In 1965, a movie soundtrack accomplished something few albums in music history have ever matched.
On June 5, 1965, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s The Sound of Music soundtrack began what would become a remarkable 70-week run atop the U.K. album chart. The album’s success wasn’t limited to Britain. In the United States, it reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and spent an astonishing 109 weeks in the Top 10, setting a record for soundtrack albums.
More than six decades later, the album remains one of the most successful releases ever to appear on the Billboard charts. In fact, it still sits at No. 2 on Billboard’s Greatest of All Time 200 Albums chart.
Led by performances from Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer, the soundtrack featured beloved songs including “My Favorite Things,” “Do-Re-Mi,” “Edelweiss” and the film’s title track.
The album spent 238 total weeks on the Billboard 200, remaining on the chart for more than four and a half years. It also became a global phenomenon, eventually selling more than 20 million copies worldwide.
Its extraordinary chart performance has continued to earn recognition decades later. In 2015, Billboard ranked The Sound of Music soundtrack as the No. 2 greatest-performing album in Billboard 200 history, trailing only Adele’s21.
The soundtrack’s success was fueled by songs that have remained woven into popular culture for generations. “The Sound of Music,” “Edelweiss,” “My Favorite Things” and “Climb Ev’ry Mountain” have been covered by countless artists over the decades, while the film itself continues to attract new audiences through television broadcasts, streaming platforms and anniversary re-releases. In 2018, the soundtrack was selected for preservation in the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress for its cultural, historical and aesthetic significance.
The Film Was Just as Successful
Directed by Robert Wise—who was the Oscar-nominated editor of Citizen Kane, widely regarded as the greatest film ever made—The Sound of Music premiered in March 1965 and quickly became a cultural phenomenon. The film starred Andrews as Maria, a young woman who becomes governess to the seven children of Captain von Trapp (Plummer) before helping the family flee Austria during the rise of Nazi Germany.
The movie became the highest-grossing film in history by 1966 and ultimately won five Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director.
Today, both the film and its soundtrack remain enduring favorites, proving that audiences still haven’t stopped singing along to “Do-Re-Mi” and “My Favorite Things” more than 60 years after their release.
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