Basic Instinct (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) / Music composed and conducted by Jerry Goldsmith / Varèse Sarabande Audio CD 1992 / VSD-5360

UPC 4005939536022

The film score to Basic Instinct was composed by Jerry Goldsmith, and garnered him nominations for an Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award. Goldsmith said, "Basic Instinct was probably the most difficult I've ever done. It's a very convoluted story with very unorthodox characters. It's a murder mystery, but it isn't really a murder mystery. The director, Paul Verhoeven, had a very clear idea of how the woman should be, and I had a hard time getting it. Because of Paul pushing me, I think it's one of the best scores I've ever written. It was a true collaboration."

Apart from the score, professionally released music did not play a major part in the film. The scene in which source music plays a prominent role occurs during the club scene; Curran, Tramell, and Roxy are seen at Downtown San Francisco. It features "Blue" by Chicago house music performer LaTour and "Rave the Rhythm" by the group Channel X. It also features "Movin' on Up" by Jeff Barry and Ja'Net DuBois. Chris Rea's "Looking for the Summer" is heard during the scene between Douglas and his partner at Mac's Diner.

The soundtrack was released on March 17, 1992. A considerably expanded release of Goldsmith's score, featuring previously omitted sections and alternative compositions of certain elements, was issued by Prometheus Records in 2004.