Category: Individual Tracks (CD’s)

SUMMARY:                                      RUNNING TIME: 3:49 Min.

Recorded for 1984’s Footloose film soundtrack, Heart’s Ann Wilson duets with Loverboy’s Mike Reno.  Including the soundtrack’s 1998 15th Anniversary Edition, this radio-friendly love song has subsequently appeared on a number of ‘80s pop compilation albums.   

REVIEW:

Pairing Ann Wilson and Mike Reno in a romantic duet was an inspired choice, given the gorgeous melody.  There’s no mistaking that their polished vocals are electric, as both of them are at the top of their game.  The song’s weakness clearly isn’t Wilson and Reno; rather, it’s more the overly sentimental lyrics.  Suffice to say, “Almost Paradise” risks soaring into romantic pop drivel. 

Even so, as long as the lyrics are more of an afterthought, the song makes a good choice for ‘80s pop and road trip playlists.  The only other caveat, ironically enough, stems from Footloose itself.   Whether it’s interpreted as adult lust and/or loneliness, this song’s yearning context seems, at best, awkward, if applied to the film’s love-struck (and underage) teenagers portrayed by Kevin Bacon and Lori Singer.     

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                     6 Stars

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SUMMARY:                                     RUNNING TIME: 3:03 Min.

Originally for 1983’s Octopussy starring Roger Moore, this James Bond tune was recorded by Rita Coolidge.  This song has since been re-released on various compilation albums, primarily multiple updates of the Best of Bond … James Bond (which assembles the franchise’s theme songs to date).   

Note: The Best of Bond … James Bond series includes a 40^th anniversary edition in 2002 and a subsequent update in 2008 for Chris Cornell’s “You Know My Name” from Casino Royale.

REVIEW:

Reminiscent (or perhaps too imitative) of Carly Simon, Rita Coolidge’s breezy vocals are this tune’s best asset.  Otherwise, “All Time High” would likely fade into easy-listening obscurity, as even casual fans might not recognize this classy Early ‘80s love song as a James Bond theme.  Its chief claim to fame, otherwise, is that “All Time High” is the first Bond title song to exclude the movie’s title from its lyrics (1969’s On Her Majesty’s Secret Service’s instrumental theme, notwithstanding).  

In an intriguing, yet perhaps not coincidental, twist, “All Time High” sounds vaguely similar to Lani Hall & Michel Legrand’s “Never Say Never Again,” — which was also released in 1983 for Sean Connery’s same-named Bond film competing against Roger Moore.  While the sly Hall/Legrand tune is closer to a lounge act performance, Coolidge’s “All Time High” has a more polished melody.  Frankly, it makes too little difference, as both of these 1983 Bond tunes are at best average.

If given a choice, though, one might prefer finding Hall’s “Never Say Never Again” over Coolidge’s “All Time High,” as Hall’s jazzy tune is catchier.

 BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                   5½ Stars