SOUNDTRACKS OF SUMMER

What’ll be this summer’s blockbuster soundtrack? Last year, Hollywood Records’ "M:I2" and IDJ’s "Nutty Professor 2" dominated hot-weather ST sales. As soundtracks increasingly become marketing tools for their movies, it’s sometimes difficult to separate the album from the campaign, but these look like the top contenders:

• "Sopranos Vol. 2" (Columbia/Sony Music Soundtrax): By interspersing obscure gems from the Rolling Stones and Kinks alongside Sinatra, opera and the stunning mix of the Police’s "Every Breath You Take" and Henry Mancini’s "Peter Gunn," the two-CD set captures the series’ crazy quilt of humor, tension and pathos.
• "Moulin Rouge" (Interscope): The soundtrack to Baz Luhrmann’s fantasy musical is already off to the races, thanks to Christina Aguilera, Pink, Mya and Lil’ Kim’s "Lady Marmalade." David Bowie’s version of Nat King Cole’s "Nature Boy" serves as the film’s sonic leitmotif.
• "A Knight’s Tale" (Sony Music Soundtrax): The buzz is building on this tale of jousting medieval knights, which uses contemporary music to underline the parallel to modern-day rockers and athletes. Queen’s "We Will Rock You" and "We Are The Champions," with vocals by Robbie Williams, are the most prominent tracks.

• "Shrek" (DreamWorks): This animated pic has received great reviews and word-of-mouth, and its ST includes a new Baha Men single and Smash Mouth’s cover of the Monkees’ "I’m A Believer," reprised by Eddie Murphy.

• "Atlantis: The Lost Empire" (Disney): The House of Mouse’s summer animated entry features a James Newton Howard score, but includes Mya singing a Diane Warren tune, a Ron Fair project which will be promoted to radio by A&M.

• "Tomb Raider" (Elektra): This Angelina Jolie-starring take on the Lara Croft video game boasts a new Nine Inch Nails song, "Deep," a remix of U2’s "Elevation" as the first video and a duet between Missy Elliott and Nelly Furtado.
• "Pearl Harbor" (Warner Bros.): Mostly Hans Zimmer score, but Faith Hill’s Diane Warren-penned "There You’ll Be" should be huge.
• "Dr. Dolittle 2" (J Records): A showcase for Clive’s new roster, with Luther Vandross, Product G&B, O-Town and LFO.
• "The Fast & The Furious" (Murder Inc./Def Jam): A cop infiltrates an L.A. gang of street-racers, with a rap/urban soundtrack featuring Faith Evans, Ja Rule, R. Kelly, Tank and Scarface.

• "More Music From ‘Save The Last Dance’" (Hollywood): A follow-up to last year’s hit ST.
• "Baby Boy" (Universal): John Singleton’s sequel to "Boyz N The Hood," with Snoop Dogg and Tyrese, who’s also on the soundtrack.

A huge "event movie" album, the WB soundtrack to Steven Spielberg’s "A.I.," which opens June 29, features John Williams’ score and hits the streets June 19. An "O Brother"-type sleeper could be Lions Gate’s "Songcatcher" about a real-life, turn-of-the-century musicologist, played by Oscar nominee Janet McTeer, who studies the songs of the Appalachians., with a Vanguard ST which comes out today (5/8) that includes, aamong others, Rosanne Cash, Emmylou Harris and Maria McKee singing the tunes of the time.

Also on tap, STs to "American Pie 2" (Universal) w/Uncle Kracker and blink-182 (7/24); MTV’s "Jackass" (Interscope) w/Marilyn Manson (6/19); "Rush Hour 2" (Def Jam) (7/31) and "What’s The Worst That Could Happen?" with Martin Lawrence, Danny Devito and a rap Interscope ST featuring Snoop, Mary J. Blige and Queen Latifah (5/29).