The Color Purple: Music From the Motion Picture is the soundtrack album to the 1985 film of the same name. The soundtrack was produced by Quincy Jones Productions and released in 1985 by Qwest Records.
The score of the film combines elements of classical and period jazz, blues, and gospel, and features popular songs of the 1920s."Miss Celie's Blues (Sister)" by Táta Vega, which was released as a single, was composed in a blues/ragtime style.
For the stage musical, and the 2023 musical film of the same name, an entirely new soundtrack was produced, one which bears little resemblance to the original.
Critical reception and accolades
The soundtrack to the Color Purple garnered positive reviews from music critics. It was praised for its production and Táta Vega's vocal performance. The song, "Miss Celie's Blues (Sister)", is sung by the character Shug Avery, played by Margaret Avery in the film but whose singing voice is dubbed by Vega.
Music from the film was nominated for two Academy Awards: Best Original Score and Best Original Song. The soundtrack peaked at number 55 on the Billboard Top R&B Albums chart.
Track List
Disc One
- The Overture is a medley of: "Miss Celie's Blues", "Celie Leaves with Mr.", "Celie Cooks Shug Breakfast", "Nettie Teaches Celie", <br>"Sophia's Walk", "Makidada", "Champagne Train", "Mailbox", and "Proud Theme" .
- "Sophia's Walk" was composed by Jerry Hey, Quincy Jones and Randy Kerber. "Makidada" was composed by Quincy Jones, <br>Menno Meyjes and Rod Temperton. "Mailbox" was composed by Quincy Jones.
Disc 2
Personnel
Disc 1
Disc 2
Orchestra
- Guitar: George Doering, John Goux, Dan Sawyer
- Keyboards: Ralph Grierson, Craig Huxley, Mike Lang, Lincoln Mayorga, Alan Pasqua, Randy Waldman
- Percussion: Larry Bunker, Paulinho Da Costa, Alan Estes, Victor Feldman, Peter Limonick, Joe Porcaro, Tom Raney, Emil Richards, Dave Shank, Nyle Steiner
- Harmonica: Tommy Morgan
- Saxophone: Jack Nimitz
- Clarinet: Roy D'Antonio, Dominick Fera, Jim Kanter, David Sherr, Julian Spear, Ralph Williams
- Flute: Louise DiTullio, Paul Freid, Hubert Laws, Sarah Orme, Gerry Rotell, David Shostac, Sheridon Stokes, Jim Walker
- Bassoon: Jack Marsh, Ken Munday, Michael O'Donovan, Dave Riddles, John Steinmetz, Bob Tricarico
- Oboe: Tom Boyd, Gene Cipriano, Earl Dumler, Arnold Koblentz, Jan Winter
- French Horn: Jim Atkinson, Vincent DeRosa, Dave Duke, Steven Durnin, Marni Johnson, Art Maebe, Diane Muller, Richard Perissi, Henry Sigismonti, James Thatcher, <br>Richard Todd, Brad Warnaar
- Trumpet: Oscar Brashear, Mario Guarneri
- Trombone: Alan Kaplan, Bill Reichenbach Jr., Phil Teele
- Tuba: Roger Bobo, Thomas Johnson, Jim Self
- Double Bass: Ann Atkinson, Jimmy Bond, Drew Dembowski, Chuck Domanico, Steve La Fever, Edward Meares, Bruce Morgenthaler, Buell Neidlinger, Sue Raney
- Cello: Bob Adock, Ron Cooper, Marie Fera, Barbara Hunter, Armand Kaproff, Anne Karam, Ray Kelley, Armen Ksajikian, Dane Little, Earl Madison, Miguel Martinez, <br>Becky Reese, Daniel Rothmuller, Frederick Seykora, Tina Soule, Nancy Stein
- Harp: Catherine Gotthoffer, Gayle Levant, Dorothy Remsen, Ann Stockton
- Viola: Denyse Buffum, Ken Burward-Hoy, Rollice Dale, Alan de Veritch, Pam Goldsmith, Allan Harshman, Janet Kakatos, Roland Kato, Myra Kestenbaum, <br>Carrie Holzman Little, Linda Lipsett, Virginia Majewski, Donald McInnes, Carole Mukogawa, Robert Ostrowsky, Kazi Pitelki, Dave Schwartz, Linn Subotnick, <br>Milton Thomas, Ray Tischer, Herschel Wise, Larry Woods
- Violin: Israel Baker, Thelma Beach, Arnold Belnick, Dixie Blackstone, Mari Botnick, Al Bruenig, Darius Campo, Stuart Canin, Norm Carr, Oscar Chausow, Ron Clark, <br>Herman Clebanoff, Bonnie Douglas, Assa Drori, Bruce Dukov, David Frisina, Rick Gerding, James Getzoff, Harry Goldman, Ed Green, Clayton Haslop, Bill Hybel, <br>William Hymanson, Davida Jackson, Karen Jones, Anatol Kaminsky, Kathi Lenski, Brian Leonard, Jay Lyle, Mike Markman, Betty Moore, Ralph Morrison, Irma Neumann, <br>Don Palmer, Barbara Porter, Debbie Price, Jay Rosen, Sheldon Sanov, Haim Shtrum, Paul Shure, Jerry Vinci
References