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Yes, Mr. Soundtrack himself, Kenny Loggins, scored yet another hit soundtrack song after Caddyshack's "I'm Alright." I can't decide which is bigger, "Footloose" or "Danger Zone" from Top Gun. Well, the former's dramatic opening thudding drums and heavy surf guitars, sports a rollicking upbeat rhythm that'll light the spark of any party, calling all in sundry to cut footloose, kick off those Sunday shoes.

Another hit single, with the funky "Lucky Star" style beat, was R&B singer Deniece Williams' "Let's Hear It For The Boy" which is a song of support for an underdog sort of man, a guy who sings off-key, who isn't too rich, or a good dresser, but counts him in for being a loving one-man show.

"Almost Paradise," such a wonderful classic 80's song. The slow love power ballad duet between Loverboy's Mike Reno and Heart's Ann Wilson, with its organ-like synths and pounding drums, is very well the first drop of rain that propelled Heart to its 80's success. I notice that Keith Olsen, who produced Passionworks, produced this song as well. And Loverboy would do a similar style power ballad, "Heaven In Your Eyes" for Top Gun.

Then comes Jim Steinman's second most famous client, Bonnie Tyler, doing a rousing 80's techno-disco, "Holding Out For A Hero," the song done during the tractor chicken contest in the movie. Love those operatic backup vocals, including Rory Dodd. This deserved to hit the Top 5 instead of stalling in the Top 40.

More 80's style R&B-pop with Shalamar. The moog funk of "Dancing In The Sheets" has some overtones of Prince's "1999" and what Phil Collins would later do with "Sussudio." He's got it right when he sings, "we got the rhythm, we've got the music on our side."

Loggins's second song here, "I'm Free (Heaven Helps The Man)", is a fast paced affair sporting snarling guitars and a chorus that smacks of Journey. Love "The Screamers," the group of backing vocalists who shout out the title, and David Foster's bouncy synthesizer.

"Somebody's Eyes" is similar in sound and rhythm to Journey's "Who's Crying Now" and also reminds me slightly of Quarterflash's "Take Me To Heart." Karla Bonoff sounds like a more tempered version of Laura Branigan. Gotta find some of her stuff soon.

Two years before checking into 5150 with the brothers Van Halen, Sammy Hagar did "The Girl Gets Around", a rocker as rowdy as "I Can't Drive 55." When he sings the title, followed by "round round round around," I am reminded of the song "Runaround" he did with Van Halen.

Typical 80's-style synth pop, "Never" by Moving Pictures might be considered a second-rate "Separate Ways" by Journey, even down to the opening synth, with Alex Smith sounding like Mike Reno, but the catchy chorus makes me forget the derivativeness of this track.

Three well-established hits that need no introduction were added as bonus tracks for this 15th anniversary collection--Quiet Riot's "Bang Your Head," John Cougar's "Hurt So Good", and Foreigner's "Waiting For A Girl Like You." And they help make Footloose one of the best 80's soundtracks ever.


The perfect 80's soundtrack!   July 23, 2000
 11 out of 11 found this review helpful

Wow, does this music bring back great memories! I loved the movie then and I love it now...what really makes it sparkle is the music that accompanies it. The soundtrack king of the 80's, Kenny Loggins is at his best on the title track, "Footloose," and almost tops it on "I'm Free." Throw in a little Deniece Williams, Bonnie Tyler, Sammy Hagar, and Shalamar, and you have a recipe for 80's greatness! The 2 ballads "Almost Paradise" by Mike Reno of Loverboy and Ann Wilson of Heart, and "Waiting For A Girl Like You" by Foreigner took me back to the gym during school dances when I was a total wallflower and watched the boys I had crushes on dancing with someone else <>. The 4 bonus tracks don't hurt either! I had forgotten about the glam rock classic "Bang Your Head" by Quiet Riot and had a little chuckle when it started playing. Those were the days! If you are an 80's lover like me, then do yourself a favor and indulge yourself in this CD - trust me you won't regret it.


Almost? It IS Paradise   August 11, 2006
 5 out of 5 found this review helpful

This has got to be one of the #1 best all around soundtracks of all time. There is not one throw away track; there isn't one song I have to skip. This movie was such a huge turning point for me as a child, I begged my mom to let me take dance classes other than ballet and she let me take a freeform dance class and I was obsessed with the song "dancing in the sheets" so that was my song of choice, I tore those mats up.

1. Footloose - Kenny Loggins.... Yes its played a lot on the 80s stations, Yes its Kenny Loggins but it's a great wedding song! Its addictive and I dare you not to sing along!

2. Let's Hear It For the Boy - Denise Williams .... I lip-synched this song to Kevin Ashley at summer camp, its good clean teeny bop fun.

3. Almost Paradise (Love Theme) - Ann Wilson/Mike Reno ...Wow, this is such a school dance song, smell the polo cologne while you lean against that boy crushes shoulder song

4. Holding Out For A Hero - Bonnie Tyler ...Bonnie has a sweet voice, its harsh but powerful and this song showcases that talent

5. Dancing In The Sheets - Shalamar ....I still remember the choreographed dance that Michelle MacAdams and I did on her trampoline to this song, its so good. My favorite out of this soundtrack.

6. I'm Free (Heaven Helps The Man) - Kenny Loggins ...When I hear this song, I think of them on the motorcycles in the movies, and the kids go by on the bikes, Kenny is a genius!

7. Somebody's Eyes - Karla Bonoff ...although a bit weak, it's my least favorite, it still gets to me as a good 80s ballad

8. Girl Gets Around, The - Sammy Hagar .....Who doesn't want to play chicken with a semi when they hear this song

9. Never - Moving Pictures....The song where Kevin, and fake Kevin shake their tight jeans around some random industrial complex, they still never explained how he knows all the gymnastics!

10. Bang Your Head (Metal Health) - Quiet Riot .....ahhhhh love this song

11. Waiting For A Girl Like You - Foreigner ......This song is so hauntingly lovely, like an old flame coming back into your life, so many memories

12. Hurts So Good - John Cougar Mellencamp ....back when he still was a cougar....

Buy this soundtrack, Don't Ban dancing ever!!!!



A novelty album that kids no longer have to live in fear of liking   February 5, 2006
 4 out of 5 found this review helpful

I haven't listened to this soundtrack in awhile, mostly because of the annoying trend that's surfacing amongst young people where it's suddenly "cool" to like everything stereotypically 80's. Footloose is now a novelty album. It's quite a shock to see 15-18 year-olds blaring the likes of A-Ha, Big Country, and this soundtrack on their i-Pods seriously getting into it. Even back in 1998 (about 15 years after Footloose was released) I made sure to keep my love of 80's synth pop and ballads well-hidden, specifically this CD, because Footloose was a thing a 17 year-old could be ostracized for liking. I sincerely loved this soundtrack, but even then I was aware of how cheesy it all was. But apparently, kids no longer have to live in fear of being found out as Footloose fans.

Like I said, I bought this album on CD in early '98, so I had it before it was re-released months later with a few extra songs. I'm very familiar with the bonus songs, and I should point out that only Foreigner's "Girl Like You" legitimately belongs on here as a bonus track. It fits in perfectly with the soft and beautiful pop feel of "Somebody's Eyes". However, John Mellencamp's "Hurts So Good" another story. Sure, it's has a hook, but not the kind I like. Much like all of Mellencamp's repertoire, it's a hickish song, and any guy who ever sings about "suckin' on a chili dog outside th' Tasty Freeze" should never be allowed to go anywhere near a writing utensil when the thought of making a song pops into his head. The lyrics of "Hurts So Good" are predictably mindless. As for Quiet Riot, they need to be banished to the ends of the earth. And finally, the 12" mix of "Dancing in the Sheets" is overkill. Not counting the bonus tracks, all the soundtrack's songs are enjoyable, except for the very boring ballad "Almost Paradise" and the very generic Rock song "Girl Gets Around" by Sammy Hagar (with such WTF lyrics like "She's got angels in her eyes"). If I had to pick my faves, I'd have to go with the power pop songs "I'm Free" and "Holding Out For A Hero", as well as the somber ballad-done-right "Somebody's Eyes".


I Love Footloose!   September 21, 1999
 3 out of 4 found this review helpful

I love Footloose! Footloose has great songs with a good beat and things but I would still have to say that Dirty Dancing is #1! Footloose is #2 in my book of rank! But it is still a Great movie and a great set of music!