The Nice Guys (soundtrack)


The Nice Guys is a soundtrack by John Ottman and David Buckley for Shane Blacks film of the same name. It was released on May 13, 2016, through Lakeshore Records.

Development

John Ottman, who had scored Shane Black's Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, was brought to do the music for The Nice Guys along with David Buckley. Ottman drew inspiration from 1970s shows such as S.W.A.T. and The Dean Martin Show, with The Streets of San Francisco being a particular influence on the main theme. Ottman detailed that the difference to Kiss Kiss Bang Bang was that now the music was more song-driven, with Black stating that the songs would contrast to the neo-noir tone by focusing on mainstream, exuberant songs of the decade.
Lakeshore Records issued soundtrack albums for both the featured music and original score. The soundtrack also got a special collector's edition vinyl designed by Los Angeles-based creative services company iam8bit to create "something that seemed like it was an artifact from the seventies" and also "drew from the fictional world of the movie and give you something tactile you can hold in your hand", with the gatefold being a 3D centerfold of Misty Mountains, and the packaging including posters of Sid Shattuck films and a business card for The Nice Guys Agency.

Accolades

The soundtrack was nominated at the 2016 Hollywood Music in Media Awards for "Best Soundtrack Album", but lost to Suicide Squad. It was also nominated at the 2016 International Film Music Critics Association Awards for "Best Original Score for a Comedy Film", but lost to La La Land.

Personnel

Credits adapted from AllMusic