Classic 80s films songs

The 1980s saw many big films and behind most big films was a huge soundtrack which record labels cottoned on to. As a result the 80s saw a huge rise in songs released in conjuction with films to boost the popularity and marketing potential. Some artistes relied solely on the film industry and produced constant scores for them. Where would survivor be without the Rocky films and vice versa? I will take a look at some of the biggest film soundtracks of the 1980s.



Simple Minds - Don't you forget about me (The Breakfast Club)

A huge anthem for the brat pack film, the song intended for Billy Idol and then rejected by Bryan Ferry but was passed to Simple Minds and that decision led to a number one in America. Written by Keith Forsey the song was huge both sides of the pond and in the UK remained in the top 100 for almost 2 years such was it's popularity. It remains one of there most requested songs.

Huey Lewis and the News - Power of Love (Back to the future)

This again was a huge hit and earned Huey Lewis a cameo role in the film and a academy award to sit with a number one in America. The song was co written by Lewis and Colla and remains an integral part of the film.

Ray Parker Jr - Ghostbusters (Ghostbusters)

Probably and arguably one of the biggest films in the 80s behind ET. Written and produced by Parker the song reached number one in America and number two in the UK as Ghostbusters gripped the world in 1984. It was nominated for an academy but fell short at the final hurdle. The song was written to be similar to a advert and was many years used as this for a 118 advert in the UK. The song also courted legal issues as was similar in riff to a Huey Lewis song and was eventually settled out of court.

Irene Cara - Fame and Flashdance

This young lady firmly put the dance floor back into the public conscious with these two huge hits of the 80s. Fame Written by Gore and Pritchard it was wrote for the original film and won the academy award that year as a number one in the UK, it wasn't until the TV spin off series was released in 1982 that the song hit the shores here and again enjoyed a number one success as Fame became a huge success. It remains one of the few songs in the UK to sell one million plus copies.

Flashdance written by Miroder, Forsey and Cara again enjoyed huge success topping the charts in America, countless awards and a number 2 in the UK. The song again featured in another film The Full Monty in 1997.

Harold Faltermeyer - Axel F (Beverley Hills Cops)

One of the most recognised names in Film scores and producing synth pop with his German background. This instrumental classic enjoyed number 2 peaks in the UK and America. The song enjoyed a revival by that annoying Crazy Frog but thankfully didn't do too much damage to this synth classic.

Kenny Loggins - Footloose (Flashdance)

Another classic song from the Flashdance film which saw Kevin Bacon dancing mentally to this toe tapper. The song reached number one in America and was a top 10 hit in the UK. The song was written and produced by Loggins and Pitchford. The song has been covered recently in films such as Alvin and the Chipmunks and Glee!

Phil Oakey and Giorgio Miroder - Electric Dreams (Electric Dreams) This brief partnership produced an absolute gem of a song in the 1980s. Both written and produced by Miroder the song reached number 3 in the UK singles charts and many thought the song actually eclipsed the film itself! Miroder came up with the concept and Director of the film Steve Barron suggested Phil Oakey as he had worked with him on the Human League promo video 'don't you want me' and the rest they say is history.

Joe Cocker - Up where we belong (an officer and a Gentlemen)

A weepy girlie film saw the lead song smash the charts and take the Grammy award for that along with the film success. Joe duetted with Jennifer Warnes. It went to number one in America and number 7 in the UK charts. The song was famously used at the end where Zak would sweep his intended of her feet at the factory thus the tears and cheers. The song was used against the producer and Gere advices but when they saw the final cut they were overwhelmed by the nature of the song.

Vangelis - Chariots of Fire

Arguably the biggest British film of the 1980s and this instrumental classic was pivotal to the ambience of the film. Composed by a Greek man who manages to catch the essence of the film and earned an Oscar for the musical score. The song reached number one in America and number 12 in the UK but the album did reach number in the UK. The song enjoyed a comeback for the 2012 London Olympics when MR Bean played the song at the opening ceremony.

Echo & the Bunnymen - People are Strange (Lost Boys)

This featured heavily on the Lost Boys film and was a cover by the 1970s rockers The Doors. The song was released as a single in the UK and peaked at number 29. The song was ironically produced by Doors keyboardist Ray Manzarek. A classic 2 minute song which is perfect for films and this song proved to be a popular one amongst fans of 80s film music.

Psychedelic Furs - Pretty in Pink (Pretty in Pink)

Another classic gem from the 1980s and this post punk band came to prominence with this track for Pretty in Pink. The song was originally released in 1981 after being produced by Steve Lillywhite of U2 fame and the song just failed the top 40 but was revamped for the 1986 movie and the song made the top 20 in the UK and just outside the top 40 in America. A true pop guitar sound.

Starship - Nothings gonna stop us now (Mannequin)

A huge hit which went number one on both sides of the pond and also the second best selling song in the UK in 1987. It was the main song for the romantic comedy film and was nominated for a academy award in 1987 but unfortunately missed out. The song featured Grace Slick on vocals who at the time was the oldest vocalist to get to number one in America at the time.

Duran Duran - View to a Kill (James Bond Film)

A song written by Duran Duran and John Barry and this song reached number one in America and number two in the UK. At the time Duran Duran were one of the biggest bands at the time and was the last song recorded before the original line up broke up. They met up with Barry who was the Bond composer and came up with this classic song which also saw Simon Le Bon play a James Bond character in the video promo.

A-ha - Living Daylights (James Bond Film)

Again John Barry worked with A-ha on this song and the song didn't fare well in America and didn't make the top 100 but was a top 5 hit in the UK. Despite the lack of success in America it sold over 2 million copies.

Survivor - Eye of the Tiger (Rocky)

A true heart beating song of the 1980s and a must for anyone who deems themselves a underdog in this world. It topped the charts in America and UK and was a last minute song originally when Stallone was unable to get permission to use a Queen song, Survivor came up with this effort and help revolutionise the film. The song alone has sold over 9 million copies such is the popularity of the song.
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Midge Ure

The 1980s music scene saw many iconic figures and one of those although didn't bang his drum was the Scottish musician Midge Ure.

Midge career in music started in the 1970s and enjoyed success with Slik and Thin Lizzy and the 1980s saw the success continue with the Rich Kids, Visage and more famously the frontman with Ultravox coupled with a successful solo career. To add more strings to his bow he also co-wrote the biggest selling single at that time 'do they know it's Christmas' with Bob Geldof and then as a consequence of that success also organised the biggest show in the world when Live Aid hit the stage and TV in 1985.

Initially in the 1970s Midge was involved in the Punk scene having worked with the Sliks and Thin Lizzy and in the late 1970s he formed Visage with Rusty Egan, Steve Strange on vocals and Billie Currie on keyboards. During this period Midge struck a great friendship with Billie and they decided to resurrect Billie previous group Ultravox who had gone into a hiatus with Robin Simon and John Foxx pursuing other directions.

The classic Ultravox line up was confirmed along with Chris Cross and Warren Cann. They recorded the classic album 'Vienna' although not a success at first it wasn't until the release of the self titled single that interest and sales followed. The song spent four weeks at number 2 kept of by a combination of John Lennon and Joe Dolce and went on to be the 5th best selling single that year.

The album sale also rose and the album peaked at number 3 in the UK charts. The video promo also received rave reviews as directed by Russell Mulcahy and was aground breaking video which set the pace for how videos should be produced.

Around this time Visage also released an album and had huge success with 'Fade to Grey' which Midge co-wrote and this song was seen as the blueprint for the new romantic scene. Keen to capitalise on the success of Vienna they released Rage in Eden which was a top 5 album in the UK which featured the Thin Wall and the Voice both top 20 singles and following that Midge and Currie worked on Visage second album The Anvil, the album was again a top 10 but Midge left Visage to concentrate more on Ultravox.

Another album followed named Quartet and this was produced by the legendary 5th Beatle George Martin and the album contained the following single successes 'Reap the wild wind', 'Hymn', 'visions in blue' and 'we came to dance' all top 20 hits along with a top 10 album.

Midge took time out to carve out a solo career and tested the market with a Walkers brothers cover 'No regrets' which again made a top 10 entry. It was a productive time as Ultravox released 'Lament' which was a top 10 album in the UK and featured the classic 'dancing with tears in my eye' which was a top 3 hit. The band and record label then released what was an unusual thing they released a greatest hits album showcasing all there work from 1980 and the album was a huge success and peaking at number 2 in the UK album charts.

The band last album was released called U-VOX, the album went top 10 but the singles barely dented the top 30 and many declared this not up to scratch on there previous work but still the album did well. Around this time Midge concentrated on his solo career and enjoyed a rare number one single with 'If I was' and the subsequent album 'the gift' enjoyed a number 2 slot which featured Mark King of Level 42 and Glenn Gregory of Heaven 17. The subsequent album 'answers to nothing' did not do as well.

During the 1980s his solo career saw 2 album releases and 8 single releases with 5 top 30 hits and a number one. His spell at Ultravox saw 5 studio albums which all went top 10 with Vienna peaking at number 3. They also released 20 singles with 10 top 20 singles with again Vienna going close at number 2. With visage he was involved with 2 top 20 albums with the Anvil peaking at 6, also 8 singles released with 4 top 20 hits with Fade to Grey peaking at number 8.

Bon Jovi

A band from New Jersey made huge strides in the glam rock arena in the 1980s and this band emerged from the often derided term Hair Metal genre, they were Bon Jovi. The band formed in 1983 and had moderate success with there two early album releases but it wasn't until the release of the Third Album 'Slippery when Wet' that this record catapulted this band into the public arena.

The band has pretty much remained the same since it'd formation with Bon Jovi, Torres, Sambora and Bryan leading the charge for the fluffy haired axe wielding giants. There success came the hard way with Bon Jovi working at radio stations and record labels pleading with anyone to listen to there music.

There first two albums 'Bon Jovi' and '7800 fahreinheit' achieved moderate success in America with first single 'Runaway' reaching the top 40 in America and the albums also denting the top 40. They were getting noticed and were soon opening for the likes of Kiss and Scorpions as well as an appearance at the Monsters or Rock at Donnington.

1986 the band moved to Canada and spent a solid 6 months working on 'Slippery when wet' and the results were huge. The first single releases 'You give love a bad name' and 'Livin' on a prayer' both went to number one in the USA. The album spent 2 months at number one in America and they soon became the hottest band to see live. such was there popularity that in 1987 they headlined the Monsters of Rock Festival which is no mean feat. The album was a huge success in America and Europe and keen to build on that success the next album did not disappoint.

The release of 'New Jersey' the album went to number one in America and the UK and a number of singles were released such as 'Bad Medicine', 'born to be my Baby' and 'Lay your hands on me' all going top 10. The success of the band was it's live sets and one in particular started a whole generation of how music should be viewed and heard.

In 1989 Bon Jovi and Sambora performed Living on a Prayer and Wanted Dead or Alive with just two acoustic guitars at the MTV music video awards and this is widely reported that this performance alone sparked the whole MTV unplugged series which still continues to this day.

The band also performed in Russia which was a first for any band and there whole appeal was beginning to take effects on the band. After the tours of 1989 the band took a long earned rest to recouperate and think about the next direction.

It wasn't until late 1992 that the band appeared again with the 'Keep the Faith' album and again huge commercial success. Although the hair metal scene was often criticised there music managed to pull through and the band kept there credibility when many others had lost there's.

The band has sold over 130 million records and countless awards such as UK hall of Fame in 2006 and songwriters hall of fame in 2009.

During the 1980s they released four studio albums with 'New Jersey' there only number one album in the UK. They also released 16 singles with surprisingly only one top 10 in the UK with Livin' on a prayer, In America they enjoyed four number ones. In the UK they were to enjoy better singles success in the 1990s.

 

Billy Idol

A certain William Broad went onto international fame better known as the Punk rocker Billy Idol. He initially shot to fame with punk band Generation X who enjoyed moderate success in the UK and then swept onto the new MTV generation with his countless video promo's as a solo artist in the 1980s.

Billy early musical career saw appearances in bands like Siouxsie and the Banshees and Chelsea before settling with Generation X in the mid to late seventies. They enjoyed 3 top 40 singles and one top 30 album in the UK but after leaving the band his career catapulted.

Billy moved to New York and worked with ex-Kiss manager Bill Aucoin. They played heavily on his bad boy image and this was mixed with the glam rock image that was playing heavily in America. He released his debut Album simply called 'Billy Idol' and Billy became part of the 'Second British invasion' of the USA and MTV in particular heavily played his video promo of 'White Wedding' and 'Hot in the city' as well as his Generation X classic 'Dancing with myself'. On the back of this success he released his second album and one of his most popular works.

The release of 'Rebel Yell' was a huge success in America and the UK with classic hits 'Rebel Yell' and 'Eyes without a face' Keith Forsey had produced the album and a lot of Billy Material and he also worked with the likes of Harold Faltermeyer, Giorgio Miroder, Donna Summer and Simple Minds.

The third studio album was released 'whiplash Smile' which featured the huge hits 'To be a lover' and 'Sweet Sixteen'. His long term musical partner Steve Stevens had drifted after he had huge success on the Top Gun film score earning him a Grammy. It wasn't until 1987 when album 'Vital Idol' was released and a cover of 'Mony Mony' reached number one in the US and a top 10 in the UK. In terms of musical output that was pretty much that for Billy although he did appear on stage with the Who on a live version of the Rock show 'Tommy' where he played Cousin Kevin.

The remainder of the 1980s saw him go on a tour of his own but without any musical input, he mainly got into the press for his bad boy image of heavy drug use and partying. Plus a bad accident with his motorbike that resulted in a steel rod being inserted into his leg. Famously, Keith Forsey wrote a song for him from the brat pack film 'Breakfast club'. The track was 'Don't you forget about me' and Billy turned it down and the song was given to Simple Minds who earned themselves a number one in America.

During the 1980s Billy released 3 studio albums with 'Whiplash Smile' the only one going top 10 in the UK. He also released a greatest hits album that peaked at number 2 in the UK charts. He also released 15 singles with 3 of those going top 10 with 'White Wedding' and 'Rebel Yell' both peaking at 6 in 1985.

The Style Council

Following the break up of The Jam Paul Weller embarked on a new direction and met up with ex-Dexy's Midnight Runners keyboardist Mick Talbot to form the Style Council. There musical style showed plenty of diversity from funk, soul, avant-garde, Jazz to pop.

There first releases of 'Speak like a child' and 'long hot summer' but it was the single 'ever changing moods' that gained success not only in the UK but also in America.

The group started to reach it's commercial success in 1985 with the release of the 'Our Favourite shop' album. The album had a more political attack on certain agenda's such as Margaret Thatcher and middle England with songs like 'Walls come tumbling down', 'the lodgers' and 'come to Milton Keynes'. Such was Weller interest in politics and engaging young people in this that he teamed up singer activist Billy Bragg to form Red Wedge an organisation based on Labour policies to bring down the Conservative party who were in power at the time.

Taking a break from the political arena they released a live album 'Home and Abroad' and a studio album followed with the release of 'the cost of living' which had a more R&B sound with Curtis Mayfield mixing a lot of the tracks.

There last studio album 'confessions of a pop group' was commercially a negative and limped into the top 20 UK album charts. At the time the album was in many critics eyes very weak but as the years progress it has now been regarded as some of Wellers finest work as the album embarked on a concept theme that many probably did not understand.

The poor sales led to the final album 'Modernism: A new decade' being dropped by Polydor and subsequently the band split after the release of a greatest hits album. The album was eventually released in 1998! the reason for not releasing that the album was going down a more house music route and the label felt that too much change would not be good.

Along with Weller and Talbot, there were two other part time members of the band with Weller's wife Dee C Lee and drummer Steve White. Lee was famously backing singer for Wham and White who went on to drum for Oasis and The Who.

The band called it a day in 1989 but they were very prolific in there output during there short existence. They did release 5 studio album with 3 going top two with Our Favourite shop reaching number one in the UK. They release 21 singles in the UK with seven top 10 entries to there name. There first in 1983 was 'Speak like a child' reaching number 4. there highest entry was number 3 in 1983 with 'Long hot summer'. There last top 10 was in 1987 with 'it didn't matter'.

The Boss

During the 1980s there was no bigger patriotic rocker than Bruce Springsteen and the new jersey rocker was not afraid to send out his American sentiments.

He came to prominence in the seventies with his E Street band but the 1980s saw him as a global superstar with concert tickets the hottest ticket in town.

It was the release of his double album in 1980 'The river' that catapulted him into the conscious of the public. The album produced his first big hit 'Hungry hearts' and the music saw a style similar to the 1950/1960 old fashioned rock sound. A tour followed and then he released the acoustic album 'nebraska' Although the album commercially did not do well it did receive critical acclaim with Rolling Stone mag making it album of the year, also the album inspired U2 who did a similar Lo-Fi Recording for The Joshua tree.


1984 then saw a huge turnaround in fortunes when he released 'Born in the USA' album which sold over 30 million copies worldwide and 15 million alone in America. His music a mixture of American anthems with sympathies for the troops who fought in Vietnam.

The album saw a huge number of top 10 singles including Dancing in the dark which featured Courtney Cox on the video promo. Also Glory days and the classic rock pumping song Born in the USA. He also found time to star in the 1985 single 'We are the world' in there efforts to raise money for Africa.

Also during this crazy period he released a live album of his works between 1975 and 1985 and again this was a huge selling album due to his excellent live shows. It was a hard one to follow but Bruce then released the more laid back album 'tunnel of love'. The album featured the song 'Brilliant Disguise' which was a reflection of his personal relationships which saw the break up of his first marriage.

In 1988 he played a series of live shows in Berlin east Germany and many believe that this led to breakdown of the Berlin wall and the unification of Germany. Also he was now doing work for Amnesty International with a series of concerts.

An integral part of Bruce popularity particularly on the live sets was his backing band The E Street Band who supported him for many years. Also the backing vocal talents of Patti Scialfi whom he would later marry. The band remained unchanged until the recent deaths of Danny Federici and Clarence Clemons.

During the 1980s the boss released 4 studio albums of which Born in the USA and Tunnel of Love both reached number one in the UK album charts. He also released a live album which also went top 10 in the UK. In terms of singles he released 26 but only 5 hit the top 10 in the UK with dancing in the dark peaking the highest at number 4.