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:..:... Supplier : SER 2006 Release Date : 08/26/2006 ...:..:
: : Ripper : SER 2006 Street Date : 00/00/2006 :..:...
...:..: Genre : Soundtrack/80s Source : CD : :
: : Label : Sony/BMG Tracks : 11 Tracks ...:..:
: : Quality : VBR/APS/44.1kHz Channels : Joint Stereo : :
:..:... Language : English Size : 74,2 MB :..:...
: : Software : EAC v0.95 Beta 3 Encoder : LAME v3.90.3 : :
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Remastered editon of this "classic" soundtrack including bonus track!
Quite simply, Rocky IV was a movie for the ages. The story of a man
who had it all, only to lose so much overnight. Revolving around
tension and alienation at the personal, political, spiritual and
athletic levels, Sylvester Stallone's portrayal of Rocky Balboa in
Rocky IV was without question the most multi dimensional role of his
career. This isn't to shirk the original Rocky, which dealt with
questions of class, ethnicity, and overcoming obstacles to
victory...but Rocky IV was more of a movie to be related to on a
universal scale.
This indomitable spirit is best exemplified by the album's lead off
track "Burning Heart". The logical sequel to Survivor's epic,
instantly recognizable and painfully unforgettable sports anthem "Eye
Of The Tiger" finds the central protagonist a bit more mature and
refined; world weary from his battles and exponentially more
introspective than he was in his burning youth. This torch is then
passed to John Cafferty; who soundtrack fans will no doubt recognize
from his work on Eddie & The Cruisers, Eddie & The Cruisers 2: Eddie
Lives and Eddie & The Cruisers: The Unreleased Tapes. Here, Cafferty
has replaced his Brown Beaver Band with the urgent, yet mildly dated
synthesizer work of Vince DiCola, whose name you will be hearing again
in this review shortly.
Decidedly pacing the album's soundtrack as well as setting the calm
before the storm, the soundtrack producers wisely teamed up Kenny
Loggins and Gladys Knight for "Double Or Nothing". Astute viewers of
the film will no doubt recall the placement of this tune where our
hero Rocky Balboa is washing his car and attempting to be convinced by
long time friend Apollo Creed to help him train for one last fight
against the Russian hitting machine/movie antagonist Ivan Drago (with
stoic wife convincingly played by future Flavor Flav arm candy
Brigitte Nielsen). Anyways, this combination was no doubt inspired by
a similar pairing of blue eyed soul boy with r&b legendary diva:
George Michael and Aretha Franklin would hit the top of the charts
with their fantastic duet "I Knew You Were Waiting For Me" (which is
sadly not included here).
This boxing exhibition leads to disastrous results, with Creed's death
in the ring at the hands of Drago, but not before being serenaded to
his grave by the godfather of soul himself, James Brown. Perhaps the
soundtrack's second most popular tune (second only to "Eye Of The
Tiger" which makes a return appearance for good sales, no doubt),
"Living In America" perfectly sums up the decadence, extravagance and
sheer bloated pompousness of the eighties. It also reinforces the
symbolism of Creed's death: that Americans, through this hedonism,
have become fat, soft and bloated themselves, especially when compared
to the steel and precision of Russian boxers.
Creed's death leaves a scarring impression on Balboa, but Rocky's loss
is thankfully our gain, as we are treated to one of the best montage
sequences in all of cinema history, with soundtrack contributed by
Benny Mardones' (of "Into The Night" soft rock ballad fame)
songwriting partner Robert Tepper. Taking clips from the first three
movies in the series, we find Balboa reflecting carefully on his life
and the choices he's made, all while driving with extreme
recklessness; weaving through the city highways at breakneck speed in
an imported sports car. Though barely heard from again after this,
Tepper's voice no doubt left an impression on the landscape of rock
music, as Nickelback's Chad Kroeger undoubtedly made a conscious
investment to emulate Tepper's emotive, yet throaty delivery, a move
that would catapult the mediocre band into superstardom and swimming
pools filled with money.
Deciding to train in Russia for a boxing match on Christmas Day
(again, the symbolism runs rampant and deep here) , we are treated to
yet another montage and the first of two synth-based instrumentals
from composer Vince DiCola, who quietly steals the show with "Training
Montage". Easily a proto-jock jam, this ranks up there with some of
the finest sports anthems ever. And while it doesn't have the
accessibility of Queen's "We Will Rock You" or Gary Glitter's "Rock &
Roll Part Two", it's emotional peaks and valleys set the perfect
contrast to what's on screen. The art of training runs deep within
each man, with Balboa training in a desolate area of what appears to
be Siberia, it's simply man versus the elements. In contrast, Drago
trains in a state of the art facility with top technology, doctors and
the finest steroids rubles can provide. But within each of these
boxers, it's also a battle to conquer themselves. To push themselves
beyond anything possibly capable before in the history of sport, let
alone boxing.
After intensive training, the match eventually ensues and provides
intense peaks and valleys, with Drago and Balboa struggling to gain
the advantage, both physically and psychologically. This is scored by
DiCola's "War/Fanfare From Rocky". Easily the weaker of the two
pieces, this still compliments the movie's climax and eventual
dénouement with grace and class. Eventually, Balboa does win, but not
without a redeeming social message that wins over the hearts and minds
of not only the Prime Minister of Russia, but the Russian army and
people themselves.
The final song not mentioned on this soundtrack belongs to one song
wonder Touch. With finding a suitable Journey soundalike in the
eighties being a near impossible chore, Scotti Bros. and Stallone made
the decision to go with Touch's stirring rendition of the song. The
decision paid off in spades, as it still remains one of the best songs
in the entire Rocky soundtrack [CENSORED]. While it was meant first and
foremost to be entertainment, Rocky IV transcended both sports and
politics to offer the thought provoking message: that if we all look
past the surfaces of one another, if we can somehow disregarded our
minor differences, we will see that we are all the same. That if his
perceptions and cultural attitudes can change through education and
acceptance, then we all can change. It was also the highest grossing
movie in the Rocky series.
http://imdb.com/title/tt0089927/
http://www.mgm.com/rocky/
Tracks:
01. Survivor: Burning Heart (3:51)
02. John Cafferty: Heart's On Fire (4:12)
03. Kenny Loggins And Glandys Knight: Double Or Nothing (3:45)
04. Survivor: Eye Of The Tiger (4:07)
05. Vince Dicola: War / Fanfare From Rocky (5:56)
06. James Brown: Living In America (4:44)
07. Robert Tepper: No Easy Way Out (4:23)
08. Go West: One Way Street (4:38)
09. Touch: The Sweetest Victory (4:24)
10. Vince Dicola: Training Montage (3:40)
11. Survivor: Man Against The World (Bonus Track) (3:35)
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_ _\/\\ /_//-//__((_))__\\ X/ GREETiNGS \X //__((_))__\\-\\_\ //\/_ _
\/ \/ \/ \/
1way - AMOK - BOS - cnmc - FuFFENS - FWYH - HiT2000 - iPC - JUST
MGC - pyt - radial - RNS - RTB - ss - UBE - UKi - ViC
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If you like this CD, BUY IT! Artists deserve your support.
