Category: Soundtracks (CD’s)

SUMMARY:                                 RUNNING TIME: 43 Min.

The belated (and quickly-forgotten) 1989 sequel to “Eddie & the Cruisers” is probably best construed as a feature-length rock video supporting this underrated soundtrack.  Once more, John Cafferty & the Beaver Brown Band (including saxophonist Michael “Tunes” Antunes) provide the real music behind ‘Eddie Wilson’ and a new generation of Cruisers.  As with the original film, Volcano Entertainment III again releases the soundtrack.  The tracks are: 

• 1.         “Runnin’ Thru the Fire”          (3:35)
• 2.         “Just a Matter of Time”           (4:09)
• 3.         “Open Road”                          (5:05)
• 4.         “Maryia”                               (3:43)
• 5.         “Emotional Storm”                 (5:26)
• 6.         “Pride & Passion”                  (3:29)
• 7.         “Garden of Eden”                  (4:47)
• 8.         “NYC Song”                         (5:07)
• 9.         “Some Like It Hot”               (4:14)
• 10.       “(Keep My Love) Alive”         (3:42)

Note: The film’s five remaining songs (“When the World Was Young,” “Heat of the Night,” “Chain Reaction,” “A Fool & His Money,” and “Sleep Walk”) were eventually released on the 1991 compilation entitled “Eddie & the Cruisers – The Unreleased Tapes.”

REVIEW:

As a Beaver Brown Band album, the blue-collar Eddie II is well-balanced and often flat-out entertaining.   John Cafferty’s gravelly voice is in vintage form.  Some high energy rock erupts in the form of “Runnin’ Through the Fire,” “Maryia,” and “Pride & Passion.” A pair of poignant ballads can be heard in “Just a Matter of Time” and “NYC Song.”  The R&B classiness of “Emotional Storm” stands out, as does the old-school dance hall tune “Some Like It Hot.”  The three remaining songs at least make some solid background noise.  Despite lacking a signature tune rivaling the original film’s “On the Dark Side,” this underestimated album still merits a chance for re-discovery.  

The only reason to rate the sequel’s soundtrack slightly higher than the original is that this CD has the running time of a complete album (at 40+ minutes).      

PACKAGING:

A photo of actor Michael Paré as “Eddie Wilson” in concert decorates the front cover, with the ten song titles (without running times) listed on back.   The insert also offers six film stills surrounding a photo of the Beaver Brown Band.  Unlike the audio cassette version, neither the song credits nor the song lyrics are included.      

BRIAN’S 10-STAR RATING:                   8 Stars

Note:  In 1992, Beaver Brown also released a fourth Eddie-themed album billed as “Eddie & the Cruisers: Live and in Concert.”  

SUMMARY:                         RUNNING TIME: Approx. 32 Min.

In 1983, the rock ‘n’ roll mystery drama “Eddie & the Cruisers” was a box office failure starring Tom Berenger, Michael Paré, Joe Pantoliano, and Ellen Barkin.  Still, Volcano Entertainment III’s movie soundtrack by John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band has endured for more than three decades as a cult favorite.  Curiously, this CD version isn’t a re-issue of the original cassette release, as at least one song has been swapped out. 

• 1.        “On the Dark Side”       (2:43)   (Eddie)
• 2.        “Tender Years”              (4:45)  (Eddie)
• 3.        “Runaround Sue”          (2:16)   (Eddie)
• 4.        “Down on My Knees”     (2:38)  (Eddie)
• 5.        “Hang Up My Rock and Roll Shoes”     (2:22)  (Eddie)
• 6.        “Wild Summer Nights”    (3:42)   (Eddie)
• 7.        “Boardwalk Angel”          (4:32)   (Eddie)
• 8.        “Betty Lou’s Got a New Pair of Shoes”  (1:40)  (Sal)
• 9.        “Those Oldies But Goodies (Remind Me of You)”    (1:47)  (Sal)
• 10.      “Season in Hell (Fire Suite)”   (6:14)   (Eddie)

Note: For “Boardwalk Angel,” George Devons is credited for additional percussion, as is Ben E. King for guest vocals.

REVIEW:

The film’s vocal magic lives on, even if it’s weird that the on-screen songs were lip-synched by actors Michael (“Eddie”) Paré and Mitchell (“Sal”) Laurance.  Yet, this album is incomplete, since actress-musician Helen Schneider’s rendition of “Tender Years;” Carly Simon & James Taylor’s “Mockingbird;” and Del Shannon’s moody “Runaway” are excluded.  Despite what the incomplete liner notes imply, neither Shannon’s classic song nor a tune from Charles & Inez Foxx actually appear on this CD.  Though it’s unlikely to happen, perhaps a future re-release, like the extended Top Gun and Footloose soundtracks, will finally deliver a complete Eddie soundtrack.  

The Beaver Brown Band’s Jersey barroom style is enjoyably reminiscent of Bruce Springsteen and Southside Johnny.  In tracks 1-6 and 9-10, John Cafferty’s gravelly “Eddie” vocals deliver a distinctive, almost haunting sound.  Tracks 7-8 are sung by musician-producer Kenny Vance doubling as “Sal,” in addition to his movie cameo as “Lew Eisen,” the Cruisers’ abrasive Satin Records boss.  Ideally playing Cruisers saxophonist “Wendell Newton,” Beaver Brown’s Michael ‘Tunes’ Antunes performs this album’s stellar saxophone work.  Above all, Cafferty’s timeless rendition of “On the Dark Side” remains a blast to hear.  The other songs still bring back fond memories of the film.   

Still, an oddity from the album’s initial release remains in the final track.  As the “Season in Hell (Fire Suite)” trails off, several seconds of garbled recording studio noises can be overheard.  There really isn’t any creative reason for deliberately including this static.  If it was a sloppy oversight during the original recording, then Volcano Entertainment III opted not to omit this flub.  Suffice to say, this wonderful album flies by far too fast due to its ultra-short running time.      

Note: In addition to the 1989 sequel’s soundtrack, there are two other “Eddie” albums.  A 1991 rehash entitled “Eddie & the Cruisers – The Unreleased Tapes,” finally completes the sequel’s playlist with the last five songs.  Lastly, in 1992, Beaver Brown released an unrelated fourth album billed as “Eddie & the Cruisers: Live and in Concert.”  

PACKAGING:

The outer packaging is sparse yet effective.  The front cover features the familiar movie poster image.  The back cover features a black-and-white still of Paré as “Eddie Wilson.”  The inside jacket lists Beaver Brown Band’s members and the obligatory song credits.  Song lyrics aren’t included.  Right of the film’s summarized credits is a black-and-white still of Paré, Berenger, and Antunes, as the fictional group memorably collaborates on the melody for “On the Dark Side.” 

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:        7½ Stars

SUMMARY:                   RUNNING TIME: 41 Min.

In 1991, Hollywood Records issued this re-release of Queen’s 1980 movie soundtrack, now including a bonus re-imagining of the title theme by Mista Lawnge.  Sampling dialogue clips from the movie, the nineteen tracks are:

Title:                                  Time:

1. Flash’s Theme                   3:29
2. In the Space Capsule (The Love Theme)     2:42
3. Ming’s Theme (In the Court of Ming the Merciless)      2:40
4. The Ring (Hypnotic Seduction of Dale)     0:57
5. Football Fight             1:28
6. In the Death Cell (Love Theme Reprise)  2:24
7. Execution of Flash           1:05
8. The Kiss (Aura Resurrects Flash)   1:44
9. Arboria (Planet of The Tree Men)   1:41
10. Escape from the Swamp                  1:43
11. Flash to the Rescue            2:44 
12. Vultan’s Theme (Attack of the Hawk Men) 1:12
13. Battle Theme                                  2:18
14. The Wedding March                        0:56
15. Marriage of Dale & Ming (and Flash Approaching)    2:04
16. Crash Dive on Mingo City               1:00
17. Flash’s Theme Reprise (Victory Celebrations)    1:20
18. The Hero                                        3:01
19. Flash’s Theme (re-mixed by Mista Lawnge, 9.5)   6:43                                                                            

Note: Foretelling Queen’s 1986 Highlander movie soundtrack, actor Brian Blessed’s gleeful Vultan rhetorically ponders mid-battle in Track 13: “Who wants to live forever?”

REVIEW:

It’s like an audio highlight reel of the film.  Queen’s wildly energetic efforts is ideal for Flash Gordon’s deliberately campy approach.  The group’s instrumental work (i.e. The Wedding March) alone is superb entertainment.  Yet, it’s the magic of Freddie Mercury’s distinctive vocals that completes this album.  The only detriment is the awful Track 19 re-imagining, as an instrumental reprise of Flash’s Theme would have been preferable.  Ultimately, Tracks 1-18 delivers some top-flight Queen for the movie’s fans.     

PACKAGING:

The tracks and their running times are listed on the case’s back cover and in the booklet.  The fold-out insert provides lyrics for Flash’s Theme and The Hero; song credits; production credits; and, shaped like a record, movie stills of Flash; Dale & Zarkov; Barin; Aura; Ming; one of Vultan’s Hawkmen; and a Ming disciple.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                    7½ Stars