Soundtrack album debuts make music on the charts

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Michael Jackson's This Is It,  the no. 1 record on the Billboard 200 charts for the week of November 14, dislodged The Twilight Saga: New Moon-- which reached the top the week of November 7. But unexpectedly this week (for November 21), another soundtrack, this time for the new Fox television hit show Glee, debuted at no.4, showing the ability of film and TV programs to help create music fans.

Michael Jackson's This Is It,  the no. 1 record on the Billboard 200 charts for the week of November 14, dislodged The Twilight Saga: New Moon- which reached the top the week of November 7. But unexpectedly this week (for November 21), another soundtrack, this time for the new Fox television hit show Glee, debuted at no.4, showing the ability of film and TV programs to help create music fans.

The popular musical comedy, Glee, released its first soundtrack album, Glee: The Music, Volume 1 on November 3, selling a brisk 113,000 copies as well as 2.5 million digital downloads, grabbing a Gold single for the cast's version of Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'."

The popular show about a Spanish teacher directing the high school glee club is created by Ryan Murphy, who developed the hit cable show Nip/Tuck, and features the cast singing new takes on decade-spanning hit songs, which critics consider improved interpretations with stronger arrangements.

The cast covers rock ballads such as Queen's "Somebody to Love" and REO Speedwagon's "Can't Fight This Feeling," as well as Spirited glee-club versions of Rihanna's "Take a Bow."

Glee, The Music, Volume 2 hits stores on December 8, featuring spirited takes on 1980s pop tunes such as Cyndi Lauper's "True Colors," Van Halen's "Jump," Tina Turner's "Proud Mary," and a version of John Lennon's "Imagine."

According to The Chicago Tribune, "Any TV show soundtrack that induces people of all ages to dance around the kitchen is doing something right." Sounds like a recession-ready update on High School Musical.

Several soundtracks have already accompanied the many new film releases, including Where the Wild Things Are.

Upcoming movie soundtracks include Pirate Radio with songs from the 1960s (The Who, The Kinks, The Beach Boys) and 2012, the disaster epic, with a song from American Idol winner, Adam Lambert.

And for kids, Disney's animated feature, The Princess and the Frog, due November 17, features music by Randy Newman, rapper Ne-Yo, and New Orleans' Dr. John, and due before the film's Christmas Day release, a surefire holiday favorite, Alvin and The Chipmunks: The Squeakquel -plus a video game.

RC