The music of the Back to the Future franchise is composed in conjunction with the development of several feature films and a stage musical, within the Back to the Future franchise created by Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale. All music in the franchise was composed by American composer Alan Silvestri, with The Musical being co-written with Glen Ballard.
| Back to the Future: Music from the Motion Picture Soundtrack | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Soundtrack album by various artists | |
| Released | July 8, 1985 |
| Genre | |
| Length | 37:41 |
| Label | MCA |
| Singles from Back to the Future: Music from the Motion Picture Soundtrack | |
| |
Back to the Future: Music from the Motion Picture Soundtrack is the soundtrack album to the film of the same name, released on July 8, 1985, by MCA Records. The soundtrack includes two tracks from American composer Alan Silvestri's score for the film, two pop tracks from American rock band Huey Lewis and the News, two songs played by the fictional Marvin Berry and The Starlighters, one played by the fictional Marty McFly with The Starlighters, and two pop songs that are very briefly heard in the background of the film.
"The Power of Love" was released as the album's lead single in June 1985, becoming Huey Lewis and the News's first chart topper on the US Billboard Hot 100, as well as being certified Gold and nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song. [2] The soundtrack spent nineteen weeks on the Billboard 200, peaking at number twelve in October 1985. [3] Later issues of the album are released by Geffen Records. [4]
American rock band Huey Lewis and the News performed "The Power of Love" and "Back in Time". Huey Lewis was approached to write a theme song for the film. [5] He met with Bob Gale, Steven Spielberg, and Robert Zemeckis, from the film's production team, who intended that the band be Marty McFly's favorite band. Though flattered, Lewis did not want to participate because he did not know how to write film songs and did not want to write one called "Back to the Future". [5] Zemeckis assured Lewis he could write any song he wanted. Lewis agreed to submit the next song he wrote, which was "The Power of Love". The lyrics do not make any mention of the film's storyline. [5]
Lewis was asked by Zemeckis to write one more song for the film's end credits, which came to be "Back in Time". [5] Unlike "The Power of Love", the lyrics for "Back in Time" center around the movie's story points. In an interview with People in 2015, Lewis states: "Sean [Hopper], [Chris] Hayes and I put together "Back in Time" – and it turned out that it's actually quite easy to write for film! In a way, it's easier, in that you don't have to invest yourself in it. So that was a lot of fun, actually". [6]
"Johnny B. Goode", written by Chuck Berry, is performed by the characters Marty McFly, and Marvin Berry and the Starlighters in the film, with lead vocals by Mark Campbell as Marty McFly, Harry Waters Jr. as Marvin Berry, and the guitar solo by Tim May. Campbell and May received a "special thanks" acknowledgment in the film's end credits, with the recording credit going to the fictional characters. [7] Campbell did not receive credit as the filmmakers wanted to create the illusion that Fox was singing. When music supervisor Bones Howe learned of this, he secured Campbell a small percentage of the soundtrack revenue as compensation. [8] Berry withheld permission to use "Johnny B. Goode" until the day before filming, and was paid $50,000 for the rights. [9]
In the film, Marvin Berry, a fictitious cousin of Chuck Berry, phones Chuck and lets him listen to the music. The real "Johnny B. Goode" was released in 1958, three years after the time it is played in the film. [10]
Huey Lewis portrays a high-school band audition judge who rejects Marty McFly's band, the "Pinheads", as they perform an instrumental hard rock version of "The Power of Love". Lewis mentioned that his character was inspired by a Chrysalis Records executive. [5] "Time Bomb Town", "Heaven Is One Step Away", and "Back in Time" are very briefly played in the background in some scenes during the film; "Back in Time" is additionally played in full in the film's end credits. [11]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Performer | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "The Power of Love" |
| Huey Lewis and the News | 3:58 |
| 2. | "Time Bomb Town" | Lindsey Buckingham | Lindsey Buckingham | 2:44 |
| 3. | "Back to the Future" | Alan Silvestri | The Outatime Orchestra | 3:20 |
| 4. | "Heaven Is One Step Away" | Eric Clapton | Eric Clapton | 4:13 |
| 5. | "Back in Time" |
| Huey Lewis and the News | 4:22 |
| 6. | "Back to the Future Overture" | Alan Silvestri | The Outatime Orchestra | 8:18 |
| 7. | "The Wallflower (Dance with Me, Henry)" | Etta James | 2:41 | |
| 8. | "Night Train" |
| Marvin Berry & The Starlighters [a] | 2:17 |
| 9. | "Earth Angel (Will You Be Mine)" |
| Marvin Berry & The Starlighters [a] | 3:02 |
| 10. | "Johnny B. Goode" | Chuck Berry | Marty McFly with The Starlighters [b] | 3:06 |
| Total length: | 37:41 | |||
Songs in the film but not included on the soundtrack album: [11]
| Chart (1985–86) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (Kent Music Report) [12] | 36 |
| Belgian Albums (Ultratop) [13] | 66 |
| Canada Top Albums/CDs ( RPM ) [14] | 21 |
| New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) [15] | 47 |
| UK Albums (OCC) [16] | 66 |
| US Billboard 200 [17] | 12 |
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Canada (Music Canada) [18] | Gold | 50,000^ |
| United States (RIAA) [19] | Gold | 500,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
| Back to the Future: Intrada Special Collection | |
|---|---|
| Film score by | |
| Released | November 24, 2009 |
| Recorded | May 16 to June 11, 1985 |
| Studio | The Burbank Studios (Burbank, California) |
| Genre | Score |
| Length | 89:08 |
| Label | Intrada |
Back to the Future: Intrada Special Collection was released by Intrada Records on November 24, 2009, and contains Alan Silvestri's complete score for Back to the Future. It is a two-disc release: the first disc contains the complete orchestral score for the film, along with two source cues that Silvestri wrote. The second disc contains alternate approaches that Silvestri took with a large portion of the score, with a darker and more serious tone. The two-disc set had a limited release of 10,000 units and sold nearly 6,000 units by the end of January 2010. [20]
The soundtrack was reissued on October 12, 2015, as a single-disc release, titled Back to the Future: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (Expanded Edition), to commemorate the film's 30th anniversary. [21] This release only contains the music on disc one of the initial limited two-disc set. [22]
Alan Silvestri had previously worked with director Robert Zemeckis on the score for Romancing the Stone. In composing the score, the only direction Zemeckis gave him was "it's got to be big". Silvestri used an orchestral score to create a sound that contrasted with the small-town setting and the significant time-changing events occurring within it, and developed a heroic theme that was designed to be instantly recognizable in just a few notes. [23]
For moments in the film where Silvestri's score was shortened (i.e. the final moments of "Einstein Disintegrated" and "Peabody Barn; Marty Ditches DeLorean"), replaced with source music ("Town Square") or unused ("Logo"), the full score cue is presented as originally recorded.
The themes from the score have since been included in the scores of the film's sequels, in Back to the Future: The Ride , and used as ambient music at Universal Studios theme parks.
Disc 1: The Complete Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Disc 2: The Creation of a Classic... alternate Early Sessions
| Back to the Future Part II: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Film score by | |
| Released | November 22, 1989 |
| Recorded | September 14 to November 2, 1989 |
| Studio | The Burbank Studios (Burbank, California) |
| Genre | Score |
| Length | 44:55 |
| Label | MCA |
Back to the Future Part II: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack is the film score to the 1989 film of the same name, the second installment in the Back to the Future trilogy. It was released under MCA Records on November 22, 1989, and features most of the film score by American composer Alan Silvestri. [24] AllMusic rated it four-and-a-half stars out of five. [25] Unlike the previous soundtrack, it only contains the musical score by Silvestri, none of the vocal songs featured throughout the film are included.
Intrada Records reissued the soundtrack as a two-disc expanded edition on October 12, 2015, in commemoration of the first film's 30th anniversary. The soundtrack includes the complete score (22 tracks) on disc one and an arrangement of alternate cues and source music on disc two. [26]
Standard edition
Expanded edition – Disc 1: The Film Score"
Expanded edition – Disc 2: Alternates
| Back to the Future Part III: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Film score by | |
| Released | May 29, 1990 |
| Recorded | 1989–1990 |
| Studio | The Burbank Studios (Burbank, California) |
| Genre | Score |
| Length | 44:58 |
| Label | Varèse Sarabande |
Back to the Future Part III: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack is the film score to the film of the same name, the third and final installment in the Back to the Future trilogy. It was released under Varèse Sarabande on May 29, 1990, and features most of the film score by American composer Alan Silvestri. [27] The soundtrack includes the acoustic instrumental version of the song "Doubleback" as performed during the film, but does not include the original ZZ Top version of the song played in the end credits. [28]
Varèse Sarabande reissued the soundtrack as a two-disc expanded edition on October 12, 2015, in commemoration of the film's 25th anniversary. The soundtrack includes the complete score in chronological order on disc one, and an arrangement of alternate cues, source music and acoustic renditions of traditional folk songs on disc two. [29]
Standard edition
25th Anniversary edition – Disc 1: The Film Score
25th Anniversary edition – Disc 2: Alternates
| The Back to the Future Trilogy | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Film score / compilation album by | |
| Released | September 21, 1999 |
| Venue | Glasgow City Halls (Glasgow, Scotland) |
| Genre | Score |
| Length | 48:02 |
| Label | Varèse Sarabande |
The Back to the Future Trilogy is a soundtrack compilation album, released by Varèse Sarabande on September 21, 1999. [30] The album is a compilation of Alan Silvestri compositions from all three Back to the Future film scores, as well the theme from Back to the Future: The Ride . Whilst the tracks from Part III are from the film's original soundtrack, the tracks for Part I , Part II and The Ride are re-recorded renditions performed by John Debney and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra at the Glasgow City Halls.
All music is composed by Alan Silvestri
| No. | Title | Film | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Back to the Future" | Back to the Future (1985) | 3:28 |
| 2. | "Skateboard Chase" | Back to the Future | 1:45 |
| 3. | "Marty's Letter" | Back to the Future | 1:34 |
| 4. | "Clocktower Pt. 1" | Back to the Future | 5:22 |
| 5. | "Clocktower Pt. 2 / Helicopter" | Back to the Future | 5:42 |
| 6. | "'85 Lone Pine Mall" | Back to the Future | 3:43 |
| 7. | "4x4" | Back to the Future | 0:54 |
| 8. | "Doc Returns" | Back to the Future | 1:27 |
| 9. | "Hill Valley, 2015" | Back to the Future Part II (1989) | 4:11 |
| 10. | "Burn the Book" | Back to the Future Part II | 2:46 |
| 11. | "He's Gone" | Back to the Future Part II | 0:44 |
| 12. | "The Letter" | Back to the Future Part II | 2:00 |
| 13. | "I'm Back" | Back to the Future Part II | 0:51 |
| 14. | "End Logo" | Back to the Future Part II | 0:19 |
| 15. | "The West" | Back to the Future Part II | 1:12 |
| 16. | "Main Title" | Back to the Future Part III (1990) | 3:06 |
| 17. | "Indians" | Back to the Future Part III | 1:10 |
| 18. | "Point of No Return (The Train Pt. III)" | Back to the Future Part III | 3:48 |
| 19. | "End Credits" | Back to the Future Part III | 4:00 |
| 20. | "Back to the Future: The Ride" | Back to the Future: The Ride (1991) | 4:10 |
| Total length: | 48:02 | ||
| Back to the Future: The Musical (Original Cast Recording) | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Cast recording by the original West End cast of Back to the Future: The Musical | |
| Released | March 11, 2022 |
| Venue | Adelphi Theatre (West End, London) |
| Genre | Show tunes |
| Length | 73:59 |
| Label | Masterworks Broadway |
Back to the Future: The Musical (Original Cast Recording) is the cast recording of the musical of the same name, with music and lyrics by Alan Silvestri and Glen Ballard, and a book by Bob Gale. [31] Recorded by the musical's original West End cast, it was released by Sony Music's Masterworks Broadway imprint on March 11, 2022. [32] [33] The musical's score was nominated for the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Original Score or New Orchestrations in 2022. [34]
The Back to the Future website originally announced on October 21, 2020 ("Back to the Future Day") that a cast recording of the West End production will be released in summer 2021. [35] The announcement was accompanied by the release of Dobson's rendition of "Back in Time", which was originally written for and featured in the first film, in addition to the original track "Put Your Mind to It". The cast recording was originally set to be released on November 26, 2021, but was delayed several times, eventually releasing on March 11, 2022. [36]
All tracks are written by Alan Silvestri and Glen Ballard, except where noted
| No. | Title | Performer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Overture" | The Outatime Orchestra | 0:55 |
| 2. | "It’s Only a Matter of Time" |
| 3:02 |
| 3. | "Audition / Got No Future" (Silvestri, Ballard, Huey Lewis, Chris Hayes, Johnny Colla) | Dobson | 1:14 |
| 4. | "Wherever We’re Going" |
| 3:04 |
| 5. | "Hello, Is Anybody Home" |
| 5:04 |
| 6. | "It Works" |
| 2:56 |
| 7. | "Don’t Drive 88!" | The Outatime Orchestra | 1:14 |
| 8. | "Cake" |
| 2:43 |
| 9. | "Gotta Start Somewhere" |
| 3:12 |
| 10. | "My Myopia" | Hugh Coles | 3:02 |
| 11. | "Pretty Baby" |
| 2:18 |
| 12. | "Future Boy" |
| 3:32 |
| 13. | "Something About That Boy" |
| 3:36 |
| 14. | "21st Century" |
| 4:54 |
| 15. | "Put Your Mind to It" |
| 3:00 |
| 16. | "For the Dreamers" |
| 2:57 |
| 17. | "Teach Him a Lesson" |
| 1:43 |
| 18. | "The Letter / Only a Matter of Time (Reprise)" |
| 3:42 |
| 19. | "Deep Divin'" |
| 2:28 |
| 20. | "Earth Angel (Will You Be Mine)" (Curtis Williams, Jesse Belvin, Gaynel Hodge) |
| 1:58 |
| 21. | "Johnny B. Goode" (Chuck Berry) |
| 2:26 |
| 22. | "The Clocktower / For the Dreamers (Reprise)" |
| 6:07 |
| 23. | "The Power of Love" (Lewis, Chris Hayes, Colla) |
| 3:22 |
| 24. | "Doc Returns / Finale" |
| 1:49 |
| 25. | "Back in Time" (Colla, Lewis, Hayes, Sean Hopper) |
| 2:03 |
| 26. | "Exit Music (Back in Time)" (Colla, Lewis, Hayes, Sean Hopper) | The Outatime Orchestra | 1:38 |
| Total length: | 73:59 | ||
Back to the Future is a 1985 American science fiction film directed by Robert Zemeckis and written by Zemeckis and Bob Gale. It stars Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson, Crispin Glover, and Thomas F. Wilson. Set in 1985, it follows Marty McFly (Fox), a teenager accidentally sent back to 1955 in a time-traveling DeLorean automobile built by his eccentric scientist friend Emmett "Doc" Brown (Lloyd), where he inadvertently prevents his future parents from falling in love – threatening his own existence – and is forced to reconcile them and somehow get back to the future.
Back to the Future Part II is a 1989 American science fiction film directed by Robert Zemeckis from a screenplay by Bob Gale; both wrote the story. It is the sequel to the 1985 film Back to the Future and the second installment in the Back to the Future franchise. The film stars Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson, and Thomas F. Wilson with Elisabeth Shue, and Jeffrey Weissman in supporting roles. It follows Marty McFly (Fox) and his friend Dr. Emmett "Doc" Brown (Lloyd) as they travel from 1985 to 2015 to prevent Marty's son from sabotaging the McFly family's future. When their arch-nemesis Biff Tannen (Wilson) steals Doc's DeLorean time machine and uses it to alter history for his benefit, the duo must return to 1955 to restore the timeline.
Back to the Future Part III is a 1990 American science fiction Western film and the third installment of the Back to the Future trilogy. The film was directed by Robert Zemeckis, and stars Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Mary Steenburgen, Thomas F. Wilson, and Lea Thompson. The film continues immediately following Back to the Future Part II (1989); while stranded in 1955 during his time travel adventures, Marty McFly (Fox) discovers that his friend Dr. Emmett "Doc" Brown (Lloyd), trapped in 1885, was killed by Buford "Mad Dog" Tannen (Wilson), Biff's great-grandfather. Marty travels to 1885 to rescue Doc and return once again to 1985, but matters are complicated when Doc falls in love with Clara Clayton (Steenburgen).
Marty McFly is a fictional character and the protagonist of the Back to the Future franchise. He is a high school student living in the fictional town of Hill Valley, California, who accidentally becomes a time traveler and alters history after his scientist friend Emmett Brown invents a DeLorean time machine. He was created by Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale. In the film trilogy, he is portrayed by Canadian actor Michael J. Fox. Back to the Future established Fox as a film star, such was the commercial success and popularity of the film upon its release in 1985. Marty returned in two film sequels, Back to the Future Part II in 1989 and Back to the Future Part III in 1990.
Hugh Anthony Cregg III, known professionally as Huey Lewis, is an American singer, songwriter and actor.
Alan Anthony Silvestri is an American composer and conductor of film and television scores. He has been associated with director Robert Zemeckis since 1984, composing music for nearly all of his feature films including the Back to the Future film series, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Forrest Gump, Cast Away, and The Polar Express. Silvestri also scored many other popular movies, including Predator, The Abyss, Father of the Bride, The Bodyguard, Eraser, The Parent Trap, Stuart Little, The Mummy Returns, Lilo & Stitch, The Wild, Night at the Museum trilogy, G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, The Croods, Ready Player One, and several Marvel Cinematic Universe films, including the Avengers films.
Back to the Future is an American science fiction comedy franchise created by Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale. The franchise follows the adventures of a high school student, Marty McFly, and an eccentric scientist, Dr. Emmett "Doc" Brown, as they use a DeLorean time machine to time travel to different periods in the history of the fictional town of Hill Valley, California.
Emmett Brown, commonly referred to as "Doc Brown", is a fictional scientist in the Back to the Future franchise. He was created by Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale. First appearing in the 1985 film Back to the Future, he is an eccentric mad scientist and friend to the protagonist Marty McFly. In the franchise, he invents a time machine using a DMC DeLorean. He is portrayed by Christopher Lloyd in all three films and in the television series and was loosely inspired by Leopold Stokowski and Albert Einstein. He is also voiced by Dan Castellaneta in the animated sections of the television series.
Back to the Future: The Ride was a simulator ride located at several Universal Destinations & Experiences locations. The first installation opened on May 2, 1991, at the World Expo area of Universal Studios Florida in Orlando, Florida. A second installation opened on June 12, 1993, in the Hollywood Lot area of Universal Studios Hollywood in Universal City, California. A third installation opened on March 31, 2001, in the San Francisco area of Universal Studios Japan in Osaka, Japan. Based on the Back to the Future franchise, the ride is a first person adventure that takes place after the events depicted in Back to the Future Part III. Riders engage in a race through time in pursuit of Biff Tannen, who has stolen the DeLorean time machine.
"The Power of Love" is a 1985 single by Huey Lewis and the News, written for the soundtrack of the 1985 blockbuster film Back to the Future. The song became the band's first number-one hit on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and their second number-one hit on the U.S. Mainstream Rock chart. In the United Kingdom, it was released as a double-A side with "Do You Believe in Love," becoming the band's only top ten hit on the UK Singles Chart. The song is included alongside "Back in Time" on the film's soundtrack, and appears as a bonus track on international editions of the band's fourth studio album, Fore!
In the Back to the Future franchise, the DeLorean time machine is a time travel vehicle constructed from a retrofitted DMC DeLorean. Its time travel ability is derived from the "flux capacitor", a component that allows the car to travel to the past or future. This occurs when the car accelerates to 88 miles per hour and requires 1.21 gigawatts of electricity.
Back to the Future: The Game is an episodic graphic adventure video game based on the Back to the Future film franchise. The game was developed and published by Telltale Games as part of a licensing deal with Universal Pictures. Bob Gale, the co-creator, co-writer, and co-producer of the film trilogy, assisted Telltale in writing the game's story. Original actors Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd allowed the developers to use their likenesses in the game for the lead characters Marty McFly and Doc Brown, respectively. Although Lloyd reprises his role as Doc, A.J. LoCascio plays the role of Marty, while Fox later appeared to voice two cameo roles in the final episode, reprising his role as future versions of Marty McFly in addition to playing his forefather William.
The Avengers (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) is the film score for the Marvel Studios film The Avengers composed and conducted by Alan Silvestri. It was released by Hollywood Records on May 1, 2012. A separate soundtrack and concept album, titled Avengers Assemble (Music from and Inspired by the Motion Picture), by various artists was also released on the same date.
Back to the Future: The Musical is a musical with music and lyrics by Alan Silvestri and Glen Ballard and a book by Bob Gale. It is adapted from the 1985 film Back to the Future by Robert Zemeckis and Gale. The show features original music, as well as songs featured in the film.
Who Framed Roger Rabbit (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) is the soundtrack album to the 1988 film Who Framed Roger Rabbit, directed by Robert Zemeckis and featured film score composed by regular Zemeckis collaborator Alan Silvestri, who conducted the London Symphony Orchestra. The musical score was heavily influenced on Carl W. Stalling's music composed for Looney Tunes. Apart from Silvestri's score, the film also features performances of "Hungarian Rhapsody", "Why Don't You Do Right?" by Amy Irving as Jessica Rabbit, "The Merry-Go-Round Broke Down" by Charles Fleischer as Roger Rabbit, and a choral version of "Smile, Darn Ya, Smile!" performed by the Toons.
Back in Time is a 2015 American documentary film directed by Jason Aron. The film explores the production, impact, and legacy of the Back to the Future film series, and includes interviews with members of the series' cast and crew, including Robert Zemeckis, Steven Spielberg, Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd, as well as fans of the franchise.
Pinocchio (Original Soundtrack) is the soundtrack to the 2022 Disney film Pinocchio, a live-action remake of Walt Disney's 1940 animated film of the same name, which is itself based on the 1883 Italian book The Adventures of Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi, the film is directed by Robert Zemeckis, and starred Tom Hanks, Cynthia Erivo and Luke Evans with Benjamin Evan Ainsworth (as the title character), Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Keegan-Michael Key and Lorraine Bracco in voice roles. The musical score was composed by Alan Silvestri, who regularly collaborated in all of Zemeckis' films, and was recorded at the Abbey Road Studios, London. Besides producing the score, Silvestri also wrote new songs for the film, with songwriter-producer Glen Ballard, while the songs from the original counterpart were also featured in the album. Walt Disney Records released the soundtrack album on September 8, 2022.
Allied (Music from the Motion Picture) is the soundtrack to the 2016 film of the same name directed by Robert Zemeckis. The film was scored by Zemeckis' regular collaborator Alan Silvestri in his 16th film together, ever since their collaboration with Romancing the Stone (1984). The album consisted 13 tracks from Silvestri's score released by Sony Classical Records on November 11, 2016.
The Walk (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) is the soundtrack to the 2015 film The Walk, directed by Robert Zemeckis. The film's musical score is composed by Alan Silvestri and released under the Sony Classical Records on September 25, 2015.
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