While the
soundtrack
to the 1984
Out of the Past
remake
Against All Odds
is now best remembered for
Phil Collins
' classic theme song for the movie, the album also features several other memorable songs, as well as excerpts from
Larry Carlton
's synthesizer-heavy score.
"Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now"
) remains not only one of
Collins
' definitive singles, but one of the 1980s' best love songs, a perfect mix of over-the-top drama and genuine emotion that has aged better than anyone might have expected in 1984. The rest of the album, meanwhile, sounds completely of its time, but that's a big part of its appeal; songs such as
Stevie Nicks
' brooding
"Violet and Blue,"
Mike Rutherford
's
"Making a Big Mistake,"
and
Big Country
's surprisingly dour
"Balcony"
make the
a veritable time capsule of mid-'80s mainstream
pop
.
"Walk Through the Fire"
may not be one of
Peter Gabriel
's strongest or most memorable tracks, but it's still a decent example of his ability to mix the experimental with the accessible.
Kid Creole & the Coconuts
'
"My Male Curiosity"
sounds just as fey and wolfish, and as playful and stylish, as ever.
Carlton
's synth-and-guitar-driven score tends toward the melodramatic, particularly on tracks like
"Search,"
"Solitario,"
and the unintentionally hilarious
"Rock and Roll Jaguar,"
but they're all a part of the fun. While it's not an especially great
,
is still an entertaining '80s artifact. ~ Heather Phares