Category: Soundtracks (CD’s)

SUMMARY:                              RUNNING TIME: 67 Min.

Released through Capitol Records for the 2018 film, this album consists of these eighteen tracks:

Track 1: “When I Kissed the Teacher.”           (3:01)

Performers: Lily James; Jessica Keenan Wynn; Alexa Davies; & Celia Imrie.    

Track 2: “I Wonder (Departure).” (4:29)

Performers: Lily James; Jessica Keenan Wynn; & Alexa Davies.

Track 3: “One of Us.” (3:45)

Performers: Amanda Seyfried & Dominic Cooper.

Track 4: “Waterloo.”  (2:48)

Performers: Hugh Skinner & Lily James.    

Track 5: “Why Did It Have To Be Me?”  (3:18)                      

Performers: Josh Dylan; Lily James; & Hugh Skinner.

Track 6: “I Have a Dream.” (4:24)

Performer: Lily James.    

Track 7: “Kisses of Fire.”  (2:29)        

Performers: Panos Mouzourakis; Jessica Keenan Wynn; & Alexa Davies.

Track 8: “Andante, Andante.” (4:00)

Performer: Lily James.

Track 9: “The Name of the Game.”  (4:45)     

Performer: Lily James.

Track 10: “Knowing Me, Knowing You.”  (3:45)         

Performers: Jeremy Irvine; Lily James; Pierce Brosnan; & Amanda Seyfried.

Track 11: “Angel Eyes.”  (4:11)

Performers: Julie Walters; Christine Baranski; & Amanda Seyfried.

Track 12: “Mamma Mia.”   (2:39)

Performers: Lily James; Jessica Keenan Wynn; & Alexa Davies.

Track 13: “Dancing Queen.”   (3:41)

Performers: Pierce Brosnan; Christine Baranski; Julie Walters; Colin Firth; Stellan Skarsgård; Dominic Cooper; & Amanda Seyfried.

Track 14: “I’ve Been Waiting for You.”  (3:17)

Performers: Amanda Seyfried; Christina Baranski; & Julie Walters.

Track 15: “Fernando.”   (3:59)

Performers: Cher & Andy Garcia.    

Track 16: “My Love, My Life.”  (3:49)

Performers: Lily James; Meryl Streep; & Amanda Seyfried.

Track 17: “Super Trouper.”  (3:51)

Performers: The Cast.

Track 18: “The Day Before You Came.”   (5:29)

Performer: Meryl Streep.    

REVIEW:

Recycling several of the first film’s tunes, one might expect merely a glorified rehash. Yet, this classy album often gives some well-worn ABBA hits a fresh spark.  Compensating for forgettable male vocals (in the flashbacks) are several knockout efforts from Lily James as ‘Young Donna.’  As necessary, she gets terrific back-up from Alexa Davies and Jessica Keenan Wynn.  In the present-day songs, Amanda Seyfried sparkles, as heard in Track 3: “One of Us.”  In Meryl Streep’s place, Seyfried impressively holds her own with solid contributors Julie Walters and Christine Baranski (whom we hear too little of). 

Track 13’s ensemble rendition of “Dancing Queen” is fine, but it sorely misses Streep’s presence.  Though they have decent voices, Stellan Skarsgård and Colin Firth vanish among the back-up vocals on this track, which isn’t a bad call.  The same applies to Track 17: “Super Trouper,” as the female vocals easily overwhelm the guys re: the minimal contributions they actually make.  That said, Pierce Brosnan’s cameo on Track 10: “Knowing Me, Knowing You” is undeniably dreadful, and should have been edited out. 

Cher so dominates Track 15: “Fernando,” that she utterly drowns out Andy Garcia.  Though the melody retains its charm, Cher’s overbaked ‘it’s all about me’ vocals sabotage this duet.  Still, the poignant Tracks 16 and 18 are stellar, particularly for Steep’s inclusion.  Track: 16: “My Love, My Life” is an elegant lullaby-like ode to the enduring bond between mothers and daughters. Concluding with Streep’s enigmatic “The Day Before You Came” reminds listeners why her underrated vocals were the first album’s secret weapon.  Her track’s melancholy offers an intriguing finish to an otherwise sunny album – especially, as its continuity to the storyline is debatable.  

Overall, this album’s reliance upon James & Seyfried is smart thinking.  In particular, James is the album’s MVP, as she single-handedly holds up the album’s first half.  Not as endearing as the inspired first soundtrack, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again compensates for puny male vocals with high-caliber performances by the actresses (not counting Cher’s diva turn).   

PACKAGING:

The tracks and performers are listed on the case’s back cover.  The tracks are also listed on the CD itself.  However, the track running times aren’t included.  The booklet insert is nicely decorated with numerous stills from the film.  The booklet also contains each song’s lyrics; cast credits; composer & musician credits; and a two-page introduction. 

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:          7 Stars

SUMMARY:                                 RUNNING TIME: 38 Min.

Released by Capitol Records for the 1988 romantic crime drama starring Michelle Pfeiffer, Mel Gibson, & Kurt Russell, this ten-track compilation consists of:

• 1: Surrender to Me                   Ann Wilson & Robin Zander  (4:08)             
• 2: Do You Believe in Shame?   Duran Duran (4:24)                       
• 3: Recurring Dream                 Crowded House (3:24)              
• 4: Give a Little Love       Ziggy Marley & the Melody Makers (4:02)
• 5: Don’t Worry, Baby  The Everly Brothers & The Beach Boys (3:18)
• 6: Dead on the Money              Andy Taylor (4:05)
• 7: Unsubstantiated                   The Church (3:32)
• 8: Beyond the Sea                    Bobby Darin (2:54)                            
• 9: Tequila Dreams                   Dave Grusin & Lee Ritenour (4:17)   
• 10: Jo Ann’s Song                   Dave Grusin & David Sanborn (4:11)

REVIEW:

Consider it Miami Vice-Lite.  Adhering to standard-issue 80’s soundtrack formula, this classy playlist distances itself from Miami Vice’s edginess with a breezy, low-key ambiance.  Its ballads (i.e. Ann Wilson & Robin Zander’s haunting “Surrender to Me” and The Church’s “Unsubstantiated”) mesh well with stellar 80’s rock (Duran Duran; Crowded House); jazzy pop (Bobby Darin); reggae (Ziggy Marley); easy-going cruising (the Everly Brothers-Beach Boys team-up); and a one-two finish from Dave Grusin’s up-tempo, instrumental jazz.  Only Andy Taylor’s pulsating rock tune, “Dead on the Money,” sounds out of place, but this exclusive tune is still enjoyable. 

Tequila Sunrise’s best asset is variety, so one should consider it a musical cocktail worth adding to a favorite 80’s playlist.    

PACKAGING:

The back cover accurately spells out the songs, artists, & songwriters.  The album insert reiterates this information and adds producing-recording-mixing credits.  Individual running times aren’t provided, but the songs are listed in order on the disc. 

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:        6½ Stars

SUMMARY:                                  RUNNING TIME: 38 Min.

Released by Rhino Records in 1995, this sixteen-track CD consists of vintage 1980’s TV theme songs by their original artists.  These tunes are mostly expanded radio-length versions or later-season updates of the original theme.  The CD includes a booklet providing synopsis information for each track. The tracks are:

1:   WKRP in Cincinnati                             Steve Carlisle (2:55)

2:   The Dukes of Hazzard (Good Ol’ Boys) Waylon Jennings (2:10)

3:   The Facts of Life                                  Gloria Loring (0.55)

4:   Dynasty                                                Bill Conti (3:29)

5:   The Greatest American Hero (Believe It or Not) Joey Scarbury (3:15)

6:   Hill Street Blues                                   Mike Post (3:15)

7:   Family Ties (Without Us)  Johnny Mathis & Deniece Williams (3:55)

8:   Silver Spoons (Together)         Bob Wirth & Ric Howard (1:02)        

9:   Cheers (Where Everybody Knows Your Name) Gary Portnoy (2:35)

10: Miami Vice                                          Jan Hammer (2:29)

11: Who’s the Boss? (Brand New Life)      Larry Weiss (1:04)

12: Charles in Charge                                Shandi (1:01)

13: The Equalizer (Busy Equalizing)          Stewart Copeland (3:19)

14: Growing Pains (As Long As We Got Each Other) B.J. Thomas & Dusty Springfield (4:23)

15: The Love Boat                                     Dionne Warwick (1:46)

16: My Two Dads (You Can Count on Me) Greg Evigan (1:00)

REVIEW:

It’s best to group these tracks into categories to explain them.

• Tracks 1; 2; 4; 6; 7; 9; and 13.

These rare tracks are radio-length versions, especially as WKRP in Cincinnati; The Dukes of Hazzard (Good Ol’ Boys); Family Ties (Without Us); and Cheers (Where Everybody Knows Your Name) include additional lyrics.  Waylon Jennings and Gary Portnoy add some good-natured humor to their contributions.   

• Tracks 5 and 10. 

These standard, radio-length versions are still occasionally heard on the radio.

• Tracks 8; 12; and 16.

These sixty-second tracks are the original theme songs per its show’s opening credits.  As the album’s shortest recording, My Two Dads (You Can Count on Me) dubiously pads its length with a canned laugh-track. 

• Tracks 3; 11; 14; and 15.

These four sunny tunes were utilized as later-season updates and/or for its program’s final season.  Growing Pains (As Long As We Got Each Other) is the only radio-length version in this bunch. 

The accompanying booklet relates the tracks’ radio play history and related trivia notes.  For instance, who knew that it took Gary Portnoy multiple tries to compose a theme song that finally satisfied the Cheers producers?  Sporting solid audio quality, Tube Tunes, Vol. 3 – The ‘80s is a neat collection for TV nostalgia buffs that doesn’t wear out its welcome or, for that matter, pause for annoying commercials.  Even with sixteen tracks, the inevitable downside is that album’s running time flies by fast.

PACKAGING:

The front cover image is a cartoony group caricature of featured stars: Loni Anderson; Ted Danson; Gavin MacLeod; Don Johnson; and Joan Collins, squeezed together on a couch watching TV.  The back cover provides accurate product information.   

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:               6 Stars

Note: As a recommendation, TVT Records released several 65-track TV theme song albums in the mid-1990’s, with the original artists.  These tracks all reflect their original opening credits running time.  Television’s Greatest Hits, Volumes 5-7 (which covers the span of the 1970’s into the 1990’s) would nicely supplement this Tube Tunes album.