On this day March 2 1984 the This is Spinal Tap soundtrack was released alongside the mockumentary film This Is Spinal Tap. The album featured music from the fictional rock band Spinal Tap blending satire with authentic sounding heavy metal and hard rock.
The soundtrack included songs like Tonight I’m Gonna Rock You Tonight Big Bottom and Stonehenge which parodied the excesses and clichés of rock music during the 1970s and 1980s. Despite being a comedy album the music was well performed with members Christopher Guest Michael McKean and Harry Shearer actually playing their instruments and singing.
The Spinal Tap soundtrack became a cult favorite just like the movie with many fans appreciating both the humor and the quality of the music. Over time Spinal Tap continued to perform as a real band even releasing additional albums and touring.
80s insight: The original vinyl pressing of the Spinal Tap soundtrack featured a black cover as a joke referencing the band’s fictional album Smell the Glove which in the movie was rejected by their record label for being too simplistic.
The soundtrack included songs like Tonight I’m Gonna Rock You Tonight Big Bottom and Stonehenge which parodied the excesses and clichés of rock music during the 1970s and 1980s. Despite being a comedy album the music was well performed with members Christopher Guest Michael McKean and Harry Shearer actually playing their instruments and singing.
The Spinal Tap soundtrack became a cult favorite just like the movie with many fans appreciating both the humor and the quality of the music. Over time Spinal Tap continued to perform as a real band even releasing additional albums and touring.
80s insight: The original vinyl pressing of the Spinal Tap soundtrack featured a black cover as a joke referencing the band’s fictional album Smell the Glove which in the movie was rejected by their record label for being too simplistic.
