Danny Elfman discography


Select commercially released recordings of Danny Elfman's music for film, television, stage and the concert hall. For a full list of Elfman's compositions, see List of compositions by Danny Elfman. For Elfman's recordings as lead singer/songwriter for Oingo Boingo, see the Oingo Boingo discography page.

Recordings of major works

1980s & 1990s

Release DateAlbumTypeLabelNotes
1983Forbidden ZoneSoundtrackVarèse SarabandeThough the film was released in 1982, Elfman says the music was created in 1980
1986Pee-wee's Big Adventure/Back to SchoolRe-recordingVarèse SarabandeAlbum features re-recordings of Elfman's scores for 1985's Pee-wee's Big Adventure and 1986's Back to School
The original recording of Pee-wee's Big Adventure was unavailable until the 2011 release of the Danny Elfman & Tim Burton 25th Anniversary Music Box
Elfman appears in Back to School as lead singer of Oingo Boingo performing the song "Dead Man's Party", which appears on the MCA song soundtrack
1986WisdomSoundtrackVarèse Sarabande
1987Summer SchoolSoundtrackChrysalis RecordsThough this remains Elfman's only completely unreleased film score to date, he wrote and performed the pop tune "Happy", which appears on film's song soundtrack
1988BeetlejuiceSoundtrackGeffen Records
1988Midnight RunSoundtrackMCA
1988Big Top Pee-weeSoundtrackAristaThe original soundtrack release including dialogue was reissued by PEG
An expanded album without dialogue was released by La-La Land Records in 2014
1989BatmanSoundtrackWarner Bros. RecordsWon Elfman's only Grammy for Best Score Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media
Re-released with complete remastered score by La-La Land Records in 2010
1990NightbreedSoundtrackMCA
1990Dick TracySoundtrackSire RecordsNominated for 33rd Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Composition Written for a Motion Picture or for Television
Complete score was remastered and released by Intrada Records in 2016
1990DarkmanSoundtrackMCA
1990'Compilation MCA
1990Edward ScissorhandsSoundtrackMCANominated for 34th Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Composition Written for a Motion Picture or for Television
Complete expanded and remastered score released by Intrada Records in 2015
1992Article 99SoundtrackVarèse Sarabande
1992Batman ReturnsSoundtrackWarner Bros. RecordsExpanded, remastered score released from La-La Land Records in 2010
1993SommersbySoundtrackElektra
1993'SoundtrackWalt Disney RecordsRe-released in 2006 with an additional disc featuring covers by Marilyn Manson, Fiona Apple, Fall Out Boy and Panic! at the Disco, as well as several of Elfman's original song demos
1994Black BeautySoundtrackGiantExpanded edition released by La-La Land Records in 2013
1995Dolores ClaiborneSoundtrackVarèse Sarabande
1995Dead PresidentsSoundtrackCapitol RecordsWith one Elfman track: "Dead President's Theme"
Score remains unreleased except for a suite included on Music for a Darkened Theatre, Vol. 2
1995To Die ForSoundtrackVarèse Sarabande
1996'PhillipsWith three Elfman tracks: "Impossible Mission", "Claire" and "Trouble"
1996'Point MusicExpanded and remastered score released by La-La Land Records in 2019
1996'CompilationMCA
1996'SoundtrackMCA
1996Extreme MeasuresSoundtrackVarèse Sarabande
1996Mars Attacks!SoundtrackAtlanticFirst Elfman score to receive an expanded edition, released in 2009 by La-La Land Records
1997Men in BlackSony MusicWith two Elfman tracks: "M.I.B. Main Theme" and "M.I.B. Closing Theme"
1997Men in BlackColumbia RecordsNominated for 70th Academy Award for Best Original Musical or Comedy Score, and for 40th Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Composition Written for a Motion Picture or for Television
1997FlubberSoundtrackWalt Disney Records
1997Good Will HuntingSoundtrack with two Elfman tracksCapitol Records
1997Good Will HuntingScoreMusic Box RecordsNominated for 70th Academy Award for Best Original Dramatic Score
1998SoundtrackCompass III
1998A Civil ActionSoundtrackHollywood Records
1999InstinctSoundtrackVarèse Sarabande
1999Anywhere but HereSoundtrackAtlanticWith one Elfman track: "Anywhere But Here Score Suite"
1999Sleepy HollowSoundtrackHollywood Records
2000Proof of LifeSoundtrackVarèse Sarabande

2000s

2010s

2020s

Other

Albums that include themes or music written by Elfman where he did not compose the full score:
Release DateAlbumTypeLabelTracks composed by Elfman
1984Bachelor PartySoundtrackI.R.S. Records"Bachelor Party Theme" with Oingo Boingo
1985Weird ScienceSoundtrackMCA Records"Weird Science" title song with Oingo Boingo
1991Pure LuckSoundtrackVarèse Sarabande"Main Title" and "We Found Her"
1992Tales from the CryptSoundtrackBig Screen Records"Tales from the Crypt "
1992Army of DarknessSoundtrackVarèse Sarabande"March of the Dead"
1994Shrunken HeadsSoundtrackFull Moon Records"Main Title
1997Songs in the Key of SpringfieldCompilationRhino Records"The Simpsons Theme"
1998PsychoSoundtrackGeffen Records"Intro", based on themes by Bernard Herrmann
2001HeartbreakersSoundtrackRCA Victor"Heart Breakers Suite 1 & 2", with music by John Debney
2001Spy KidsSoundtrackChapter III Records"My Parents Are Spies", "Buddy Pack Escape", "Floop's Song " and "Sneaking Around Machetes"
2001NovocaineSoundtrackTVT Soundtrax"Main Titles" and "I Wish"
2005Music from and Inspired by Desperate HousewivesCompilationHollywood Records"Desperate Housewives Theme"
2008La-La Land Records"Main Title" and "End Title"
2016Scream 2: The Deluxe EditionSoundtrackVarèse SarabandeExpanded score album for this 1997 film contained the first commercial release of Elfman's "Cassandra Aria" and "Cassandra Reprise"
2017Before I WakeSoundtrackVarèse Sarabande"Sean", "Christmas" and "Defeated"
2017When We RiseSoundtrackHollywood Records"When We Rise Suite", co-composed with Chris Bacon