VARIOUS ARTISTS
Top Gun Soundtrack
Sony Music 1986

What’s the 4-1-1?
In the summer on 1986, a plucky little movie titled Top Gun soared into the movies theaters and into our hearts. By today’s standards the movie’s pretty tame, but back then you and your friends were calling each other Maverick and Goose and dreaming of going to Top Gun school to fly an F-14 fighter jet. My memories a little hazy about the specifics of the film, but who could forget its hit cast of Val Kilmer, Meg Ryan, Anthony Edwards, and that short guy there. You know the one that lip-synched in his underwear in Risky Business. What the hell was his name? Just as impressive as the cast, was the movies soundtrack. It seems that back in the eighties movie soundtracks were always packed with hits. Maybe it was because when an artist did a song for a movie, they didn’t release it on their own album too.

Okay, looking back a “Danger Zone” I do have to admit that it’s really cheesy. Back then though, Kenny Loggins was the man. He was the coolest, bearded, middle-aged man with a leather bomber jacket in rock music. The pulsing synth intro sucks you in while the arena rock guitars illicit images of the jets taking off from an air craft carrier. The piercing guitar riff with have you mimicking along on air guitar. I didn’t even realize that it was Cheap trick that sis the power-pop anthem “Mighty Wings”. I think this one played during the closing credits. The high-energy, synth heavy, melodic track just sends you on an emotional high. The lost Kenny Loggins hit “Playing with the Boys” appeared during the volleyball scene I believe. This track is driven by percussion and Loggins powerful voice.

“Take My Breath Away”, which was recently butchered by Jessica Simpson, was the quintessential love song of the mid-eighties. Sadly it turned a rather racy rock group into sappy balladeers; and alas, one-hit-wonders. Miami Sound Machine was just starting to break when the contributed “Hot Summer Nights”. The sing is loaded with their trademark Latin rhythms and Gloria’s smooth vocals. There’s more than one sappy ballad on this soundtrack. Loverboy’s “Heaven In Your Eyes” starts with a synth/vocal verse that concludes with a power chorus. An ominous church bell signals the beginning of the “Top Gun Anthem”. Fuzzy guitars and an edgy guitar lick is laid down over pre-programmed drum tracks. A few years back they released a Special Extended Edition of the soundtrack that included five more songs from the movie; to include “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling.

The Verdict
Top knotch soundtrack with hits galore. Now where's my flight jacket?

Did You Know?
The Top Gun Soundtrack went on to sell over seven million copies and Berlin’s “Take My Breath Away” went on to win an Oscar.

Rating: out of 5

--George Dionne