Customer Reviews

Valley Girl: Music From The Soundtrack

5 star:		(36)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Martha Coolidge really nailed the soundtrack for this underappreciated 80s gem. Nic Cage and the iridescent Deborah Foreman (what ever happened to this glorious specimen!) light up a clever and funny re-vamp of the Capulets and Montagues in a film littered with spot on captures of 80s youth. A college chum and I caught this movie for the first time on Showtime at midnight in NYC after a night on the town and inexplicably could not turn it off. The movie captures the zeitgeist of the time and the soundtrack is pure distilled 80s -- no corporate bull (Journey), faceless divas (Anita Baker), or schlock (Hall & Oates), this record delivers the stuff that REALLY mattered at the time. Included are the unconscionably ignored classics "Million Miles Away" by the Plimsouls, "Eyes of a Stranger" by the Payolas, and "She Talks in Stereo" by Gary Myricks. Not to mention the quintessential 80s tune "I Melt With You" which has only retroactively become a bellweather for 80s pop because it includes all the trademarks of classic 80s music -- the keyboard trills, the hooks, the spooky U2 slowdown in the middle, the infectious dance groove. The rest of the tunes are equally perfect, notably Josie Cotton's epically politically incorrect "Johnny Are You Queer."

The only flaw with this album was the failure to include "Monster of Love", "Shelly's Boyfriend" and "Girls Like Me." Thankfully, this egregious error has been remedied by Volume 2 which includes these and other similar cuts and is only slightly less trippindicular.

If you want to remember what a blast music used to be before the Shania Twains, Limp Bizkits, and Kid Rocks rendered radio unlistenable, this is a great starting point.

Bonnie Hayes had 2 songs in the movie "Valley Girl" that are not on this CD. Those songs are called "Girls Like Me" and "Shelley's Boyfriend." Both of those songs are from her 1982 album "Good Clean Fun." Unfortunatley, that wonderful album has never been released on CD.

But if you google "Bonnie Hayes," she has her own website where she lets you legally download both of those songs for free. I just thought you might like to know that!

Growing up in the 80's was one of the best times of my life....and this movie captured the sounds & feelings of that time in a nutshell! The movie was "totally awesome" and it wouldn't be the same without this "to the max" soundtrack. From the great prom scene with Josie Cotton's "Johnny Are You Queer?" to the Flirts "Don't Put Another Dime in the Jukebox", this soundtrack is a must have. The Psych Furs, Men at Work and Modern English ("I Melt With You") also have tracks, as well as two fantastic songs from The Plimsouls ("A Million Miles Away" & "Oldest Story in the World".) Great for parties or just crusing in your car...the 80's live and this soundtrack defines those times!! If you haven't seen the movie, be sure to rent it, as well...you'll see a very very young Nicholas Cage as the punk rocker "Randy" who falls in the love with Valley Girl "Julie" (played by Deborah Foreman). And be sure to get this soundtrack...it'll bring you back to those great times! This is a classic....don't miss out!

Whatever you thought of this movie, the music was definitely good. You can listen to this C.D. as a "best of" the 80s new wave/punk rock. Or, if you were a fan of the film, you can enjoy the music and relive parts of the film at the same time.

Just looking at the songs listed, many should sound familiar to you, some may not. Many of these songs were from "one hit wonder" bands who struck gold with their songs here, and never again. As such, it was never worth it for me to buy the whole album in the past. Together here, it is a great deal.

If you're not sure of some of the songs here, but you do see one or two you like, buy this C.D. All of the music found here is of the same quality. That is the best part of this C.D. You will enjoy the songs you remember. You will also enjoy the songs whose names you didn't remember, but the tunes will be familiar. Valley Girl, the C.D., is a great buy. For sure.

Loved the movie since I saw it way back when at a drive-in theater (a what?). I had the 6 song soundtrack on special order search at a local used/new record store forever, until one day (5+ years ago). I got a call saying that it had been released on CD, and they had a copy for me, and, yes, they would hold it for me, and I went down, like, right away and I bought it! And it is wonderful! I've since watched and re-watched VG on VH1's Movies That Rock (not owning the VHS version like some lucky dogs). The more that I see the film and hear the music the more sentimental I get for the New Wave years. Back to the review - Each of the 15 songs are either excellent, introspective, or humorous standouts. Buy this CD. Buy the More Music From... CD. Rekindle a romantic hindsight of a better time (musically). Out, dude.

If you are familiar with the movie and all the of new wave you heard, this is a soundtrack to have. The Plimsouls really made it hard not to like one of the main songs "A Million Miles Away." This is a great CD to have in the car for trips or just for everyday driving to and from work. Having a bad day? Listen to this and you will either laugh or just go back to those times when you were dancing to this music.

If you have the Rhino massive set (15 discs) or a huge collection, you might already have these tunes but if you're just starting out, these are some of the greatest "new wave" power pop classics.

Of course, you know I MELT WITH YOU is one of the greatest rock singles of all time but there are two somewhat forgotten classics, A MILLION MILES AWAY (I think the Plimsouls even make an appearance in the movie) and the short-lived band, the Flirts with JUKEBOX (DON'T PUT ANOTHER DIME). Just flat-out brilliant power pop classics. Just those three are worth the price of the CD.

You also get pretty much all the songs you need from Josie Cotten (also in the movie), plus great: Men At Work, the Furs and Sparks.

Even the "lesser" songs are great period pieces - they may not hold up as well but this is one of the great soundtracks of the 1980s.

A great CD to start your collection!

If you were in high school in the early 1980's, I cannot recommend a wiser musical investment than this CD! Yep, this one's a winner, from the Plimsouls opening track "A Million Miles Away" to the Modern English finale of "I Melt With You". Too bad "Eaten By The Monster Of Love" by Sparks isn't on this CD, that would make it too cool for mere words. Buy it, listen to it, and drift back to the time when you were a naive idiot with a bit of optimism thrown in for good measure. You'll be glad you did, fer sher! =)

I remember seeing this movie when it came out and I was so disappointed when the origianl soundtrack had something like six songs on it. With this CD and the follow up - you get every song. "Eyes of a Stranger" and "The Fanatic" are great. Better yet, there's a Volume II - just as good as this first one. Get it and round out your collection.

To close, I'll end with one of the great quotes from the movie: 80's Prep to Nicholas Cage (wearing 3-d glasses) and taking tickets at the theater: "Cool, is this movie in 3-D?" Nicholas Cage: "No, but your face is."

Love the CDs - love the goofy movie!

Fantastic! A bit incomplete, it fails to include the bouncy opening song "Girls Like Me" or Sparks' wonderful "Eaten by the Monster of Love". Regardless, this is a must for any fan of the 80s and is indispensible for anyone who loves the ultimate eighties teen flick. Buy it today!