Various Artists - Music From The Original Motion Picture Boogie Nights (1997)

"Oh, I think you need all that bass." - Buck Swope

One of two pop/rock compilation soundtracks released from the 1997 Paul Thomas Anderson film.

Revisiting 5 of Boogie Nights' Best Soundtrack Moments

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: #84

Tracks:

1. Intro (Feel The Heat) - John C. Reilly & Mark Wahlberg
   I could do without it, but these guys should get a cut of the soundtrack profits too, right?
2. Best Of My Love - The Emotions (#1, 1977)
   If this sounds like an Earth, Wind & Fire song sung by females, maybe because that's what it is, written and produced by musical genius Maurice White. The bass line is awesome in its simplicity. Great groove throughout. This cut perfectly soundtracks the legendary introductory long-take that takes up the first 3 minutes of the film. Best of My Love deservedly won the Grammy award for Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals, ironically winning over the nominated tune Boogie Nights by Heatwave.
3. Jungle Fever - Chakachas (#8, 1972)
   I can't imagine my mother letting a 6 year old Mark listen to this tune in '72 what with all the heavy breathing and moaning (which makes this cut perfect for a movie about people in the porn industry, no?). As a parent, I can understand that way of thinking, but I sure was missing out on a sweet groove from this Belgian group. There really isn't much to it, but what's there is enough.
4. Brand New Key - Melanie (#1, 1971)
   Not a bad little ditty, I just can't stand this singer's voice. The roller skate and key imagery isn't very subtle, but again, perfect for the setting of the movie.
   
5. Spill The Wine - War with Eric Burdon (#3, 1970)
   That laid back bass line punctuated by organ hits is irresistible and as good today as it was 50 years ago.  Add some flute work to bizarre lyrics about gnomes and whatnot then you've really got something.  But the real hook is in the chorus.  A classic.
6. Got To Give It Up (Part 1) - Marvin Gaye (#1, 1977)
   Another stone-cold classic that's been sampled and otherwise plagiarized for over 40 years. Best ever use of bottle in a disco song?
   
7. Machine Gun - The Commodores (#22, 1974)
   Dadgum, that's some good sequencing. And the best use of Clavinet this side of Superstition.
   
8. Magnet & Steel - Walter Egan (#8, 1978)
   That's Stevie Nicks and Lindsay Buckingham on the track, insuring that the song sounds like something from Fleetwood Mac.  That's it, Walt, play the hot hand. I don't understand the use of a toy piano under the chorus.  Magnet and steel is strained metaphor, for sure, but I dig this tune anyway.
   
9. Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now - McFadden & Whitehead (#13, 1979)
   Classic Philadelphia International sound.  I remember dancing to this one in the jr high gym.  I can't find any fault with any of it: the great string part floating above a funky bass line played by Jimmy Williams backed up with vocals from The Sweethearts of Sigma.  Immediately recognizable, immediately danceable, immediately classic. "Don't wanna stop, please don't make me stop!" The duo's only Top 40 hit, this one would peak at #13, but topped the R&B chart and reached #10 on the disco chart.
   
10. Sister Christian - Night Ranger (#5, 1984)
    A fun tune to play air drums to, if nothing else. All the ladies loved this one, so I went along for the ride but I still have no idea what the song is about. I'm not a fan of power ballads, but if you insist on one, you can't do much better than this cut. Bonus points for the shape and build of the guitar solo.
11. Livin' Thing - ELO (#13, 1976)
    Jeff Lynne was somehow able to combine a mock-Spanish flourish intro and interludes with a Motown backbeat on the chorus and have wordless background angel choruses float above it all. You can't really dance to all of this odd pastiche, but it works anyway. 
12. God Only Knows - The Beach Boys (#39, 1966)
    If this isn't the most perfect pop song ever written, it's certainly in the discussion. Absolute sublime beauty. I could listen to this ten times in a row. And have.
13. The Big Top (Theme From 'Boogie Nights') - Michael Penn & Patrick Warren
    I could do without it, but these guys should get a cut of the soundtrack profits too, right?
    The Touch - Mark Wahlburg
    The dreaded hidden track rears its ugly head, this time in the form of a cover of a tune from the 1986 animated Transformers movie. And then it's back to track 12 for this humble blogger.

The only tune from the soundtrack I'd add to this set would be Andrew Gold's Lonely Boy. But man-oh-man 10 good tracks out of 13 is a heckuva batting average (.769) on a soundtrack CD so I ain't complaining.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: I am a big, bright, shining star. This album is a fantastic time capsule of a soundtrack and I've liked the movie from the first time I saw it, but as far as personal memories of the porn industry of the San Fernando Valley in the late '70s and early '80s? Nah - don't have any.