercial success, reaching the 24th spot on the Billboard 200.