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.

Michael McDonald - If That's What It Takes (1982)

A voice like none other. Mikey had so much clout by the time he put out his first solo album that he didn't even bother putting the title on the album cover - the name says it all. With Ted Templeman on the boards, this album can't help but sound a like Michael's stint with the Doobies at times, but if you like that stuff (and I do), then kudos all around. Simply put, this is stuff is fantastic and it never fails to put me in a better mood, even if my singing along with Mike just doesn't do it justice. And just check out this supporting cast:

• Additional keyboards: Greg Phillinganes, Michael Boddicker, Michael Omartian
• Guitar: Dean Parks, Steve Lukather, Robben Ford
• Bass: Willie Weeks, Louis Johnson, Mike Porcaro
• Drums: Steve Gadd, Jeff Porcaro
• Percussion: Lenny Castro, Bobby LaKind, Paulinho Da Costa, Ted Templeman
• Saxophones: Edgar Winter, Tom Scott
• Backing vocals: Ed Sanford, Maureen McDonald, Kenny Loggins, Christopher Cross, Brenda Russell, Kathy Walker, Amy Holland

Press of the time:

• Musician: "McDonald's vocal and piano style have been copied by so many hacks that many of us felt oversaturated and began to ignore the artist's genuine talent. McDonald's accomplishment here demands that we ignore it no longer."
• Stereo Review: "It's better to have a derivative tune that no tune at all."
• Rolling Stone (★★★★): "confirms his place as the most compelling male pop singer of the past few years."
• RPM: "Without the Doobies, McDonald creates his own star image"
• CashBox: "one of those superstar releases that seems destined to live up to everyone's expectations"
• Billboard: "sophisticated melodies lacing r&b elements throughout his romantic pop designs, heartfelt lyrics probing matters of the heart and, above all, that deceptively deep, big tenor."
• Hi Fidelity: "With a soulful style as smooth as salted butter, McDonald's pop is the best kind of romantic corn."
• Robert Christgau (C+): "On his solo bid the El Lay soul man sounds like he should leave his therapist, not his group."

Album chart peaks:

• US Billboard Top 200: #6
• Billboard R&B: #10
• CashBox: #3
• Rolling Stone: #3

Tracks: They're all good, but lemme try to rank 'em.

10. I Can Let Go Now
9. Losin' End
8. Playin' By The Rules
7. No Such Luck
6. That's Why
5. Believe In It
4. If That's What It Takes
3. Love Lies
2. I Keep Forgettin' (Every Time You're Near)
1. I Gotta Try

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: In 1982, I was trying to adopt a skinny tie/spiky hair/pinbacks New Wave persona so the thought of purchasing this mainstream album when it was released never crossed my mind. Unbelievable. My mistake, admittedly, but that fact didn't keep me from enjoying the singles on the radio and catching up with this thing later on.

My wife and I had the pleasure of seeing Mr. McDonald in concert this past summer and I'll be doggoned if he doesn't have so many hits that he can start a show with whatever smash he damn well pleases. In our case it was I Keep Forgettin' (Every Time You're Near) (#4 pop, #8 AC, #7 R&B). FWIW, Chaka Khan wasn't the supporting act on this date, but McDonald's wife Amy Holland made a brief onstage appearance to sing a duet on one of his newer tunes (Hail Mary, maybe?).

Previously revisited for the blog:
The Ultimate Collection (2005)
The Christmas Collection (2004)
The New York Rock And Soul Revue - Live At The Beacon (1991)

Michael McDonald - The Christmas Collection (2004)

Strangely, this album was originally released in 2001 as In the Spirit: A Christmas Album, then re-released 3 years later as a "best of" collection. Same songs, same sequence. (Contractual problems? Blatant money grab?) Of the 11 tracks, only 3 are traditional Christmas tunes. The rest are originals, so this plays almost like a traditional release instead of a Christmas release. If it's approached with that mindset, and if you normally like McDonald's music, it's one of the better Christmas albums you'll hear. Guest appearances from Kirk Whalum and James Ingram.

Tracks: The best cut is the great R&B/gospel take on the spiritual Children Go Where I Send Thee which is a song we never get to hear enough around the holidays. The original songs like To Make A Miracle, Every Time Christmas Comes Around, and World Out Of a Dream sound like McDonald's usual retro soft rock/blue-eyed soul. Also included is a beautiful original ballad, Peace. If you're looking for something a little different this holiday season, you should at least preview some of the tracks I've mentioned. There are a few tracks that seem a little contrived, like the arrangement of White Christmas/Winter Wonderland and the original House Full Of Love.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None.

Previously revisited for the blog:
The Ultimate Collection (2005)
The New York Rock And Soul Revue - Live At The Beacon (1991)

The New York Rock And Soul Revue - Live At The Beacon (1991)

Yesterday's passing of Phoebe Snow led me to pull out this CD. In the early '90s, Steely Dan's Donald Fagen got together some like-minded musicians and performed a brief series of concerts as the New York Rock And Soul Revue. This group included Snow, Michael McDonald, Boz Scaggs, Charles Brown, Eddie and David Brigati (from The Rascals). Basically an all-star cover band. They play some old classics as well as some of their own material, never straying far from the better original arrangements. The CD would have been much better if 1) Donald Fagen didn't talk between numbers, and 2) they had stuck to the soul music and left their own material for another time and place (except for Charles Brown because he's a legend and can do whatever he wants). Overall, it's good, but not great.

Press of the time:

• Billboard: "all hands sound like they're having a rousing good time."
• Stereo Review: "The album won't change the world, but Fagen's New York Rock and Soul Revue is good, cleanly recorded fun."

Album chart peaks:

• US Billboard 200: #170
• CashBox: #92

Tracks: Phoebe Snow easily has the best showing here, covering Knock On Wood, Shakey Ground, and At Last. Her versions stick close to the originals, but her voice is so powerful, she does justice to the material. McDonald gives us a quality cover of Jackie Wilson's Lonely Teardrops and, of course, does a great job reprising his role as a backup singer on the Steely Dan tune Pretzel Logic (one of the better tracks on the CD). Boz Scaggs' cover of Drowning In The Sea Of Love is bland. Plus, they have Boz sing, but not play guitar? Whose idea was that? Charles Brown, of course, brings it, but they only have him on one tune.

For more information on the brief life of the CD longbox,
go visit The Legend of the Longbox.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: I'm sure I purchased this when it was released, but I don't have any real memories of it from that time. I rarely listen to this disc, but occasionally a song will pop up while iTunes is shuffling.

Michael McDonald - The Ultimate Collection (2005)

McDonald has one of the most distinctive baritone voices in pop/rock music, plus he's a fantastic keyboard player and songwriter. Around 1980, he was in high demand, appearing on records by the Doobie Brothers, Steely Dan, Toto, Christopher Cross, and Kenny Loggins. As the CD title implies, this is an inclusive look back at his career. I guess you've pretty much called it quits when you title a CD as the ultimate collection. Still, this is a strong collection. For casual fans like me, this is the only McDonald disc you'll need. [spoiler alert: it wasn't the only McDonald disc I needed] These days, it seems McDonald is content to cover Motown tunes (Ain't No Mountain High Enough leads off this disc). I can't blame him; I would, too.

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: #19 (Aug 27, 2005)

Tracks:

	Title	Year	Pop	AC
1	Ain't No Mountain High Enough	2004	111	5
2	What A Fool Believes	1979	1	22
3	I Keep Forgettin'	1982	4	8
4	Yah Mo B There	1983	19	10
5	Takin' It To The Streets	1976	13
6	Sweet Freedom	1986	7	4
7	Minute By Minute	1979	14	13
8	On My Own	1986	1	2
9	You Belong To Me	1977
10	Real Love	1980	5	10
11	I Stand For You	1993	114	21
12	It Keeps You Runnin'	1976	37
13	Take It To Heart	1990	98	4
14	No Love To Be Found	2000
15	I Gotta Try	1982	44	28
16	No Lookin' Back	1985	34	18
17	Blink Of An Eye	1993
18	Open The Door (Urban Remix)	2000
19	Lost In The Parade	1985		40

The nice thing about this CD is it offers all the hits with The Doobie Brothers (What A Fool Believes, Takin' It To The Streets, Minute by Minute, You Belong To Me, Real Love, and It Keeps You Runnin') plus his hit duets (Yah Mo B There with James Ingram and On My Own with Patti LaBelle) as well as his solo hits (I Keep Forgettin' and Sweet Freedom) and the vaguely familiar "almost" hits (Take It To Heart, I Gotta Try, No Lookin' Back). Then there's the "newer" adult contemporary stuff I've never heard before: 1993's reggae-flavored I Stand For You and the NOLA-flavored Blink Of An Eye; 2000's No Love To Be Found and Open The Door. These tracks aren't bad (in fact, Blink Of An Eye is great), it's just that I don't buy greatest hits CDs to discover new music.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: For what it's worth, I had the soundtrack to Running Scared (which contained Sweet Freedom and other Rod Temperton-written goodness) on cassette. [update: I saw the Running Scared CD in a used bin and couldn't pass it up. A music junkie's gotta have his fix.]