Customer Reviews

The Breakfast Club: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

For anyone who grew up during the 80s, you've undoubtedly seen "The Breakfast Club," and are familiar with the hit single "Don't You (Forget About Me) by Simple Minds. You may even have thought "What a great song! I have to own it!" If you're going into a purchase of this CD with that mindset, you may want to hold off. "Don't You" is perhaps one of THE most memorable anthems of the 1980s. It defines this film, and is one of the most recognizable songs to define an entire decade. Unfortunately, "Don't You" is the ONLY worthwhile part of this album, and actually purchasing it should be left to hardcore fans of the John Hughes film.

As a soundtrack, "Breakfast Club" falls flat. Half the album is some very forgettable instrumental music, and the other half is filled with tracks by some great 80s artists who donated some really bad music.

If you'll read the other reviews, you'll notice that every one mentions "Don't You" or loving the movie, but there are not very many comments on the rest of this CD. And unfortunately, the price is a bit expensive for a single song. If you want to own the Simple Minds hit, there are dozens and dozens of 80s music compilations that feature it, and best of all, you get a CD with a bunch of other great songs with it, instead of a lot of fluff from an otherwise great film.

This soundtrack is mostly remembered for the song "Don't You (forget about me)" - performed by Simple Minds. Which was written by Keith Forsey, who had just become the drummer for The Psychedelic Furs, & Produced by Steve Schiff . The two of them wrote/composed 5 songs on the album.

Bryan Ferry (Roxy Music) was originally approached for this song, but he declined.

Eventhough all of the radio play "Don't You" received in the US increased album sales of "Once Upon a Time" and catapulted Simple Minds into mainstream success in the US, Jim Kerr (of Simple Minds) didn't really like the song; calling it "campy" & so it was not released on their 1985 album "Once Upon a Time". The song didn't do nearly as well in the U.K., where Simple Minds was already well known and had a strong fan base. And eventhough the song "Don't You (forget about me)" was one of the most popular songs in the 80's - it was not well received by many hard core fans of Simple Minds.

The soundtrack, IMHO, is just ok. The only other stand out song is Wang Chung's "Fire In The Twilight". If you are picking it up for 'Don't You (forget about me)" I suggest listening to the other song samples first or buying it used. You'd do better buying Simple Mind's "Glittering Prize", which has "Don't You (forget about me)" on it as well as some of their more popular favorites of the 80's including: "Alive and Kicking ", "Promised You a Miracle", "Sanctify Yourself ", "All the Things She Said" & "Someone Somewhere in Summertime". Also on the album is "Belfast Child" a beautiful melodic piece about the conflict in Northern Ireland (within the year SFY album was released) from their (1989 ) album "Street Fighting Years" , which is my favorite Simple Minds album - though it gets some harsh reviews for being too political and serious..

If you are looking for good 80'/early 90's Soundtrack albums: try "Pretty in Pink", "Some Kind of Wonderful", "Say Anything" , "Pump up the Volume", "Romy and Michelle's High School Reunion" & "Valley Girl" (in that order, IMNSHO).

After watching the movie, I just knew I had to get the soundtrack! I was glad I did. While "Don't You Forget About Me" was the signature hit, "Fire In The Twilight" and "Heart To Hot To Hold" are underrated gems that made the soundtrack a polished masterpiece. All three are my favorite songs from the album. "Don't You Forget About Me" holds an emotional message through its' dancy beat, and overall beautiful sound, and "Fire In The Twilight" (my most favorite off the album), provides candy for the ears with beautiful, solid, dancy, 80's new wave rock that makes you want to get up and just run with the sound ringing in your ears, and with the image of the students running from the teacher in the movie (which is the part where this song begins). "Heart To Hot To Hold," contains kind of a groovey, infectious, and unique beat that makes you want to "groove" along with it. "We Are Not Alone" is a very high-strung, dance-pop piece of 80's sound with intense lyrics. You cannot stay in your seat when you listen to that one! "Didn't I Tell You," is an all around great 80's dance-pop anthem, never ceasing to make you move your feet. Of course there are the great instrumentals in "The Reggae," "Love Theme," and "I'm The Dude," which gels everything together to form one of the best soundtracks of the 80's. The only song on the album that seems to have weakness is "Waiting," in my opinion. It plays second fiddle to the other songs on the album, since it seems to lack variety. It's still an okay song just the same, though. If you cannot get enough 80's music, and you love to dance and groove-on-down, definitely buy this album! It's a must-have!

This soundtrack album to the 1985 movie The Breakfast Club is excellent! I am not the kind of person to only like the main song from the movie, Simple Minds' Don't You (Forget About Me), and think that the remaining nine songs are not worth listening to. There are a few other songs that I like: "Waiting" is great, "Fire in the Twilight" is excellent, too, "Heart Too Hot To Hold" is great, the "Dream Montage" is quite dreamy and melodic, "We Are Not Alone" is a real dance rocker, and the "Love Theme" is also great, too. For those of you folks who think that the Simple Minds song on this album is the only song worth listening to, you're missing out. Stop complaining! Get to know the other songs on the album, you obviously won't regret it.

A definite buy for those few who love that surreal feeling a song like "Don't You" by Simple Minds gives you. All I can say is, "This is a classic 80's cd and those who love that sound I am talking about, you should get this one!!!!!

Hey, whats all this shouting about the Breakfast Club soundtrack being only worth buying for the Simple Minds track? Some people are so narrow minded...!
I love all the tracks on here. This is a great album for anyone who still loves the music of the 80's, and you don't even have to be a fan of the film to appreciate it. Full of big, urgent sounding songs with lots of crashing syn-drums and percussion...Just the ticket! The Simple Minds track "Don't You Forget About Me" was of course a huge hit, but this group have a substantial following and plenty of their own Cds, so fans of that track can investigate those if they want more of the same.

I'd happily give just as much attention to EG Daily (great voice), Wang Chung (hearing this made me check out the "To Live And Die In LA" soundtrack as well) and Karla DeVito, who also contribute stirling numbers. The specially written instrumental theme tunes are also pretty good. But the stand out track in my opinion is "Heart Too Hot to Hold", which ran alongside the closing credits in the film, a fantastic barn-stormer with typical emotionally over-wrought lyrics. In fact nearly all the tracks have the vocals belted out at top volume, such much so that Karla DeVito and Joyce Kennedy (the singer on "Didn't I Tell You") must have passed out after the recording session was over....they don't make 'em like this any more!

So if you can forget the awful fashions and brat-pack egos of the movie, you can still enjoy this CD.

I love this cd. It brought back my high school and college years. I recomend this cd to anyone who loves john houghs movies.

Only if we could turn back time and relive the 80's. They had the best music and the best toys. Buy this soundtrack for the Love of the 80's. Most movies and soundtrack today pale in comparison. There is no bad review with me when come to good quality entertainment. Thank u to those who made the 80's great. Nothing but Love for u. The one thing they need to stop doing is remaking our beloved movies and continue on with next parts or just leave them alone if u r not going to pay respect and homage to what makes entertainment today. Keep it real all the 80's fans.

This is the best soundtrack I own. Its has so many great tracks like my favorites, "Don't You (Forget About Me)" by Simple Minds and "Love Theme". It has more instrumentals from the movie. All it's lacking is that great monologue Anthony Michael Hall does. If your a fan of the movie then buy this soundtrack.

The "Brat Pack" rules. During my high school years I would watch this movie everyday and play the cassette in my 76 Firebird. All the songs are great. I also suggest "Pretty in Pink, Sixteen Candles, St. Elmo's Fire"...Sorry, but even in the new millenium I'm stuck in the 80's. This CD is a must.