Miami Vice (1984-89 Television Series) [SOUNDTRACK]

Jan Hammer, Various Artists - Soundtracks - Television, Miami Vice (Related Recordings)

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• Original Release Date: September 28, 1984
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Soundtrack
• Label: Mca
• ASIN: B000002O4W
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (32 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #5,971 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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  #25 in	Music > Soundtracks > By Decade > 1980s
  #57 in	Music > Soundtracks > Television Soundtracks

Track Listings

1. Original Miami Vice Theme [Instrumental] - Jan Hammer

2. Smuggler's Blues - Glenn Frey

3. Own the Night - Chaka Khan

4. You Belong to the City - Glenn Frey

5. In the Air Tonight - Phil Collins

6. Miami Vice Theme [Instrumental] - Jan Hammer

7. Vice - Grandmaster Melle Mel

8. Better Be Good to Me - Jan Hammer, Tina Turner

9. Flashback [Instrumental] - Jan Hammer

10. Chase [Instrumental] - Jan Hammer

11. Evan [Instrumental] - Jan Hammer

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Out of print in the U.S.! Import pressing of the hit soundtrack to the '80s TV series. 11 tracks from Jan Hammer, Glenn Frey, Phil Collins, Chaka Khan and others. Universal. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Miami Sounds, February 14, 2001

By	Thomas Magnum (NJ, USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)

One of the things that made Miami Vice such and cool and popular show was its use of music within the show. Creating an almost music video like setting, the show incorporated hits of the day along with some airy instrumentals by Jan Hammer. The theme to the show is one of the most instantly recognizable themes in TV history and quite catchy besides. The song was a major hit and went to number one in 1985 and is the last instrumental to reach the top of the charts. The other instrumentals by Mr. Hammer are okay, but they work much better in the context of the show then separately. Glenn Frey contributes two songs, the vividly written "Smuggler's Blues" was previously released on his The Allnighter album and it became the title and basis of an episode in which Mr. Frey guest starred and the airy "You Belong To The City" which was specifically written for the show. The song has that dark, brooding sound that captures the essence of the show. "Vice" by Grandmaster Melle Mel is an old school rap song that is decent and Chaka Khan's "Own The Night" is passable. The one song that fit perfectly and captured the mood of the show is Phil Collins' "In The Air Tonight". The deep, moody song is one of Mr. Collins' best. The album was a major hit spending ten weeks at the top of the charts.

21 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Response to the previous review, October 14, 2005

By	DRD - See all my reviews

Oh, BlueCross Boss "Blue", your need to appear cutting-edge and "alternative" is more shallow than anything you could ever say about this groundbreaking show and its music. Phil Collins writes for Disney and Pixar now? So-effing-what. The man's in his fifties. What do you want him to do? Slice his chest with glass and sing "I Wanna be your Dog"? What does Glenn Frey know about smuggling? Oh, I don't know - how `bout the metric tons of blow he did in the 70s and 80s? Street cred enough for ya? You are a culture snob. Ain't nothing wrong with left-of-the-dial, but you've got to have balance. So "Vice" isn't up your alley - that doesn't mean you have to take a p--- all over it.

Oh, and by the way, I'll tell you where U2 is. In the episode "Lombard," which wraps up season one, where "Wire" from "The Unforgettable Fire" is featured.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Viced !, October 1, 2002

By	Armando M. Mesa (Chandler, AZ) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Enough has been said about the styles and fashions of this era by previous reviewers relating to Miami Vice...So, I'll cut to the chase and say that I have thoroughly enjoyed this soundtrack throughout the years from it's inception back in 1984 to the present.It has not lost it's freshness in the sense that the music is almost pop/rock classic status to this day ! The soundtrack is one cohesive suite that works with all the various artists and genres compiled...Jan Hammer was to Miami Vice what Vangelis was to Chariots of Fire and other film scores. Glenn Frey's and Phil Collins' and Tina Turner's tracks gave the soundtrack that much needed sophisticated rock edge. Otherwise, the soundtrack would have been just a glitzy synth pop fad project with a couple of dance tunes and a rap track...The other less standout artists do indeed stand out in their own right! Chaka Khan's frenetic and upbeat dance track Own The Night serves as a counterpoint to the other rock edged tracks. Melle Mel's Vice is a sample or intro as to how far the impact rap would later have on the music world for the next decade and beyond...