Songs of the Day: 80's Soundtracks

Here are two often overlooked songs from two 80's soundtracks: "Porky's III" and "Hard to Hold".

The first is "High School nights" by Dave Edmunds from the "Porky's III: Porky's Revenge" soundtrack.  For some reason, the third film in the "Porky's" trilogy had the best soundtrack of them all.  It is almost as if they diverted the money they would have paid screenwriters to the soundtrack fund.  The "Porky's III" soundtrack featured: Jeff Beck, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Carl Perkins, Clarence Clemons, and Willie Nelson! However, what I remember best is "High School Nights" playing over the end credits.




Next is "Love Somebody" from what was to be Rick Springfield's springboard to superstardom, "Hard To Hold".  It did not quite work out that way. Springfield was on a roll, coming off of a few years as "Dr. Noah Drake" on "General Hospital.  He writes in the liner notes in his career anthology "Written in Rock": "I'm sorry, but that movie sucked.  It's one of those situations where you think 'the script isn't very good, but I can overcome it'.  Sorry, you can't."  At any rate, the soundtrack did have some good Springfield originals: "Don't Walk Away", "Bop 'Til You Drop" and this one, "Love Somebody".



Rick went on to have more hits in the late 80's, but he never quite got back to the level of stardom he almost had. 

80's Pop Flashback

About two years ago a friend and I went to Star Plaza in Merrillville Indiana to see Rick Springfield (aka Dr. Noah Drake on "General Hospital").

At the time, he was promoting his new album, but of course there was a generous helping of oldies but goodies: "Jessie's Girl", "Don't Talk To Strangers", "Love Somebody", "Human Touch" and this often overlooked and underrated single, "Kristina".  I think it was written about a crush he had on a GH co-star, Kristina Wagner, wife of Jack Wagner who also had an 80's hit, "All I Need".