Great Soundtracks of 1984: Footloose

 

There was a very strange trend in regards to movie soundtracks in the mid 1980s. It seems that in order to appeal to all forms of music lovers, there would be songs representing nearly every genre. There would be some trendy pop songs, some rock, some soul oriented songs and even a heavy metal jam or two. This is exactly the case with the soundtrack for the film, "Footloose" which came out in the very beginning for this year.

Let's start with the trendy. Kenny Loggins was already known for hit songs from soundtracks. He achieved it with the 1980 film, "Caddyshack." So, it was no surprise that he sings the title track to the film. It has always been one of those songs I've neither loved or hated. The "Footloose" soundtrack also gave one hit wonder Deneice Williams her one hit with "Let's Hear it For the Boy." That song seemed to be on every AM radio station during the summer of 1984. I've heard worse but I've certainly heard far better. On the other hand, the soundtrack was unable to give 1982 one hit wonder Karla Banoff her second hit. It's a song that's just there. Then comes the usual practice of using former hits like Bonnie Tyler's "Holding Out for a Hero." Finally, there's the let's take two singers from established bands and have them do a duet for the soundtrack. Cue, Mike Reno of Loverboy and Ann Wilson from Heart with "Almost Paradise." It was supposed to be a power ballad that draws rock lovers and top forty fans together but no, it doesn't. Both singers do a good job on the song and it's better than most of the other tracks but not good enough to get into my top power ballad list.

Let's side track for a moment. I have an experience with "Almost Paradise." Mrs 80smetalman and I chose it for our wedding at our local registry office. Three weeks before our wedding, we get a letter from the registrar stating that we can't use the song because it has religious connotations, which is not allowed at a civil wedding in the UK. I wonder if they would have said the same if I asked for a Deicide song.

Back to the point, "Dancing in the Sheets" by Shalamar was a definite attempt by the movie makers to appeal to music lovers of African origin. It's like, let's put in a song by a black band and black people will buy the soundtrack. That's my take on it. Now, for true rock lovers like me and you, there's the classic John Cougar song, "Hurt So Good" and another attempt to bridge the rock/top 40 gap, let's bring back the Foreigner classic ballad, "Waiting for a Girl Like You." Now to the metal, we got the great "Metal Health" by the then up and coming Quiet Riot but for me the best song on this soundtrack has to be Sammy Hagar's "The Girl Gets Around." Maybe someone heard the "Heavy Metal" soundtrack and said, "Hey, let's use a Sammy Hagar song." At least they chose a good one.

A note about the film: "Footloose" is about a teenage boy, played by Kevin Bacon, who moves into a small town, which is run by people who are anti-music. The local reverend is the spearhead of the anti-rock campaign. Of course, Kevin and the music win the day and music is allowed in the town but maybe Hollywood was onto something here. The religious right's war on music was just in the early stages in 1984 and maybe this film could be a prophecy of things that could come about. It's something to think about. Oh yes, the track by unknown band Moving Pictures called "Never" isn't bad but it never (pun intended) made me want to explore their discography.

Track Listing:

1. Footloose- Kenny Loggins
2. Let's Hear it For the Boy- Deneice Williams
3. Almost Paradise- Mike Reno and Ann Williams
4. Holding Out For a Hero- Bonnie Tyler
5. Dancing in the Sheets- Shalamar
6. I'm Free (Heaven Helps the Man)- Kenny Loggins
7. Somebody's Eyes- Karla Bonoff
8. The Girl Gets Around- Sammy Hagar
9. Never- Moving Pictures
10. Metal Health (Bang Your Head)- Quiet Riot
11. Hurt So Good- John Cougar
12. Waiting for a Girl Like You- Foreigner
13. Dancing in the Sheets (12 inch mix)- Shalamar

[caption id="attachment_3552" align="aligncenter" width="272"] Quiet Riot[/caption] [caption id="attachment_3299" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Bonnie Tyler[/caption] [caption id="attachment_2514" align="aligncenter" width="176"] John Cougar Mellencamp[/caption] [caption id="attachment_2277" align="aligncenter" width="238"] Foreigner[/caption] [caption id="attachment_1954" align="aligncenter" width="228"] Sammy Hagar[/caption]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UiEp7drkGBo

"Footloose" wouldn't be the only film whose soundtrack got the 'corporate' treatment. While there's something for everyone, at least it's thought so, there's not enough songs here for me to ever go out and buy the album. Besides, I already have the tracks I do like from here on other albums.

Next post: Streets of Fire

To buy Rock and Roll Children, email me at: tobychainsaw@hotmail.com 

Great Rock Albums of 1983: Bonnie Tyler- Faster Than the Speed of Night

 

When I first heard the big single, "Total Eclipse of the Heart" from Bonnie Tyler back in 1983, I thought it was okay. Nothing spectacular, just okay. On some occasions, back then when I was in a bar where a top 40 covers band was playing or just had the same on the juke box, it was a welcome break from all the Michael Jackson stuff. In any case, the song wasn't enough to make me go out and buy her album, "Faster Than the Speed of Night." Recently, however, someone suggested that I post about it, so being a fair minded person, I gave it a couple of listens and am ready to deliver my verdict.

To be very honest, I don't think I missed much by not purchasing the album, still if I had, I wouldn't have beaten myself up over making the same mistake as when I bought the Chris De Burgh album. The album starts out well enough with a decent cover of the CCR classic, "Have You Ever Seen the Rain." Again, I say it's a decent cover but it doesn't make me want to put my CCR albums away and never listen to them again. I do have the title track to the album on a rock compilation CD. It doesn't stand out from the other songs on that album but it does on Bonnie's album of the same name. I like it more than her most well known hit, which I've already named.

The rest of the album is nothing is nothing spectacular. Like Credence, I still prefer Bryan Adams's version of "Straight From the Heart." The one thing I did pick up on and liked is that there are some good guitar sounds on this album. It redeems run of the mill tracks like "Goin' Through the Motions" and "Tears." Naturally, I had to look and see who the guitarist was and to my surprise, it was none other than Rick Derringer. That explained it all. It is Rick who manages to save what would have been a lackluster album.

Track Lsting:

1. Have You Ever Seen the Rain?
2. Faster Than the Speed of Night
3. Getting So Excited
4. Total Eclipse of the Heart
5. Its a Jungle Out There
6. Goin' Through the Motions
7. Tears
8. Take Me Back
9. Straight From the Heart

[caption id="attachment_3299" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Bonnie Tyler[/caption]

So, there's my verdict on Bonnie Tyler's album "Faster Than the Speed of Night." It's not the first album I would pick up after listening to Anthrax and Slayer in conjunction in order to give a melodic balance to things. I never rated Bonnie Tyler as a brilliant singer. There are a few of her songs I liked but this album doesn't convert me into a Tyler fan.

Next post: Quarterflash- Take Another Picture

To buy Rock and Roll Children, email me at: tobychainsaw@hotmail.com