Various Artists - Valley Girl: Music From The Soundtrack (1994)

Not actually a soundtrack album, but close enough. Over ten years after the movie was released and long since the original soundtrack had been out of print, Rhino released this compilation of songs from the teen cult classic Valley Girl, a 1983 romantic comedy loosely based on Romeo And Juliet, starring a very young Nicholas Cage and the beautiful Deborah Foreman. (Love ya, Deborah, why do you never call me?) The movie was known for its killer New Wave soundtrack, so Rhino's release was welcomed by many who had searched fruitlessly for the original 6 song compilation EP. Typical awesome liner notes from Rhino. 

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: #155

Peak on CashBox album chart: #83

Tracks:

• A Million Miles Away - The Plimsouls: This group was actually featured in the movie performing this song. Despite a cult following, they never really hit it big so appearing in a night club is probably appropriate.
• Johnny, Are You Queer? - Josie Cotton: A fun song heard during the climatic prom scene in the movie. The lyrics were probably more controversial than they should have been because the joke is on the singer, not Johnny: typical teenager "he's not interested in her that way, so clearly he must not like girls" kind of logic.
• Eyes Of A Stranger - Payola$: boring pseudo-reggae song from a little known Canadian band. Yes, you read that right - Canadian reggae.
• Angst In My Pants - Sparks: The clever title is the only good thing about this cut.
• Who Can It Be Now? - Men At Work: A definitive New Wave single. That awesome sax lick is immediately recognizable, but I also love the lyrics about someone who just wants to be left alone.
• Everywhere At Once - The Plimsouls: More Plimsouls. Meh.
• I La La La Love You - Pat Travers' Black Pearl: typical pop/rock soundtrack filler, this song would have fit in on soundtracks for The Karate Kid, St. Elmo's Fire, or any other money making soundtrack project. Nothing memorable.
• He Could Be The One - Josie Cotton: I can't figure out how Cotton wasn't a bigger star. Her retro-60's pop sound is immediately accessible. Cotton sings the entire song as if she's on talking on the phone to her girlfriend, on the verge of a giggle fit, which makes the whole song completely endearing.
• Love My Way - Psychedelic Furs: see Just Can't Get Enough: New Wave Hits of the '80s (1994) Vol. 9.
• Jukebox (Don't Put Another Dime) -The Flirts : An obvious Go-Go's knock-off, they've become one of the '80s better one hit wonders. This is the one hit.
• The Fanatic - Felony: A great New Wave song, complete with bouncy bass and synths, with just a splash of guitar. It might have been a hit if they had edited out the out-of-tune piano solo that sounds like it was played on an instrument from a wild west saloon.
• She Talks In Stereo - Gary Myrick & The Figures: More rock than New Wave, this track is not interesting musically or lyrically.
• Oldest Story In the World - The Plimsouls: More Plimsouls. Either I'm missing something, or this group just isn't that good. Maybe they were inexpensive and that's why they're in the club scenes. ("Hey, guys, wanna be in a movie?")
• School Is In - Josie Cotton: More pop fun from Josie. This is the antithesis to Alice Cooper's School's Out, sung from the point of you of the girl who is so excited to go back to school (you know the type).
• I Melt With You - Modern English: see Just Can't Get Enough: New Wave Hits of the '80s (1994) Vol. 9. This song plays in its entirety (which is a movie rarity) during a falling-in-love montage AND plays again when the credits roll.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: Yes, I had the movie on VHS and now own the DVD version. I don't remember if I saw the movie in the theater upon release; it is doubtful that the film made it to Bay Cinema 4.