Labyrinth

David Bowie and composer Trevor Jones teamed up for Jim Henson's 1986 fantasy film Labyrinth, creating a soundtrack that blends pop rock with cinematic orchestration. Released on EMI America, the album features five Bowie songs alongside Jones's instrumental score. Bowie wrote and performed "Underground," "Magic Dance," "As the World Falls Down," "Within You," and "Chilly Down" (the latter performed by the Firey actors Charles Augins, Richard Bodkin, Kevin Clash, and Danny John-Jules). Jones composed six orchestral tracks: "Into the Labyrinth," "Sarah," "Hallucination," "The Goblin Battle," "Thirteen O'Clock," and "Home at Last."

Recording took place from July to September 1985 at various London studios. The album was produced by Bowie, Jones, and Arif Mardin, with orchestrations by Jones and musical soloists including David Lawson, Brian Gascoigne, and Simon Lloyd. The opening track "Opening Titles Including Underground" sets the stage with a medley that introduces the film's main theme. "Magic Dance" became a fan favorite, known for its playful call-and-response dialogue: "You remind me of the babe / What babe? The babe with the power..."

The soundtrack charted modestly upon release, peaking at number 68 on the Billboard 200 and number 38 in the UK. It performed best in New Zealand, reaching number 15. After going out of print for decades, UMe reissued the album on vinyl in May 2017 as part of the film's 30th anniversary, pressing 120gm black vinyl with original artwork and an inner sleeve featuring Bowie photos. Despite mixed critical reception in 1986, the soundtrack has gained cult status, with fans praising its theatrical energy and the way Jones's score complements Bowie's vocals. [edit]