Pantheon - Podcasts for Music Lovers Ugly American Werewolf in London: Vision Quest Soundtrack
Vision Quest was released in theaters February 15, 1985. Based on a book that was hot in the young adult space, it featured a young Matthew Modine as Loudon Swain - a high school wrestler from Spokane, Washington who is looking to accomplish something big in his life. While the movie had limited appeal beyond teenagers (it only grossed $13 million), cable TV and video rental stores gave the movie continued life among teenagers for many years. A big reason it continued to draw 80s teens and carry such strong nostalgia today is the soundtrack. Put together by John Kalodner for Geffen Records, it featured some of the hottest pop and rock artists of the day and sold over 1 million copies in the US.
Madonna, who was hot off her Like A Virgin Tour, contributes two songs - the unreleased as a single in the US Gambler and mega hit Crazy For You - and she had a cameo in the film singing them both. Journey offered Only The Young from the Frontiers sessions and the video, like Crazy For You, featured scenes from the film, helping the singles sell big numbers. Those two songs along with Red Rider's Lunatic Fringe set the tone for the film and make the songs and movie so intertwined. Some songs from bands like The Style Council, Don Henley and Dio might be overlooked as background music to certain scenes, songs like Change by John Waite (written by the legend Holly Knight) and Lunatic Fringe really keep you energized and engaged in Loudon's quest to drop 22 pounds and beat the unbeatable Shute on the wrestling mat. You have the tender Crazy For You for the romantic scenes, Journey for the training scenes and lots of rock and pop royalty. Even great songs by Berlin, Quarterflash and REO Speedwagon were left off the soundtrack but appear in the movie, including some solid work by Tangerine Dream.
Maybe we like this film because as two former teenage boys, we could relate to what this guy was going through. But we continue to like the soundtrack because it had killer songs (with a couple of clunkers) that stand the test of time and play a huge role in the film.
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