Since September 2010, this blog has recorded the journey of this music junkie as I attempt to listen to all the music in my CD collection. CDs revisited in their entirety from start to finish - no skipping tracks, no shuffle. Compact Discs only - no vinyl, no tapes, no files.

Saturday, November 27, 2010

Various Artists - Moonlighting: The Television Soundtrack Album (1987)


I really liked this TV series, but haven't seen a full episode since the '80s. I normally wouldn't have purchased this release on CD since I didn't even bother buying an LP version back in the '80s, but I had to have a digital version of Since I Fell for You recorded by Bob James, David Sanborn, and Al Jarreau. This cut is so good, it alone is worth the price of the CD. Nowadays, I would have just downloaded the single track from iTunes, but that wasn't an option when I purchased this CD. So I purchased this CD because I thought, in addition to Since I Fell for You, it would be nice to have a recording of the Al Jarreau theme.

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: #50 (Aug 29, 1987)

Tracks:
  1. Moonlighting (Theme) - Al Jarreau (#23 pop, #1 adult contemporary)
  2. Limbo Rock - Chubby Checker (season 2, episode 5, "My Fair David")
  3. This Old Heart Of Mine (Is Weak For You) - The Isley Brothers  (season 2, episode 6, "Knowing Her")
  4. Blue Moon - Cybill Shepherd (season 2, episode 4, "The Dream Sequence Always Rings Twice")
  5. I Told You I Love Ya, Now Get Out! - Cybill Shepherd (season 2, episode 4, "The Dream Sequence Always Rings Twice")
  6. Good Lovin' - Bruce Willis (season 3, episode 7, "Atomic Shakespeare")
  7. Since I Fell For You - Bob James, David Sanborn & Al Jarreau (season 3, episode 11, "Blonde on Blonde")
  8. When A Man Loves A Woman - Percy Sledge (season 3, episode 14, "I Am Curious… Maddie")
  9. Someone To Watch Over Me - Linda Ronstadt (season 3, episode 13, "Maddie's Turn to Cry")
  10. Stormy Weather - Billie Holiday (season 3, episode 14, "I Am Curious… Maddie")

This is one of the most inconsistent compilation CDs in my collection. I've already written about the Jarreau cuts, this CD also includes a few R&B standards: Chubby Checker's Limbo Rock, The Isley Brothers' This Old Heart of Mine, and Percy Sledge's When I Man Loves a Woman. The CD ends with a couple of quality standards, exquisitely performed: Linda Ronstadt singing Someone to Watch Over Me (Nelson Riddle arrangement) and Billie Holiday singing Stormy Weather (wow). By far, the worst part of the CD is tracks 4, 5, & 6 when series stars Cybill Shepard and Bruce Willis try to contribute. Big mistake, guys, although it doesn't seem to have hurt your careers. Bruce, don't try to sing R&B on the same disc as Percy Sledge. And Cybill, don't try to sing Blue Moon on the release where there's a number by Billie Holiday. However, I can't say enough about this version of Since I Fell for You. Highly recommended.


Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None with this CD, but I remember watching the TV series in college. It was one of the few TV series I watched in college (along with The Equalizer and L.A. Law). I couldn't watch a lot of TV because I always spent my evenings practicing. ;)

3 comments:

  1. Great show, though it frayed as the years went on.

    The album did disappoint as a whole but the tracks you mentioned as standouts definitely compensated.

    Lenny Welch's original "Since I Fell For You" has always been a hauntingly romantic song in my book and the cover does it more than justice.

    I'm on season 1, disc 3 this week and probably next week as well. Love the show but I like to lay on couch and watch it, undistracted. soaking it all in.

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  2. Wonder why they included the Al Jarreau version of Since I Fell For You instead of the Lenny Welch version that was used in the pilot?

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