Category: Individual Tracks (CD’s)

SUMMARY:                          RUNNING TIME: 4:05 Min.

Recorded for 1984’s Footloose film soundtrack, Shalamar delivers this R&B/dance-pop tune.  The song is included on the soundtrack’s 1998 15th Anniversary Edition. The track was co-written by lyricist Dean Pitchford.   

REVIEW:

This tune’s up-tempo, mid-‘80s dance-pop sound is unmistakable.  In that sense, the energetic instrumental portions are still terrific.  Yet, despite Shalamar’s solid performance, the glitzy lyrics doubling as suggestive pick-up lines don’t age well. 

Considering the song is featured in a movie about high school students, “Dancing in the Sheets” pushes a far sleazier inference than what Shalamar likely meant.  Though the song’s thematic content isn’t appropriate for kids, the track offers a decent choice for soundtrack and workout playlists.      

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                    5½ Stars

Note: Footloose’s extended 15^th Anniversary soundtrack also sports an ‘Extended 12” Remix’ of “Dancing in the Sheets,” with a running time of 6:17.

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SUMMARY:                                   RUNNING TIME: 4:23 Min.

Chicago’s ex-lead vocalist, Peter Cetera, recorded and co-wrote this romantic pop tune for his 1986 solo album, Solitude/Solitaire.  Among its other collaborators is the prolific David Foster.  The song was utilized as the love theme for The Karate Kid Part II, which was released the same year.

REVIEW:

Long overshadowed by Bryan Adams’ 1991 “(Everything I Do) I Do It for You,” Peter Cetera’s romantic ode to chivalry still holds up fairly well.  The main difference is that, unlike Adams’ rousing anthem, Cetera’s “Glory of Love” relies far more heavily on pure schmaltz, i.e. his specific analogy to a ‘knight in shining armor.’  Still, Cetera’s vocals are well-matched with the mid-80s’ easy listening style of melody.  It just comes down to a matter of preference re: idealistic love songs, as this track borders on genre pap.  Even so, “Glory of Love” rates among Cetera’s best solo efforts, so it’s worth consideration for any Best-of-the-80’s romantic pop playlists.    

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                    7 Stars

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SUMMARY:                                    RUNNING TIME: 3:42 Min.

This rock tune was recorded by John Cafferty & The Beaver Brown Band for 1989’s Eddie & The Cruisers II soundtrack.  For the film, Cafferty provides the voice of ‘Eddie Wilson,’ while Michael Paré does the acting.  This particular song appears only briefly as background music in the movie.  Yet, it isn’t ever made clear if the song is material from Eddie’s new band or came off a ‘mystery tape’ Eddie had recorded more than twenty years before (presumably, one should think the former).

REVIEW:

Its assets are an upbeat rock melody tinged by R&B and John Cafferty’s energetic vocals.  Yet, “(Keep My Love) Alive” just sounds very much like it’s filler material.  The tune is still solid listening on the complete album — the track itself isn’t likely worth a solo download. 

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                    6 Stars