Running Scared: Music From The Motion Picture Soundtrack (1986)

Note: this release was originally purchased as a cassette tape, later replaced by a CD. My copy has a smooth-sided jewel case but was once relegated to the cut-out bins. "Cut-out" is a term carried over from vinyl record overages in which a notch would actually be cut out of the album cover. In the case of CDs, it is sometimes a small hole drilled through the bottom right hand corner, but there's no firm rule of how or where.

But I digress. How's the music?

While this isn't the best pop/rock soundtrack of the '80s*, it's one of the better pop/rock soundtracks of the '80s. Four singles were released: one monster hit, two moderate hits, and one I honestly don't remember. Most tracks comfortably crossover between rock and R&B but with Prince tearing up the charts with that approach, who could blame the movie producers for going that route? The producers were wise enough to sign the incomparable Rod Temperton to write and produce most of the songs. By this time, Temperton had already written a dozen Top 40 hits for the likes of Heatwave, Michael Jackson, Donna Summer, George Benson, and others. This soundtrack provided him with two more. All that quality work and the man doesn't even rate a credit on the album's front cover. I'm incredulous!

Album chart peaks:

• US Billboard 200: #43
• Billboard R&B: #38
• CashBox: #88

Tracks (compositions by Temperton marked with an asterisk):

1. Man Size Love* (#15 pop, #43 R&B, #18 dance) - Klymaxx
2. Sweet Freedom* (#7 pop, #17 R&B, #8 dance, #4 AC) - Michael McDonald
3. I Just Wanna Be Loved* - Ready For The World
4. Running Scared* - Fee Waybill
5. Once In A Lifetime Groove (#10 R&B, #9 dance) - New Edition
6. I Know What I Want - Patti LaBelle
7. Say You Really Want Me (#44 pop) - Kim Wilde
8. El Chase (Instrumental)* - The Rod Temperton Beat Wagon feat. Larry Williams
9. Never Too Late To Start* - The Rod Temperton Beat Wagon feat. Tommy Funderbunk

Before buying this CD, I hadn't heard some of these tunes in over 30 years and I had forgotten how good some of the cuts are. If you bought this soundtrack solely for Sweet Freedom, you're in for a treat because here's the full 7½ minute 12" version. The other single releases are enjoyable as are the deep cuts Running Scared and especially Never Too Late To Start.

Confession: for years, I thought the title of the instrumental El Chase was a silly way of substituting a Spanish article for an English article. In my mind, the real title of the track should have been 'The Chase' but The was switched out for El. Many years after the fact, it finally occurred to me that the chase scene in the movie takes place on Chicago's elevated train system, nicked named 'The El.' Facepalm. That said, it's a nice piece of tension-building soundtrack work, even better when you consider soundtracks were out of Temperton's usual comfort zone. But maybe a better title would have been Chase On The El??

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: I saw the movie with my future wife at the theater back in the summer of 1986. I rewatched it several months ago and can now opine that I prefer the soundtrack to the movie, your mileage may vary.


*So what's the best pop/rock soundtrack of the '80s? I have no idea, but I'd start the discussion by mentioning Footloose, Xanadu, Pretty In Pink, Times Square (yet to be released on CD! I'm incredulous again!), and Purple Rain. As others spring to mind, I'll give ya a call.