Retro Soundtrack Review: Top Gun (1986)
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With all this craziness going on around Tom Cruise, I thought it would be nice to remember all the good things he has given us in the past, so I present to you Top Gun starring Tom Cruise, one of the greatest ever soundtracks. He might be crazier than a bag of snakes, but I love him for Top Gun. Let us go back to 1986 and take a look at one of the phenomenons of the 80s, Top Gun!
Kenny Loggins! What happened to him? He made some amazing music for movies, especially in the 80s. On Top Gun there are 3 tracks from him, “Danger Zone”, “Playing With The Boys” and a dance remix of “Playing With The Boys”, all great songs. “Danger Zone” was a massive hit in USA, peaking at #2 on Billboard Hot 100. “Playing With The Boys” wasn’t released as a single as far as I know, but it still makes me want to tear off my shirt and run to the beach playing volleyball. Of course, Top Gun wouldn’t be as great without the love scenes between Tom Cruise and Kelly McGillis, including the silly rendition of “You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling” by The Righteous Brothers and one of the most powerful love songs of the 80s, nay the century, “Take My Breath Away” by Berlin. It deservedly won the Academy Award for Best Original Song as well as the Golden Globe for Best Original Song in 1987. Of course it reached number 1 in both USA and the UK.
Top Gun also contained some of the most memorable movie score cues of the 80s by none other than the legend Harold Faltermeyer, we salute you! Isn’t “Top Gun Theme” such a great song? It’s just exciting and musically beautiful to listen to, even after all these years.
Of course it doesn’t end there as the whole album is filled to the brim with great songs such as the powerful “Mighty Wings” by Cheap Trick, “Hot Summer Nights” by Miami Sound Machine and “Through The Fire” by Larry Greene to the beautiful ballads “Heaven In Your Eyes” by Loverboys and “Destination Unknown” by Marietta. It also includes classics like the already mentioned “You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling” by The Righteous Brothers, “The Dock Of The Bay” by Otis Redding and the unforgettable “Great Balls Of Fire” by Jerry Lee Lewis.
If you want to know what the 80s was all about, then all you have to do is listen to this amazing soundtrack. Listen to it below and check out the music videos for more Top Gun greatness.
Berlin - Take My Breath Away
Kenny Loggins - Dangerzone
Cheap Trick - Mighty Wings
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Comments
You know I’m with you here. This soundtrack is one where people younger than us would think us crazy if we admitted to liking it, but it’s just so damn cheesy and catchy, as is the movie itself.
Fletch’s last blog post..TGITDNMAR (1/18/08)
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Kelly: Don’t worry about it, everyone had the cassette, except me who “lent” it from my big sister, lol.
About the Cloverfield music, I can’t seem to find the one song I am interested in at the moment. Roar! by Michael Giacchino. I will keep looking 
Fletch: Oh yeah, it’s just pure fun, and what’s wrong with that? Nothing, that’s what!
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Oh, do I feel old. I actually had the Top Gun soundtrack on vinyl. I bought it later on CD in college, and I used to listen to the big theme before and after exams. Yes, I got pumped up to Top Gun. I’m a big geek, you see, and I kind of looked at exams like a huge sporting event. Thanks for the trip down memory lane!
GeekMom’s last blog post..Here’s a New Geek Shirt for my Blogging Buddies
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Ooh vinyl! I had one vinyl, it was some kiddieshow vinyl I remember. Hmm, that’s not a bad idea! Wish I was as smart as you when I went to school. Top Gun!
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I love the movie Top Gun and it’s sound track. I keep it in my car and play it weekly. I didn’t think that the move or the sound track are cheezy in any way, I love them. Top Gun is one of my favorite movies. I had the VHS tape of the movie back in 86 or 87 and the cassette of the sound track. I still like Tom Cruise.
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Me too! I have seen the movie many times and the soundtrack is of course frequently played. They just don’t make music (or movies) like that anymore. Miss the 80s.
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Soundtrack Geek, You are the best. I have the cassette and a 45 of Kenny Loggins Danger Zone. I have to say that part of the magic of that soundtrack is someone named Georgio Moroder (hope I got that spelling right).
He is worth a retro if I haven’t found it already on your sight. This is now one of my favorite blogs. You have definitely found an audience in me.
I used to jam on the first few seconds of “Danger Zone” almost as if I was mixing it. My favorite line: “You don’t know what you can do until you get it up as far as you can go.”
I have another retro soundtrack for you. I’ll email you.
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Kenny Loggins and Dangerzone… I still can see those planes flying through the golden sky, amazing stuff!
I also have the complete score by Harold Faltermeyer and it’s a treat!
I’ll email you
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I LOVED this soundtrack when I was a kid. I had the cassette (shut up…LOL). Of course, I guess I should also admit that I had a crush on Tom Cruise back then as well. Truly - we had no idea.
Also - thank you for the heads up on the Cloverfield Soundtrack! Apparently, they gave out “party mixes” at the premiere and they are now selling on ebay!
Kelly’s last blog post..Indiana Jones The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull on Vanity Fair
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