Out of all the Rocky movies, the third sequel to the Oscar winning original movie Rocky (1976) has the best soundtrack. Rocky IV came out in 1985 in the midst of the 80's synch pop and hair bands. But there is little or no indication that Stallone or whoever put these songs together was highly appreciative of that dreadful music scene.

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.

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