23 May is National Title Track Day, a day to dust off those albums whose artistes have nailed it, and placed the most iconic of music collections right there on the label.
Some albums are defined by a single track that usually ties the entire album together, making it the banner for the sound it brings, and often these are the title tracks. Title tracks are, simply put, the song on an album that shares the name of the album itself.
Occasionally, you get a brilliant trifecta that sets off a chain reaction that goes on to define a band, like Black Sabbath’s self-titled album. The title track, with the same name as the album, went on to define the band itself. The band was off to a running start in its desire to create the horror movie equivalent to music.
When a title track really shines and does its job, it sets the theme for the entire album, as was the case with Metallica’s Master of Puppets. As an album, it spoke of control and abusing power, with the title track specifically referencing the way a drug addiction can rule a person’s life.
A lesser-known definition of a title track is a song that shares the name of the movie it forms part of, and there have been many movies which were made more memorable by a song equally as powerful. One example of this is the movie Never-Ending Story. Its theme song has remained on every fan’s lips.
Sometimes, you see these two coming together in a glorious union, which is best illustrated by Prince’s Purple Rain – it’s the title of an album, the name of a movie and the title track from that movie.
To celebrate today, get out your movies and old albums and build a soundtrack for your day entirely from title tracks! If you are feel particularly adventurous, dress up as your favourite character from a film with an awesome title track and watch it with a group of friends.
Or, if you would rather go out, visit your local karaoke bar and belt out some of your favourite tunes! Whatever you do, do not let National Title Track Day go by without enjoying some of the best music of the ages!
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