Great Soundtracks of 1986: Top Gun

Before I get into the “Top Gun” soundtrack, I did finally get around to watching “Iron Eagle” the other night. The film was what I expected but there was something about the music which really shocked me. Two fantastic songs from the film do not appear on the soundtrack, Twisted Sister’s “We’re Not Gonna Take It” and “Rolling on the River” from Ike and Tina Turner. Ever since I watched the film, I’ve been asking, “How in all of sanity could they leave those two songs out?” What were they thinking? Including those songs would have made a good soundtrack so much better.

Now, let’s go onto “Top Gun.” My initial and still impression was that it’s not as good as the soundtrack from “Iron Eagle.” While the synth pop songs which appear aren’t bad, there’s just too many of them on the soundtrack. Even some of the rock songs on it are a bit dodgy. Perfect example, “Mighty Wings” from Cheap Trick. Whenever I listen to this song, I have to check the label to make sure it is Cheap Trick because it doesn’t sound like anything I had ever heard from them in the past. While it’s not a bad song, I still much prefer their other material. And Loverboy, I know they can do a power ballad and do it well, but “Heaven In Your Eyes?” Though it’s not terrible, it doesn’t impress me that much.

Kenny Loggins is the star of the soundtrack. “Danger Zone,” while intended to be a more commercial song, it’s still pretty good. It rocks more than most of the other songs. His other song, “Playing With the Boys,” is of the same construction, a commercial viable rock song. While it didn’t have the chart success of “Danger Zone,” it does have a better guitar solo.

Most of the remaining songs go more in a pop direction but there is a surprisingly good song from the late soul artist Teena Marie. I hate to say it, and I can already see the masses congregating at my door with torches and pitchforks but I’ll take “Lead Me On” over the Loverboy and Cheap Trick songs. Then, there is the other big single, “Take My Breath Away,” from Berlin. I have this song on a couple of compilation albums, mainly due to the fact that lots of people consider it a power ballad. Ballad yes, but not powerful enough for me. Although I never did, this would be a song I would have played with the intention of impressing the ladies. Another pleasant surprise comes from Miami Sound Machine in the form of “Hot Summer Nights.” It does say something about an album when pop artists have better songs than the rock artists on it.

It’s not all doom and gloom with the “Top Gun” soundtrack.” There is still a hidden gem on it and it comes in the instrumental form of closing track, “Top Gun Anthem.” The song features American guitarist Steve Stevens and boy, he does wail on it. The song is a good way to close out the album.

Track Listing:

1. Kenny Loggins- Danger Zone

Cheap Trick

2. Cheap Trick- Mighty Wings

3. Kenny Loggins- Playing With the Boys

Teena Marie

4. Teena Marie- Lead Me On

Berlin

5. Berlin- Take My Breath Away

6. Miami Sound Machine- Hot Summer Nights

Loverboy

7. Loverboy- Heaven In Your Eyes

8 Larry Greene- Through the Fire

9. Marietta- Destination Unknown

Steve Stevens

10. Harold Faltimeyer and Steve Stevens- Top Gun Anthem

While “Top Gun” isn’t as good as the previous soundtrack I visited, there are some surprisingly good songs on it. I say surprisingly because they come from artists I don’t usually bother with. That’s saying something.

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