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You can listen to the awesome Guardians of the Galaxy soundtrack now


Marvel has made a name for itself bucking conventional wisdom when it comes to its cinematic universe, and apparently that approach extends to the soundtracks for films, too. Instead of opting for a more traditional score, with the occasional track from a current, chart-topping act, the soundtrack for Guardians of the Galaxy is an extension of the type of generational pop music heard in the trailers.

With classic hits like Blue Swede’s Hooked on a Feeling (as heard in the first trailer for the film) and Rupert Holmes’ Escape (the Pina Colada Song), the soundtrack listing for Guardians of the Galaxy posted on Collectors’ Choice Music is an ode to music of days gone by — and more specific to the film’s narrative, an ode to the songs lead character Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) had on the “Awesome Mix Vol. 1” mixtape in his Walkman when he was taken from Earth. (That’s the cover art for the soundtrack posted here, too — which is cool for a multitude of wonderfully nostalgic reasons.)

Here’s the full track listing for the Guardians of the Galaxy soundtrack, which hits shelves July 29 (but is available for pre-order now):

1. Blue Swede – Hooked on a Feeling
2. Raspberries – Go All the Way
3. Norman Greenbaum – Spirit in the Sky
4. David Bowie – Moonage Daydream
5. Elvin Bishop – Fooled Around and Fell in Love
6. 10Cc – I’M Not in Love
7. Jackson 5 – I Want You Back
8. Redbone – Come and Get Your Love
9. The Runaways – Cherry Bomb
10. Rupert Holmes – Escape (the Pina Colada Song)
11. The Five Stairsteps – O-O-H Child
12. Marvin Gaye/Tammi Terrell – Ain’t No Mountain High Enough

Guardians of the Galaxy hits theaters August 1.

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Rick Marshall
A veteran journalist with more than two decades of experience covering local and national news, arts and entertainment, and…
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