Category: Individual Tracks (Digital Albums & Singles)

DRAGNET ’88 (by The Art of Noise – inspired by 1987’s Dragnet movie soundtrack)

Post author By oddmoonmediareviews
Post date September 27, 2024

SUMMARY: RUNNING TIME: 2:59 Min.

From the 1987 Dragnet film soundtrack, British synthesizer-pop group (The) Art of Noise supplies this homage title tune.

Film dialogue clips from co-stars Dan Aykroyd, Tom Hanks, Dabney Coleman, and narrator Bill Wittman are included (and often repeated) to give the song a remix-style take on composer Ira Newborn’s instrumental opening credits track. The tune appears (in a different form) on the soundtrack as “Dragnet (Danger Ahead/Dragnet March).”

One might consider “Dragnet ‘88” a companion piece for another of the soundtrack’s inclusions, “City of Crime,” performed by Aykroyd and Hanks.

REVIEW:

For non-fans, this upbeat, synthesizer-heavy track will probably get old fast. Still, fans of Dan Aykroyd & Tom Hanks’ Dragnet film will likely find this playful Art of Noise tune a welcome treat. “Dragnet ’88,” suffice to say, makes for a fun throwaway on a road trip or movie hits playlist.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 7 Stars

Digital Songs & Albums Individual Tracks (Digital Albums & Singles) Music & Radio Shows Pop, R&B, Soul, & Dance

BAD BOY (by Miami Sound Machine – from 1985’s Primitive Love)

Post author By oddmoonmediareviews
Post date September 27, 2024

SUMMARY: RUNNING TIME: 3:53 Min.

Off Miami Sound Machine’s 1985 studio album, Primitive Love, “Bad Boy” is its fourth track. The tune’s subsequent Cats-inspired music video received regular airplay on MTV and VH1.

REVIEW:

Between Gloria Estefan’s endearing vocals and a delightful dance-pop melody, “Bad Boy” remains an endearing tune nearly forty years later. Though this upbeat tune is overshadowed by other tunes in Estefan’s considerable repertoire, it merits a chance for re-discovery.

The playful charm of “Bad Boy” supplies a welcome addition to any home or road trip playlist.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 7 Stars

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Digital Songs & Albums Individual Tracks (Digital Albums & Singles) Music & Radio Shows Pop, R&B, Soul, & Dance Soundtracks (Digital)

MANHUNT (by Karen Kamon – from 1983’s Flashdance soundtrack)

Post author By oddmoonmediareviews
Post date September 27, 2024

SUMMARY: RUNNING TIME: 2:36 Min.

From 1983’s Flashdance movie soundtrack, Karen Kamon performs its fourth tune: “Manhunt.” Going a full year after the album’s initial release, “Manhunt” also subsequently became the soundtrack’s fourth released single. As of this writing, the Flashdance soundtrack (currently available in vinyl, CD, and digital formats) is the only source to find “Manhunt.”

REVIEW:

Superficially, this Early 80’s dance-pop tune isn’t all that remarkable. Given the same soundtrack’s multiple award-winning/nominated pop hits (i.e. Irene Cara’s “Flashdance … What A Feeling!,” and Michael Sembello’s “Maniac”), it isn’t surprising that Karen Kamon’s sexually assertive tune has been overshadowed for more than forty years. Still, when given a chance, this track’s catchy melody and Kamon’s appealing vocals make “Manhunt” a better song than one might assume.

Hence, the sultry charm of “Manhunt” merits consideration for any retro-dance, movie hits, or road trip playlist.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 6½ Stars

Digital Songs & Albums Individual Tracks (Digital Albums & Singles) Music & Radio Shows Rock & Symphonic/Metal Soundtracks (Digital)

VOICE OF AMERICA’S SONS (by John Cafferty & The Beaver Brown Band: Tough All Over)

Post author By oddmoonmediareviews
Post date September 18, 2024

SUMMARY: RUNNING TIME: 4:35 Min.

Originally off John Cafferty and The Beaver Brown Band’s 1985 debut album, Tough All Over, this upbeat rock tune ultimately peaked at # 62 on the U.S. charts. Its release as a single, however, stemmed from the tune’s prominent appearance in the 1986 Sylvester Stallone action film, Cobra. Hence, “Voice of America’s Sons” appears as the first track for both albums.

Today, the song still occasionally resurfaces through radio airplay.

Note: “Voice of America’s Sons” is also available digitally.

REVIEW:

No matter how unremarkable it may sound, the rollicking “Voice of America’s Sons” is still undeniably catchy. Hence, saving it a spot somewhere on your road trip playlist makes good sense.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 6 Stars

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Digital Songs & Albums Individual Tracks (Digital Albums & Singles) Music & Radio Shows Pop, R&B, Soul, & Dance Soundtracks (Digital)

NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN (by Lani Hall & Michel Legrand: Never Say Never Again movie soundtrack)

Post author By oddmoonmediareviews
Post date September 18, 2024

SUMMARY: RUNNING TIME: 3:06 Min.

Off 1983’s Never Say Never Again movie soundtrack, the film’s title tune is performed by vocalist Lani Hall and its composer, Michael Legrand. The song’s lyrics were co-written by Alan & Marilyn Bergman.

Though “Never Say Never Again” may be hard to find on vinyl or CD, this track is available digitally. Also, one can watch online the song’s 1983 music video featuring a black tuxedo-clad Hall.

REVIEW:

Though the tune is reminiscent of a chintzy ‘80s lounge act, Lani Hall’s slyly effervescent vocals make up the difference. In that sense, this song works beautifully accompanying Sean Connery’s last on-screen adventure as James Bond.

Bolstered by Michel Legrand’s jazzy melody, Hall’s effort is catchier than her same year’s James Bond competition: Rita Coolidge’s “All Time High” from Roger Moore’s competing Octopussy. Though neither tune is a must-have (frankly, they rate about the same), there’s a worthwhile factor to consider.

While Coolidge conveys a breezy easy listening treat reminiscent of Carly Simon, “All-Time High” is instantly forgettable. Hall’s playful “Never Say Never Again” pop vocal performance, conversely, merits a chance for re-discovery.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 6 Stars

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Digital Songs & Albums Individual Tracks (Digital Albums & Singles) Music & Radio Shows Pop, R&B, Soul, & Dance

BACK TO LIFE (HOWEVER DO YOU WANT ME) (by Soul II Soul: 1989’s Club Classics, Volume One aka Keep On Movin’)

Post author By oddmoonmediareviews
Post date August 27, 2023

SUMMARY: RUNNING TIME: 3:47 Min.

Released on May 29, 1989, by British R&B group, Soul II Soul, “Back to Life (However Do You Want Me)” was featured on the band’s 1989 debut album: Club Classics, Volume One in the United Kingdom. The album’s U.S. title is Keep On Movin’.

Inspired by lead vocalist/co-writer Caron Wheeler’s near-death experience, the dance song’s popularity would inspire a MTV/VH-1 music video. The tune ultimately would win the 1990 Grammy for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocal. Since that time, “Back to Life (However Do You Want Me)” occasionally resurfaces on compiliation projects, as well as the band’s 10th Anniversary release of their debut album.

REVIEW:

Though the lyrics are perhaps too repetitive, in terms of its primary chorus, this song’s exuberance still holds up nearly thirty-five years later. Backed by a terrific R&B melody, Caron Wheeler’s effervescent vocals are undeniably the song’s best asset. For R&B and dance playlists, this catchy Soul II Soul track is definitely worth a solo download.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 8 Stars

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Digital Songs & Albums Individual Tracks (Digital Albums & Singles) Music & Radio Shows Rock & Symphonic/Metal Soundtracks (Digital)

DOUBLEBACK (by ZZ Top: Recycler)

Post author By oddmoonmediareviews
Post date March 12, 2023

SUMMARY: RUNNING TIME: 3:53 Min.

From its 1990 album, Recycler, this ZZ Top rock tune would accompany the closing credits of Back to the Future, Part III that same year. In one of the film’s 1885 sequences, the band makes a cameo appearance performing an instrumental version of the song. Unsurprisingly, ZZ Top’s “Doubleback” music video is a commercial for the movie.

Note: “Doubleback” is not included with composer Alan Silvestri’s score on the 1990 soundtrack. Re-imagined with a country music twinge, the same-named acoustic rendition (as heard in ‘1885’) appears in its place. This track lasts under ninety seconds. The acoustic version’s extended 3:13 minute cut was subsequently added to the soundtrack’s 25^th Anniversary Edition.

REVIEW:

Appropriately enough, “Doubleback” is its own nostalgia time machine. Vividly conveying Marty McFly’s Old West adventure, ZZ Top sounds near the top of their game. Working off a rip-snorting melody, the catchiness of this pulsating tune remains undiminished. Even if “Doubleback” isn’t a priority download, adding it sometime to a favorite rock, soundtrack, or workout playlist makes good sense.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 7 Stars

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Digital Songs & Albums Individual Tracks (Digital Albums & Singles) Music & Radio Shows Pop, R&B, Soul, & Dance Rock & Symphonic/Metal

I HATE MYSELF FOR LOVING YOU {Cover} (by Adanna Duru: American Idol Season XIV)

Post author By oddmoonmediareviews
Post date December 1, 2022

SUMMARY: RUNNING TIME: 4:08 Min.

In 2015, American Idol contestant Adanna Duru covered Joan Jett’s 1988 rock hit, “I Hate Myself for Loving You.” Duru’s rendition was subsequently released as a single and as a track for the season’s Top 11 album.

Note: Duru finished in 10^th/11^th place in American Idol’s fourteenth season.

REVIEW:

Despite Idol’s instrumentals reasonably mimicking Joan Jett and the Blackhearts’ hard rock melody, Adanna Duru’s vocals are initially bubblegum tame. Hence, one is left anticipating a weak rendition of Jett’s tune directed at Disney+ programming. Yet, once she gets comfortably warmed up, Duru’s second half of the song comes alive. Duru doesn’t echo Jett so much as she finally pushes her vocal efforts to fit the lyrics, not to mention the song’s energetic vibe.

Even if her cover doesn’t justify a solo download, Duru’s take on Joan Jett is still fairly solid.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 6 Stars

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