Rocky IV [Import] [Soundtrack]

Survivor returns to the soundtrack of yet another Rocky sequel after their successful 1982 Rocky III theme song Eye Of The Tiger. This time they contribute Burning Heart, an even more ambitious and powerful song about the east and west clash (america and the soviet union). James Brown offers Living In America. John Cafferty's adrenaline fueled Hearts On Fire shows up twice in the movie and that only indicates that it's the highlight on the soundtrack. Kenny Loggins, the king of 80's soundtrack hits such as Footloose and Danger Zone, makes a modest appearance on Rocky IV with Gladys Knight on the bluesy Double Or Nothing. Go West's One Way Street is another bluesy pop song that fits the soundtrack quite well. Finally, there's the instrumental tracks: War and Training Montage that are memorable as the movie itself. Of course, I'm not forgetting Robert Tepper's No Easy Way Out which comes on in the most engaging scene in the movie, when Rocky is remembering his past, Apollo Creed, and the frightful face of Drago coming to end his life.

Rocky IV is one of the most bankable movies of the 80's. It also is one of the best soundtrack albums of that decade.

A

This soundtrack is the one I remember most from any movie from the 80's. The only let-downs are the out of place laid-back adult contemporary track (the robot plays it while bringing Paulie his ice cream and beer) and the crappy 80's pop song (the robot is also guilty of this one, plays it while Rocky is washing his car...someone needs to shoot that f'ing robot). By all means stay away from tracks 3 and 8, they'll make you feel embarassed to be listening, even if you're alone. Everything else here is memorable. The James Brown track is also a little out of place, but it's acceptable since it was so heavily featured in the movie. Plus while listening to it I live out my fantasies of Drago punching James Brown. Hard.

Vince DiCola replacing what was mostly a Bill Conti score for the previous movies (and making a big transition from mostly orchestra to mostly synth) sounds very "80's" during the two instrumentals, but it doesn't matter since they are so outstanding.

Two Survivor songs and a few other great tracks from groups/artists we'd never heard of then and haven't heard from since top off an outstanding movie soundtrack.

So jump into your Lamborghini after dark, throw this sucker in your CD player, and drive really fast around town while reliving moments from your past films. Then go beat the crap out of some commies! And impatiently wait for Rocky VI.