Rocky IV: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack [Original recording reissued, Soundtrack]

Vince DiCola | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 10, 1992)
• Original Release Date: November 27, 1985
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording reissued, Soundtrack
• Label: Scotti Bros.
• ASIN: B00000I01A
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (77 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #57,962 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Burning Heart - Survivor

2. Heart's On Fire - John Cafferty

3. Double Or Nothing - Kenny Loggins & Gladys Knight

4. Eye Of The Tiger - Survivor

5. War - Vince DiCola

6. Living In America - James Brown

7. No Easy Way Out - Robert Tepper

8. One Way Street - Go West

9. The Sweetest Victory - Touch

10. Training Montage - Vince DiCola (Hidden Track)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Inspiration Station!, November 18, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Rocky IV: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (Audio CD)

Second to the Bible, nothing is more uplifting and inspiring than the Rocky films. From small town nothingness to big city lights, Rocky overcomes his humble beginnings to excel to the heights of stardom. How did he do it? Nothing less than guts, motivation, drive, hard work, and a struggle to establish personal honor. Yet, there is one more thing, and that is nothing less than this WONDERFUL music. Though all the other Rocky soundtracks are great, Rocky IV is the superior. Depressed about your circumstances? Stand strong and take a listen to get instilled with the Eye of the Tiger! Remember, 'There's No Easy Way Out,' but you can do it if you want it bad enough! Overcome! Win, Rocky, Win!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Right 'side Mozart..., December 16, 2006

By 

Jason "Hastaj00" (CaLiFoRNIA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Rocky IV: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (Audio CD)

Times have changed. Go take a drive to the bank with the 'Rocky IV' soundtrack playing; if you haven't transcended every ounce of shame in your body by the time your rockin' journey is over, you're likely to head straight for the nearest gun shop, either to shoot yourself or, perhaps more cathartically, to reign terror on every single person in every single automobile that looked at you funny or laughed when they heard 'Hearts on Fire' rule your car's stereo system. That's the thing about our self-conscious, hip selves of today; we look or hear something in the vein of 'Rocky IV' and we tighten up, nervously laugh, and arrogantly dismiss it. Surely we've evolved past this overblown, synth-fest of up tempo rock ballads which uncontrollably scream about how we're gonna climb that mountain all our veiny gusto! Well, it is a fact that a lot of music of late (;indie rock;) has reverted to a similar mentality, but the one thing that truly separates it from music like we have here is that it's done with at least an ounce of mockery, at minimum. Not 'Rocky IV', oh no...

This is utterly genuine, heartfelt passion -- to us, unaware of its own foolish, prideful dancing; to itself, absolutely no hint of such a derogatory note buried within. I'm a cynic -- far more so than most people, I think -- but one thing that I'm still capable of, to this day, is channeling the spirit of energies, of emotions, that are different than my current emotional realities or behaviors. Thus, I slide into 'Rocky IV''s glory ring with submissive ease, and am not only transfered to a Human reality that we've long since forgotten, but a reality that, every time I re-listen to it, I am reminded of how it is always within me -- just because everyone else is too cool to get joy out of something like this doesn't mean I can't. OK, sure -- I'm jumping to conclusions. Maybe... I guarantee that, if I decided to hit up to several dozen people, play them a few songs from this disc, and told them to go driving for ten minutes, windows down and volume at a moderately loud level, they'd decline from potential embarrassment; hell, I would be. Just the state of affairs -- you don't listen to 'Rocky IV' if you're to be respected; you might as well have a mullet.

Anyway, listening to 'Rocky IV' in the comfort of your own home (headphones for the paranoid) reveals its joys. It's all in the vein of overcoming personal obstacles, focused and energetic. The type of music that you would work out to, picturing yourself bare naked and greasy, ripped as Stallone himself, with four Hooters girls in your convertible Cherokee on the way home. It's kind of like getting in touch with that balls to the wall, personal feeling of glory somewhere within you; it just feels a bit perverse because it's so alien. And the tunes are good. They're keen on fun melody, while paving tracks of aggressive rhythm, and possess inspiring, self-help-seminar lyrics. But really, they are solid; fetching in a way that (obviously) wouldn't fly anymore, containing an "I WILL" mentality through and through, courtesy electric guitars, in part. "Burning Heart" and "Hearts on Fire" are the best examples of this fiery, stern spirit, while "No Easy Way Out" smoothly combines this mentality with that "doubt" thing we're so encompassed with these days.

This was the first (and only) 'Rocky' film to feature a fully synthesized score, too, and many people seemed to object the change. I dug it immensely; Vince DiCola's got a seriously distinct voice in this arena (especially regarding film composers), and it's really an enigma why he disappeared from the spotlight shortly after. 'War' and 'Training Montage' are as good as any ballad here, truly enrapturing in tone and drive; you just have to get past that "cheesy" knee-jerk response, if it comes, because when I've tried to play either of those tracks in front of friends, laughs and raising hell seem to be the only responses (no room for appreciation, either). I'm a fan of the most densely orchestrated, erratically structured film music out there, and I still find DiCola's work here freakin' exceptional.

All in all, this album is a portal to 1985, just like the film. Both are quick and slick, but the album manages to come off quite a bit more successfully because it's limited, in a sense. Most the hokey Human drama going around in the film IS laughable; it fares best when it's in the same mode as the music -- vigorous and determined.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's CLASS!!, June 10, 2005

By 

Chasey (Zurich, Switzerland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rocky IV: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (Audio CD)

This album just rocks from start to finish. A total 80's masterpiece of rock, synth and drama - my only regret is that it took me 18 years to actually by it. Doh!!

There is hardly a bad song on the album, which makes for a really enjoyable listening experience from start to finish. I really loved the instrumentals by Vince Di Cola 'War' and 'Training Montage' - sheer brilliance.

If you are a lover of this sort of music, and of the 80's in general then BUY THIS NOW!!