Soundtrack Saturdays: Blood Tracks by Easy Action

It has been quite some time since I last did a Soundtrack Saturday and I figured I would start it back up by exploring some of the unsung heroes of the 80’s horror movie soundtrack scene. There are bands out there that had been picked and brought in to do a song for a soundtrack that may not have launched in the US at the time of the release of the film so maybe people being curious about the artist in the film might generate some well needed publicity and then sometimes some bands just live in that horror soundtrack infamy. I was watching a horror film when I decided that I was going to look into horror soundtracks to pick the best of the crop for a potential radio show. Sweden as of late has been a hot bed for that sleazy 80’s rock style, but little do people know that there were a lot of bands from that region of the globe with Europe being the obvious more popular band. Easy Action was a band from Sweden who were trying to make a name for themselves much like Europe or Norway’s TNT had done when they hooked up with filmmakers Mats Helge Olsson and Derek Ford to be in the film Blood Tracks. The film follows a band called Solid Gold (Easy Action) as they go to film a music video at an abandoned warehouse, but unfortunately they get stranded by an avalanche. The song I have for you guys is the title track from the film that is as raunch filled as you could possibly want from a mid 80’s metal track. There is some interruption during the track because it’s directly from the film, but check it out below:

Soundtrack Saturday: Holiday Road by Lindsey Buckingham

There was one thing that was for certain when it came to that decadent decade known as the 1980’s and that was that there were films that came with iconic tracks. Another statement that was true, if John Hughes’s name was attached to the film somehow, then it meant that iconic music would be on it for sure. That was definitely the case with today’s Soundtrack Saturday track Holiday Road by Fleetwood Mac guitar man Lindsey Buckingham. The track was written and featured for one of the most iconic 80’s comedies in National Lampoon’s Vacation. The film starred Chevy Chase as Clark Griswold, a man determined on giving his family the vacation of a lifetime by bringing them on a road trip to Wally World. Every time you hear the song, you can’t help but immediately think of the film and how much fun the film was because it kicked off the opening titles of the film. A very iconic track which Lindsey Buckingham played every instrument on the track. Check the extended version below:

Soundtrack Saturdays: Good Girls by Elle King

For today’s Soundtrack Saturday track, we are exploring the soundtrack to the brand new Ghostbusters film which I reviewed for my other blog (read here) which I am going to throw my two cents in and say it’s awesome. The soundtrack to the brand new Ghostbusters film is a very interesting one that features music from Fall Out Boy featuring Missy Elliot, G Eazy, DeBarge, DMX, and our featured artist for today Elle King (she is Rob Schneider’s daughter). I really like Elle King’s music because it touches upon a little bit of soul, blues, mixed with elements of pop music today. The track she provided for the soundtrack is called Good Girls and while it’s a basic riff, it moves you and you can hear those elements I described in the track. I think the thing I love about her the most is the raspy voice which has that Janis Joplin quality to it. Do yourself a favor and check out the film and this amazing track below:

Soundtrack Saturday: St. Elmo’s Fire (Man In Motion) by John Parr

It’s kind of a funny story as to how I chose this week’s soundtrack Saturday track and it all has to do with a cute commercial I watched. I was watching a commercial that featured the story of how Rock, Paper, and Scissors all met and became friends. It explains why when you play rocks, paper, scissors why each beats whatever is thrown. Well while that commercial is going on, there is a song playing and I wanted to know what the song was. My brother immediately informed me that it was the title track to the film of the same name in St. Elmo’s Fire. I still have yet to see the film which features the brat pack (Emilio Estevez, Rob Lowe, Judd Nelson, Ally Sheedy, etc.), but nevertheless I chose St. Elmo’s Fire (Man In Motion) by John Parr as this week’s soundtrack Saturday track. The track is your typical 80’s soundtrack song with the synths and keys in those songs which could be used as inspirational music. Check it out below:

Soundtrack Saturday: Finest Girl (Bin Laden) by The Lonely Island

As you can see I went to see Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping which stars The Lonely Island in this generations This Is Spinal Tap or even CB4 style Mockumentary. Much like the two films that I mentioned, this film also has some very hilarious songs that were recorded by the fictional group in the film with The Lonely Island being the group that recorded the tracks for the fictional character Connor4Real (Andy Samberg). One of the tracks that Connor4Real sings in the film was one of my favorites in the film in the track Finest Girl (Bin Laden) and that is today’s Soundtrack Saturday track. The song is basically about a girl who wants Connor4Real to have sex with her, but in a way that even he is trying to figure out in the track. The song is just completely outrageous, but it also show the groups brilliance in comedy. I provided the music video for you guys as well so you can see what I am talking about. Check it out below and see Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping.

Soundtrack Saturday: No Easy Way Out by Robert Tepper

The other day I was at work when a song came on that I immediately recognized and loved. The song I am talking about comes from one of my favorite Rocky movies in Rocky IV and it’s called No Easy Way Out and the track is by Robert Tepper. The song is most famous because its attached to the montage in the film when Rocky (Sylvester Stallone) goes for a ride in his sports car while he thinks about Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers), fighting Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren), and other things in his life. The song was originally featured in the film before it made it on to the album of the same name. One of my favorite things about this song is the cool bass line in the track along with the synths. The other thing I love about this song is the voice of Robert Tepper which fit this track perfectly. Check out the soundtrack which features music from Kenny Loggins, Survivor, James Brown, John Cafferty & The Beaver Brown Band, and more. Check out the track below:

Soundtrack Saturday: Out For The Count by Winger

For today’s Soundtrack Saturday track, I searched high and low for a soundtrack that I hadn’t covered yet by a band I haven’t featured yet. Never fear because I found a band and a film and here it is. 1989 saw the release of The Karate Kid Part III which seemed to be the end of the trilogy or at least what we thought was. While the soundtrack featured songs from the likes of The Pointer Sisters, Boys Club, and Money Talks, it also featured a track from a very underrated 80’s rock band that went by the name of Winger. The soundtrack featured a track that was never released on anything else in Out For The Count. The track is fast paced and electrifying like only Winger would do with some amazing guitar playing from Reb Beach which was a definite highlight. It’s an absolute hell raiser and it kicks plenty of ass further showcasing my point at how these guys were so underrated. Check it out below and check out the film The Karate Kid Part III.

Soundtrack Saturday: The Imperial March (Darth Vader’s Theme) by John Williams

For today’s Soundtrack Saturday track, I chose a special track because today is a special occasion. George Lucas, one of the geniuses behind one of the coolest Sci-Fi movie adventures of all time in Star Wars was born on May 14, 1944 making today, George’s 72ND birthday. So for today’s Soundtrack Saturday track, I chose one of my all time favorite songs from the film The Empire Strikes Back in The Imperial March (Darth Vader’s Theme) by John Williams. John Williams is a master of film scores and a absolute legend as well who will forever be synonymous with Star Wars in my opinion. The films in the series changed my life and it expanded my imagination and made me a fan for life. The track itself starts off with what sound like a futuristic military march theme that has always been associated with the evil empire. It’s an absolute amazing track whose tempo is in that opening sequence, but then it slows down a little before picking right back up. Check out the track below and I want to wish George Lucas a very Happy Birthday!!!

Soundtrack Saturday: I’m Alive by Electric Light Orchestra

For this week’s Soundtrack Saturday track, I wanted to cover a band and soundtrack that I hadn’t done before. I was struggling to find a new one after 66 posts when I stumbled upon this one. I wasn’t going to post Olivia Newton John on the blog, but when I saw Electric Light Orchestra contributed to the Xanadu soundtrack, I immediately knew who I wanted to cover. The band contributed just about half of the soundtrack to the film that starred Olivia Newton John, Michael Beck, and Gene Kelly in the romantic fantasy musical film. The song I chose for today is the track I’m Alive and it’s featured right int he part when the muses emerge from the painting with one of the muses being Olivia Newton John’s character Kira (Terpsichore). You should definitely check out the track because it’s classic ELO and what is cool is in the closing coda when the band’s name is spelled out in Morse code. Check it out below:

Soundtrack Saturday: Ultra Mega by Powerman 5000

It’s starting to get a little harder after 66 posts to find a soundtrack that I didn’t cover for the blog, but never fear because I found one. Back in the year 2000, Miramax released the film Dracula 2000 which was a take on the Bram Stoker classic where Dracula is resurrected in the year 2000. Ultimately, the film was a commercial disappointment even though I liked it, but what was really great about the film was the soundtrack of course. If you were a fan of the metal and Nu-Metal genre back in those days, then you were super excited for this soundtrack. The soundtrack featured music from the likes of Slayer, Disturbed, System Of A Down, Godhead featuring Marilyn Manson, Pantera, Linkin Park, and today’s featured artist Powerman 5000 to name a few. Powerman 5000 was running off of the success of their previous Tonight The Stars Revolt! when they recorded the track Ultra Mega for the soundtrack which features that high octane in  your face energy that the band was known for. Check out the track below and definitely check out the soundtrack as well.