Category: CD’s

SUMMARY:                                 RUNNING TIME: 4:46 Min.

Initially released as the theme song for 1988’s License to Drive film starring Corey Haim & Corey Feldman, it has resurfaced as one of Billy Ocean’s greatest hits/best-of tunes.  As a familiar Late-80’s radio hit, the song appears on the Billboard Top Hits: 1988 album.  Of note is that Ocean and fellow hit-maker Robert John “Mutt” Lange co-wrote the song.     

REVIEW:

Much like he did a few years earlier with the catchy “When the Going Gets Tough, The Tough Get Going,” Ocean strikes again with more up-tempo soundtrack magic.  Though the lyrics treat women as glorified eye candy, this exuberant pop tune still thrives by surfing off Ocean’s charisma and flawless background instrumentals.  For soundtrack and road trip playlists, this engaging tune earns its consideration as a potential download.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                      7 Stars

IMAGE NOT AVAILABLE

SUMMARY:                                      RUNNING TIME: 4:32 Min.

Recorded by Queen as a background song for the 1986 Highlander film, this ominous rock track later made its CD debut in 1991 upon A Kind of Magic’s re-release.  Notably, this song is heavy on dialogue clips taken from the movie.  The song’s intro has a female journalist reporting the discovery of a decapitated man’s corpse – after which, actor Clancy Brown’s Kurgan chillingly snickers, “I know his name.” Brown’s Kurgan, amidst the movie’s sword-fighting sound effects, later adds a few extra dialogue clips. 

Besides a brief cameo by actress Roxanne Hart’s Brenda Wyatt, Christopher Lambert’s Connor MacLeod gets a final say amidst the film’s climatic Quickening sound effects.    

REVIEW:

Relying upon the formula Queen previously used for its 1980 Flash Gordon movie soundtrack, at a minimum, this inspired track is unique.  Interspersing dialogue clips and sound effects, “Gimme the Prize” delivers a definitive Kurgan experience for Highlander fans.  For what it is — defining Kurgan’s goth punk villainy, the creative combination of the rock melody, Freddie Mercury’s spot-on vocals, and, most certainly, Clancy Brown’s surly presence — this track is, at a minimum, unique.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                   7 Stars

SUMMARY:                                    RUNNING TIME: 4:32 Min.

Recorded for the 1983 Eddie and the Cruisers film soundtrack, John Cafferty (as Eddie Wilson’s singing voice) and the Beaver Brown Band (as the fictional Cruisers) perform this ballad.

REVIEW:

It’s not the film’s best ballad (that would be “Tender Years”), but “Boardwalk Angel” delivers an old school sense of romantic poignancy that is hard to capture.  The saxophone work of Michael “Tunes” Antunes adds an extra element of depth that helps makes this song a quiet gem.  For ‘60s-style soft rock enthusiasts, this track is worth adding to a favorite playlist.  

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                      8 Stars

Note: From 1989’s Eddie and the Cruisers II soundtrack album, “NYC Song” is very similar.  It might even be construed as a ‘sequel’ to “Boardwalk Angel.” 

SUMMARY:                                     RUNNING TIME: 3:25 Min.

This Nick Drake song appears as Track # 5 on 1998’s Practical Magic movie soundtrack.  Drake also composed the song.

REVIEW:

This wistful folk rock tune makes good use of Nick Drake’s low-key vocals alongside a gentle melody.  There’s no disputing that “Black Eyed Dog” has a curious poignancy, but it’s frankly not remarkable enough to justify a download.  However, as part of the Practical Magic album, this track is certainly worth hearing every once in a while.  

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                          6 Stars

IMAGE NOT AVAILABLE