Category: Music & Radio Shows

SUMMARY:                        RUNNING TIME: 2:40 Min.

From 1980’s Fame film soundtrack, actor-singer Paul McCrane (as drama student Montgomery MacNeil) performs an acoustic folk tune that McCrane himself composed. 

REVIEW:

Reminiscent in pop style to Paul Simon and James Taylor,  Paul McCrane delivers an endearingly soft-spoken ballad.  Still, “Is Is Okay If I Call You Mine?” sounds more poignant than it is remarkable.  Like co-star Irene Cara’s own ballad, “Out Here on My Own,” McCrane’s effort, at a minimum, adds some welcome depth and introspective to the Fame soundtrack.  

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:         5½ Stars

SUMMARY:                 RUNNING TIME: 3:06 Min.

From 1980’s Fame film soundtrack, actor-singer Paul McCrane (also appearing as drama student Montgomery MacNeil) performs this pop tune.  Dominic Bugatti & Frank Musker composed this song. 

REVIEW:

It’s a solid, low-key pop ballad from Paul McCrane.  Though overshadowed by Irene Cara’s high-profile tracks, “Dogs in the Yard” adds another welcome asset to this album.  Nicely played!   

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:            6 Stars

SUMMARY:                            RUNNING TIME: 1:57 Min.

From 1963’s The Pink Panther film soundtrack, singer Fran Jeffries performs this English-Italian language pop tune composed by Henry Mancini & Johnny Mercer.  The male half of this duet with Jeffries isn’t credited.  The tune’s instrumentals are provided by Mancini and His Orchestra.

Note: Mancini’s instrumental version is also included on the soundtrack.

REVIEW:

Ever so brief but exuberantly romantic, “It Had Better Be Tonight (Meglio Stasera)” is a musical treat.  It’s a classy showtune worthy of re-discovery.  

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                        7 Stars

SUMMARY:                  RUNNING TIME: 6:10 Min.

From 1997’s The Winter Guest movie soundtrack, composer Michael Kamen performs this piano solo instrumental.  It is Track # 10 on the album.   

REVIEW:

Poignantly beautiful as an introspective, Michael Kamen’s lush and somewhat whimsical “On the Ice” delivers a first-class instrumental.  This track is highly recommended!   

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                9 Stars

SUMMARY:                    RUNNING TIME: 3:11 Min.

From 1980’s Fame film soundtrack, Irene Cara performs this ballad written by Michael Gore & Lesley Gore.  Onscreen, Cara’s insecure Coco Hernandez performs the song while privately practicing on a school piano.  This track subsequently scored a 1981 Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song – though Cara’s title song won the award.

REVIEW:

In addition to her show-stopping title song, Irene Cara proves equally adept rendering this poignant ballad.  Despite its schmaltzy lyrics, the tune’s low-key melody is an ideal accompaniment to Cara’s spot-on vocals. 

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                     7 Stars

SUMMARY:                        RUNNING TIME: 4:59 Min.

From 1980’s Fame film soundtrack, the ensemble cast (vocally represented by Traci Parnell, Irene Cara, Laura Dean, Paul McCrane, and Eric Brockington) performs the tune. Specifically, it narrates the graduation sequence closing out the film.  

REVIEW:

It’s certainly an intriguing contrast to the album’s solo tracks.  What handicaps this tune’s dynamic melody are the peculiar lyrics making an universal allegory about maturing into adulthood hard to follow.  Intended as a show-stopper, “I Sing the Body Electric” benefits from a combination of well-played rock/orchestra instrumentals and endearing vocals. 

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                   6½ Stars

SUMMARY:                         RUNNING TIME: 4:10 Min.

From 1980’s Fame film soundtrack, Irene Cara performs this tune written by Michael Gore, Lesley Gore, & Robert F. Colesberry.  The song is performed onscreen as an impromptu lunchtime jam session by students in the High School of Performing Arts’ cafeteria.

REVIEW:

Given the cafeteria-inspired lyrics, Irene Cara’s charismatic vocals somehow transform “Hot Lunch Jam” into a relatively catchy tune.  In part, its up-tempo rock melody syncs well with Cara’s performance.  Though it is the least memorable of Cara’s three solo tracks, this song retains an innocent charm.  

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                        6 Stars