Craig Safan & Various Artists: Lady Beware (ULTRA RARE)

Before doing anything, PLEASE read the description.

I am pleased to announce that I am the proud owner of the extremely rare soundtrack to the already-rare 1987 film, "Lady Beware," a Scotti Bros. film that need to have a DVD release already... AND HOW?!

This particular soundtrack, on CD, resides from Germany - Intercord-847.328 - which would most likely explain the artwork. Also, there is a MEGA-rare release of this soundtrack on CD in Japan, yet the people here in the States are issued an out-of-print cassette or LP vinyl variant.

Getting to the actual music itself, this soundtrack features ten tracks for a total of about 42:00, give or take, with songs from artists like Robert Tepper, Abe LaMarca (AKA: LaMarca) and three amazing non-album tracks by France's very own, David Hallyday. Please note the following facts in regards to this soundtrack:

1) Tepper's tune, "Restless World," was theoretically featured on his 1986 debut album "No Easy Way Out," an album well known for its title track being the hit-single from "Rocky IV" - though, chances are it may sound a little different, as it sounds like it is in a higher stereo state. This track was never included in any of the American releases - in other words, this was not on the U.S. vinyl or the hard-to-find cassette.

2) LaMarca also makes a non-album contribution to this soundtrack, aside from his one and only album, his S/T vinyl, as well aside a prior non-album rarity called "Hold on Blue Eyes" from the soundtrack - questionably on CD - to the 1986 film, "The Wraith." Legend has it that his S/T album was released on CD at a time in Japan, but I can almost guarantee you that it is well out of print.

3) Lastly, I would HAVE to talk about David Hallyday's contributory material in terms of "Lady Beware:" For starters, he was well known in France for his debut album, "True Cool," as well as here in the States, for a time, with his "Rock n' Heart" album. Also, he did some more contributory music for the 1987 film entitled, "He's my Girl," a film also by Scotti Bros. Pictures, - the title song for that film scored a single release, and there is actually a music video for it on YouTube. For this film, three more great tracks were made, including a title song that would score as a short-lived single in Japan.

But wait, THERE'S MORE...!

In addition to some killer vocal tracks, there are five additional tracks that would make up around - give or take - twenty minutes of instrumental material by Craig Safan, the same Safan who made music for films like "The Last Starfighter," "Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins" and "Stand & Deliver..." just to name a few. Here, Safan uses an equal combination of electronic sequences and orchestral elements, creating a reason as to why great music like this is in dire NEED OF RECOGNITION!

Another rumor has it that this soundtrack - the Japanese release - was seen on e-Bay at a time for big bucks; in fact, CamelBlue (of Hardrockaorheaven) claims that, and I quote, that this CD has "been seen on e-bay with bids of over $5oo." I guess if you think about it, this CD is right there with the ultra-rare Japanese CD soundtrack to "Heavenly Bodies."

As it is shown on the artwork at the bottom, this is the CD variant exclusively from West Germany; I will not mind providing this soundtrack to fellow bloggers, but the password for this particular post differs from that of any prior posts here at SB's, so if anyone is interested, send me an e-mail at the address above and I will be happy to give you the password - PLEASE keep in mind that when this post expires, I will NOT immediately re-post it, though I promise it will come back.


















Enjoy!

Henry Mancini & Various: Blind Date

Well, well, well... I thought I would never say this: Here is the soundtrack to the 1987 romantic comedy, "Blind Date," with Kim Basinger and Bruce Willis.

Normally, this soundtrack would sound as if it was on LP/vinyl, but I somehow managed to locate a relatively priced CD variant, which is surprisingly out of print and hard to find. As a result, the music is presented at a killer 320 kbps bit rate. What is interesting about this soundtrack, on CD anyway, is that two other countries rather than just the states has this on CD; yet this, being the rarest variant thus far, seems to be contradictorily common.

With that information, allow me to justify the music: for starters, you are provided with non-album music by such common artists as Jennifer Warnes and Gary Morris, Billy Vera & the Beaters, Stanley Jordan, Hubert Tubbs, Keith L'Niere and even Henry Mancini, the film's score composer. Basically, 80's pop best defines this soundtrack; yet with the alleged "theme" to the film, "Simply Meant to Be" - Morris and Warnes - somehow fills a whole with a touch of AOR, and the same goes well for the supposed in-film single, "Talked About Lover," which I have always mistaken for "Talked about Love." In any case, this CD has its ups and not too many down, so that the listener would most likely have some of these songs, vocal or instrumental, stuck in their head every now and then.

One more thing just for the sake of complete disclosure: I am a man of my word, and this soundtrack was technically posted on another site prior to today. Here is the person responsible for inspiring me to present this particular soundtrack, today, to all music lovers - preferably worldwide - after "modifying" their blog-site for the better. Feel free to grab this soundtrack from that site, only if your heart desires. That said, enjoy some rare/unknown 80's pop music, with just a slight pinch of AOR.


















The password is:
SB-1989

Enjoy!

Harold Faltermeyer + Various: White Magic

The sun is shining, kids are acting up around my area, and the weather is fairly calm; and yet, here I am randomly browsing the most typical of e-Bay, Amazon, GEMM, and some other sites devoted to selling CD's and such, when I am instantly welcomed by this one-of-a-kind treasure, and I DO mean one-of-a-kind...

This is the MEGA rare soundtrack, originally issued in Germany in 1994 as far as I know, to Willy Bogner's 1994 sports/documentary film, "White Magic." Just so you know, I have heard about the existence of this particular rarity - courtesy of a search for music by Harold Faltermeyer in which I conducted on a few sites - and I am somewhat surprised, and for that matter not surprised, as to what is featured on here.

For starters, you get some wonderful in-film music from such artists as Johnny Logan, Sally Olfdield, Foreigner, and even Harold Faltermeyer. Plus, you get music from many more artists. Though some of these songs are taken from other albums, I can assure you that they are either underrated, or too overrated to be remembered.

First, here are the songs in which were previously released, and/or taken from other albums:

-I'm on My Way - Gotthard
-Move - H-Blockx
-Eye to Eye - Roger Chapman*
-The Race - Yello
-Joy of Life - Kenny G
-Waves - Snap

*"Eye to Eye," though a rarity, was previously released and featured in Willy Bogner's "Fire, Ice & Dynamite (1990)."

In addition to some previously released music, this CD also features ten tracks worth of in-film music.

Here are the in-film songs:

-White Magic - Johnny Logan
-Crash & Burn - Foreigner*
-Morning Has Broken - Sally Oldfield
-Crystal Dreams - Alexis
-One Night With You - Sidekick
-White Magic (instrumental)**
-Ago Di Sciora**
-Big Mountain**
-Love Theme from White Magic**
-Fuchsbaupolka - Markus Wasmeier Trio

*Foreigner's "Crash and Burn," a true rarity, was technically released before this CD came out, but for some mysterious reason it was excluded from their 1994 album, "Mr. Moonlight;" however, it was featured on that same album one year later, but only as a bonus track on the rare Japanese pressing.

**Instrumental music arranged, produced and performed by Harold Faltermeyer.

I gotta say, this film's title track, performed by Irish singer Johnny Logan, is awesome, and perhaps the trademark of this CD. Yet as "great" as I think the title song is, along with some of the other tunes on here, I must respond to Faltermeyer's instrumentals in a different direction: For instance, his instrumental cues for this album features unusual orchestral elements here and there, while his tried and true electronic elements - his signature talent - are put on a slight hold. On the flip-side, however, Faltermeyer does stick a perfect landing with his exclusive imprint when it comes to producing most of the in-film music, with the exception of the last song, "Fuchsbaupolka," which is a soothing variety of acoustic guitars.

Well, I guess at some point, Mr. Faltermeyer would eventually implement orchestral elements to a soundtrack. This would be the equivalent of late composer Jerry Goldsmith, one who was well-known for symphonic masterpieces, trying his hands on synthesized/electronic elements.

Oh, and for the record, both "White Magic" and "Morning has Broken" received a CD-single release in Germany in 1994.

Nonetheless, this is a rarity, and I have yet to actually see this offered on another blog, and I am not just referring to the title song, and perhaps another song as well. In closing, this CD does rock, as it is consistent of rock, jazz, electronic, and even symphonic tunes that will eventually enhance your listening pleasures. However, for the sake of disclosure, I would SERIOUSLY recommend hearing some of this music, first, before even trying to go hunting for a copy of this pretty nice rarity. If anyone is considering trying to find a copy of this CD, good luck!


















The password is:
SB-1989

Enjoy!


UPDATE: Thanks to a hell of a great friend of mine, I bring to you guys/gals the rare "movie version" of this film's title song. This pure treasure was taken from of an ultra-rare three track CD single, featuring the radio edit, film edit, and the instrumental version. This is a killer extended version of the title song.

Johnny Logan - White Magic (Movie Version)