Is “West Side Story” the best Original Soundtrack Recording of all time? Anything so subjective is arguable, but I would much rather argue in the affirmative.

How many soundtracks have a musical lineage that embodies both classical composition and contemporary hipness? How many other soundtracks have such a wealth of classic, memorable melodies that touch on doo-wop, Latin and rock and roll simultaneously? How many other lyricists could present a book that resonates with contemporary culture while maintaining the classic elements of opera?

Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim created a monster that was – and remains – unstoppable. It sat at the #1 position for 54 weeks! Over a year! The original Broadway cast recording predated the soundtrack by about two years, which could have made the movie soundtrack seem redundant. Instead, it was simply a precursor. To this day, I still laugh out loud to “Gee, Officer Krupke” and I can still be caught crying during the tragic climactic return of “Somewhere”. Every single track is a miraculous compendium of genius and although I may respect an argument to the contrary, “West Side Story” still stands as the best Original Soundtrack Recording ever. Period.

Featured tracks:

Prologue

Jet Song

Something's Coming

Dance at the Gym (Blues, Promenade, and Jump)

Maria

America

Tonight

Gee, Officer Krupke

I Feel Pretty

One Hand, One Heart

Tonight Quintet

The Rumble

Cool

A Boy Like That/I Have a Love

Somewhere (Finale)

October 1961 - Billboard Charted #1