Philadelphia (Music from the Motion Picture) is the soundtrack album to the 1993 film Philadelphia. The album features an original score composed by Howard Shore. The album was released through Epic Soundtrax in January 1994.
Development The director originally contacted Neil Young to record a rock anthem to open the film, but after viewing a cut of it, Young was inspired to write a slow and quiet ballad instead. Demme decided Young's song would be more appropriate for the ending of the film, so he approached Bruce Springsteen to write an anthem. Springsteen viewed the opening montage, which at the time featured Neil Young's "Southern Man" as the temp track. Like Young, he was inspired to create something quieter; in this case, a beat-driven recording that became "Streets of Philadelphia." However, Springsteen's first contribution, "Tunnel of Love," was rejected by Demme. Even though Springsteen knew it was not what Demme originally wanted, he sent it to him anyway. When Demme and his wife were moved by the recording, she advised him that it was likely the direction he should be going and he agreed.
The album was re-released in 2008 in France only as a CD/DVD combo pack with the film itself, containing the same track listing (catalogue number 88697 322052 under both Sony BMG Music Entertainment and Sony Classical labels).
Track listing
Weekly charts +Weekly chart performance for PhiladelphiaChart (1994–95)PeakpositionEuropean Albums (European Top 100 Albums) 3 +2010 weekly chart performance for PhiladelphiaChart (2010)Peakposition
Year-end charts +1994 year-end chart performance for PhiladelphiaChart (1994)PositionAustralian Albums (ARIA) 88Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria) 4European Albums (European Top 100 Albums)16German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)17Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)15UK Compilations Albums (OCC)33US Billboard 20069
Certifications and sales
Accolades Award Category Recipient(s)Result20/20 AwardsBest Original Song "Philadelphia" Music and Lyrics by Neil Young "Streets of Philadelphia" Music and Lyrics by Bruce Springsteen Academy AwardsBest Original Song "Philadelphia" Music and Lyrics by Neil Young "Streets of Philadelphia" Music and Lyrics by Bruce Springsteen ASCAP Film and Television Music Awards Top Box Office Films Howard Shore rowspan="3" Most Performed Songs from Motion Pictures "Streets of Philadelphia" – Bruce SpringsteenGolden Globe Awards Best Original Song – Motion Picture "Streets of Philadelphia" Music and Lyrics by Bruce SpringsteenGrammy Awards Record of the Year"Streets of Philadelphia" – Bruce Springsteen Song of the Year rowspan="6" Best Male Rock Vocal Performance Best Rock Song Best Song Written Specifically for a Motion Picture or for TelevisionMTV Movie Awards Best Song from a MovieBruce Springsteen – "Streets of Philadelphia" MTV Video Music Awards Best Video from a Film
References