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
