Great Soundtracks of 1979: The Rose

This 1979 film starring Bette Midler is a great film about a female rock star in the late sixties. Many have said that the film was based on Janis Joplin and that's not a bad thing. After all, Janis was the primitive archetype of what the modern rock chick is today. It is also the reason why I enjoyed the film so much when I first saw it. It was a real experience when Bette Midler, in character, rushed onto the stage during one of the concert scenes and shouted to the audience, "Hey you mother fuckers!" It was also the first time I heard the terms sex, drugs and rock and roll used together. From then on, its been that for me all the way.

Janis Joplin

Not only was it a cool film, but the soundtrack is very good. There are some real good rocking tracks on it like "Sold My Soul to Rock and Roll" and "Keep On Rockin," the latter co-written by Sammy Hagar. It also reminded me that if done right, a horn section can go very well with some straight ahead rock and roll. Of course, there is the more tender moments like the song the bears the title of the film and soundtrack, obviously made for the top 40 singles charts at the time. And although this sounds morbid, I do like the song "Let Me Call You Sweetheart" where the character dies in the film while singing it on stage. Nonetheless, this soundtrack for me rivals the soundtrack to "The Warriors" for best film soundtrack for the year.

Track Listing:

1. Who's Side Are You On

2. Midnight in Memphis

3. Concert Monologue

4. When A Man Loves A Woman

5. Sold My Soul to Rock and Roll

6. Keep on Rockin'

7. Love Me With A Feeling

8. Camellia

9. Homecoming Monologue

10. Stay With Me

11. Let Me Call You Sweetheart

12. The Rose

Bette Midler as The Rose

Bette Midler- Lead Vocals

Danny Weis- guitar

Steve Hunter- guitar

Mark Leonard- bass

Robbie Buchanan- keyboards

Pentti "Whitey" Glan- drums

Norton Buffalo- harmonica and trombone, background vocals

Jerry Jumonville- saxophone

Mark Underwood- trumpet

Billy Champlin- background vocals

Donny Gerrard- background vocals

Visiting this soundtrack makes me want to see the film again, I haven't seen it in about twenty years so I'm about due. This is a great film with a great soundtrack and you should like both.

Next post: Jefferson Starship- Freedom At Point Zero

To buy Rock And Roll Children, go to www.strategicpublishinggroup.com/title/RockAndRollChildren.html

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