54: Music from the Miramax Motion Picture, Volume 2 [Soundtrack]

Various Artists (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 4, 1998)
• Original Release Date: August 4, 1998
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Soundtrack
• Label: Tommy Boy
• ASIN: B000009OBV
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #11,443 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #95 in Music > Dance & DJ > Disco

Track Listings

1. If You Could Read My Mind - Stars On 54/ Ultra Nate/Amber/ Jocelyn Enriquez

2. Haven't Stopped Dancing Yet - Gonzalez

3. Heaven Must Have Sent You - Bonnie Pointer

4. Loving Is Really My Game - Brainstorm

5. Disco Nights (Rock-Freak) - GQ

6. Found a Cure - Ashford & Simpson

7. Don't Leave Me This Way - Thelma Houston

8. Come to Me - France Joli

9. Take Your Time (Do It Right) - S.O.S. Band

10. Please Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood - Santa Esmeralda

11. Spank - Jimmy 'Bo' Horne

12. Galaxy - War

13. I Need a Man - Grace Jones

14. Heart of Glass - Blondie

15. Cherchez la Femme/Se Si Bon - Buzzard's Original Savannah Band

16. Fly, Robin, Fly - Silver Convention

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The second round of sounds from 54 kicks off with Stars on 54--the powerhouse trio of club canaries Ultra Naté, Amber, and Jocelyn Enriquez--breathing life into a house reinvention of Gordon Lightfoot's tepid "If You Could Read My Mind." What distinguishes the 15 subsequent tracks is a sparkling symbiosis of artist, melody, and musical invention. Could anyone but the towering Grace Jones have growled "I Need a Man" with such ferocity? And the syncopated bridge of Bonnie Pointer's "Heaven Must Have Sent You" oozes more juice than most contemporary R&B hits. Thoughtful sequencing, with an emphasis on the oft-overlooked stylistic breadth disco achieved under the best producers and performers, makes this an even better bet than volume 1. --Kurt B. Reighley

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Blue Disc is just as groovin', December 1, 2003

By 

Daniel J. Hamlow (Narita, Japan) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: 54: Music from the Miramax Motion Picture, Volume 2 (Audio CD)

While Volume II of the 54 soundtrack falls within the 1977-1979 era, there are two tunes that go outside that boundary, plus the new song that starts off the blue disc, a neo-disco cover of Gordon Lightfoot's "If You Could Read My Mind" sung by Ultra Nate, Amber, and Jocelyn Enriquez, played at the end of the movie. The rest of the CD is vintage disco not found on Pure Disco, save maybe two.

Gonzalez's "Haven't Stopped Dancing Yet" follows, and it's one of the most engaging selections here. There is a midsection featuring only congas, whistles, and vocals, but afterwards, it goes back to overdrive.

The inspirational Bonnie Pointer's "Heaven Must Have Sent You", penned by the Holland/Dozier/Holland team, comes next, being one of her best solo numbers after leaving the Pointer Sisters. Those bells and Bonnie's little sighs really do it for me here.

Brainstorm's "Loving Is Really My Game" has an intense galloping rhythm. Another overdrive disco classic!

The slower tempo "Disco Nights (Rock-Freak) by GQ relies more on sounds and bass. Listening to some elements here makes me realize where Prince got "Let's Work", particularly the "Rock-Freak" chant.

With "Found A Cure" I bet the husband-and-wife team of Ashford and Simpson were glad to have a hit for themselves instead of giving hits to the likes of Ronnie Milsap, the Shirelles, and Ray Charles. Ashford's falsetto and Simpson's bright and smooth vocals work wonders together. Their composition "The Boss" for Diana Ross is on 54, Volume I, BTW.

Thelma Houston's rework of "Don't Leave Me This Way" is another necessary disco classic, and is the earliest track on this volume (1976). This song was later taken to the UK #1 in the 80's by the Communards.

Weird, heavy, and insistent electronic funk provides the backbeat for the S.O.S. Band's late entry (1980) "Take Your Time (Do It Right)."

Then comes the Latin-tinged "Please Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood", by Santa Esmeralda, with the well-known refrain, "I'm just a poor boy who's intentions are good/se, please don't let me be misunderstood." Alabina later did this on their Alabina II album.

"SPANK...ooh ooh ooh ooh", huh? Kind of in the same vein as Bowie's "Fame" but Jimmy "Bo" Horne's "Spank", complete with handclaps, humming bassline, and sax refrains isn't as jam-packed as the other tunes.
Shimmering space age sounds dot War's funky "Galaxy" and is a wish to get away from the rat race and hit the stars.

Three songs need no introduction here. They are Grace Jones' "I Need A Man", Blondie's "Heart Of Glass" (disco remix clocking in at 3:19), and Silver Convention's "Fly Robin Fly."

Not a bad compilation of material, as good as its companion red disc.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A great cd, August 15, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: 54: Music from the Miramax Motion Picture, Volume 2 (Audio CD)

I am a dee jay and found that both cd's are excellent. it is very hard to find these songs on cd or record. This is a great party cd or dance cd. I have played the songs on here many times on the air and have used them in commercials and production spots. Definately own both volumes.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Remember the good times, and play this now!, December 31, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: 54: Music from the Miramax Motion Picture, Volume 2 (Audio CD)

Far better than "54 part 1", this disc reminds one of happier---and...ok younger times. "If You Could Read my Mind" starts the party, and along the way you find Grace Jones ( " I Need A Man") France Joli (" Come To Me") along with many others---all good.Studio 54 was, for better or worse, a happy place---you felt special when you were there---no rules, great crowd and music that made everyone go wild---Let'sdo it again!. Give this disc a try---you should like it- sit down with a cocktail and remember Halston, Andy, Liza, Bianca, and Calvin in their prime! ...and no red velvet rope either! Enjoy!