Soundtrack: Some Kind of Wonderful (1987)

Some Kind of Wonderful is a 1987 film starring Eric Stoltz, Lea Thompson, and Mary Stuart Masterson. It was one of the many successful teen dramas written by John Hughes in the 1980s, although this one was directed by Howard Deutch. The film's title comes from a song by John Ellison (Soul Brothers Six) that was a hit for Grand Funk Railroad; the song itself is not featured in the movie.

Synopsis

The tomboyish Watts (Masterson) has always considered working-class Keith Nelson (Stoltz) her best friend, but when he begins dating the popular Amanda Jones (Thompson), she realizes that she feels something much deeper for him. Hardy Jenns, Amanda's jealous former boyfriend (played by Craig Sheffer), further complicates matters.

Connection to Pretty in Pink

Some Kind of Wonderful is noted for having the same basic premise as Hughes and Deutch's previous film, Pretty in Pink: A quiet blue-collar high-schooler with aspirations of upward mobility (Stoltz in Wonderful and Molly Ringwald in Pretty in Pink) becomes infatuated with a "popular" classmate (Thompson and Andrew McCarthy), while remaining oblivious to the attraction to them felt by their close friend of the opposite sex (Masterson and Jon Cryer) and avoiding the attention of a spiteful and petty "rich kid" with a connection to the love interest (Sheffer and James Spader). Hughes originally wrote Pretty in Pink ending with Ringwald and Cryer's characters falling in love, but was pressured into changing the story so that Ringwald would end up with McCarthy. Supposedly, Hughes wrote Some Kind of Wonderful in response, with the ending he preferred.

Soundtrack

The soundtrack for this movie had a large number of unknown artists for the day, which certainly wasn't the norm for a John Hughes production at that time.

Perhaps ahead of it's time, the soundtrack features artists with typically 80's band names such as Flesh for Lulu, and Lick the Tins, and although there is not one hit amongst any of them, this takes nothing away from what is an excellent soundtrack. Each song complements the scene perfectly.

From the pulsating opening track, to the night club scene, to the kissing lesson scene, to the climatic party scene, and finally, the beautiful cover of I Can't Help Falling In Love during the closing credits, every song appears to have been chosen with meticulous precision.

The soundtrack for Some Kind of Wonderful is available on CD (initially released in 1987 on Cassette and LP), although to the disappointment of many, does not include all the songs present in the movie.

Some Kind Of Wonderful Soundtrack
1987 Soundtrack
VARIOUS ARTISTS

TRACK LISTING

1. Abuse (Instrumental) (3:30) - Propaganda
2. Hardest Walk (3:12) - The Jesus and Mary Chain
3. I Go Crazy (Instrumental) (1:41) - Flesh For Lulu
4. Do Anything (3:42) - Pete Shelley
5. Miss Amanda Jones (3:17) - The March Violets
6. Catch My Fall (Instrumental) (1:16) - Billy Idol
7. Love Themes (Instrumental) (1:08) - Stephen Hague
8. Turn To The Sky (3:58) - The March Violets
9. The Shyest Time (3:35) - The Apartments
10. Mall Revelations (Instrumental) (0:45) - John Musser
11. Cry Like This (Instrumental) (0:57) - Blue Room
12. Hidden Love (Instrumental) (0:50) - Stephen Hague
13. Brilliant Mind (Instrumental) (0:48) - Furniture
14. She Loves Me (3:42) - Stephen 'Tin Tin' Duffy
15. Miss Amanda Jones (2:41) - The Rolling Stones
16. Turn To The Sky (Instrumental) (0:56) - The March Violets
17. String Quintet In E Major, Op.13, No.5 - Minuet (Instrumental) (3:53) - Luigi Boccherini
18. I Go Crazy (3:53) - Flesh For Lulu
19. Private Showing (Instrumental) (2:11) - Stephan Hague
20. Beat So Lonely (5:14) - Charlie Sexton
21. For The Right Reasons (Instrumental) (2:08) - Stephen Hague and John Musser
22. Can't Help Falling In Love (3:08) - Lick The Tins
23. Dr. Mabuse (Bonus) (10:43) - Propaganda
24. Catch My Fall (Bonus) (3:42) - Billy Idol
25. Cry Like This (Bonus) (4:05) - Blue Room
26. Brilliant Mind (Bonus) (4:12) - Furniture
27. Pretty In Pink (Bonus) (4:41) - The Psychedelic Furs
28. Can't Help Falling In Love (Bonus) (2:57) - Elvis Presley

For those wondering what song appears where in this movie, we have detailed the scenes in which a particular song appears, if the song is present on the soundtrack, and the lyrics.

Due to the obscurity of some of these artists and songs, lyrics to some of the songs are impossible to find on major lyric web sites, or karaoke disks. Therefore we've had to transcribe a large number of them ourselves.

If the song doesn't appear on the soundtrack CD we have given you an alternative album where the song does feature.

Opening Credits Abuse(aka Dr Mabuse) Performed by Propaganda From the albums A Secret Wish and Wishful Thinking. Why does it hurt when my heart misses the beat The man without shadow promises you the world Tell him your dreams, and fanatical needs He's buying them all, with cash Sell him your soul, sell him your soul, sell him your soul Never look back, never look back Sell him your soul, sell him your soul Never look back Never look back Never look back Sell him your soul He's devoted to the devil, fascinated by crime Glamorous death is his destination, eternal passion his gain Sell him your soul, sell him your soul, sell him your soul Never look back, never look back Sell him your soul, sell him your soul Never look back Never look back Sell him your soul, sell him your soul Never look back Why does it hurt, why why does it hurt He's a satanic gambler, but you just the fool And you've already lost the chance of your lifetime So don't be a fool, don't be a fool Kein Zurueck fuer dich, there's no way back Sell him your soul (played backwards) Warum schmerzt es Warum schmerzt es Wenn mein Herz den Schlag verpasst Don't be a fool Never look back Never look back

Laura looking for that song The Hardest Walk Performed by The Jesus and Mary Chain This song is present on the soundtrack CD. I never thought that this day would ever come When your words and your touch just struck me numb Oh and it's plain to see that it's dead The thing swims in blood and it's cold stoney dead It's so hard not to feel ashamed Of the loving living games we play Each day And I'm stuck in a shack Down the back of the sea Oh and I'm alive and I'm alone Inside a sick sick dream Oh is it me Is it me that feels so weak I cannot deceive but I find it hard to speak The hardest walk you could ever take Is the walk you take from a to b to c I walk Oh honey I talk Don't want you to want me Don't want you to need me Don't want you to need me Don't want you to need me And I walk

Watts drives Keith to school Friday night Playing on Shayne's car radio Driving from the Restaurant to the Art Museum

I Go Crazy Performed by Flesh for Lulu This song is present on the soundtrack CD. (spoken) Oh, I go crazy, I go crazy I go crazy when I'm without you What have I done today just sat and watched the jets fly over A car goes by and the sun goes down we talk about the town This city's mad in the head and sick in the soul All the stars flew away a long time ago Isn't that nice like Miami Vice I go crazy when I'm without you I go crazy when I'm without you Well your life is like an infants dream it's like everything's on TV You see your face in the mirror could it be your place in the mirror And so we turn on the TV one more time And we see that everything is fine But what have I done today i go crazy What have I done today i go crazy when I'm without you I go crazy, I go crazy I I I go crazy when I'm without you Go crazy I go crazy when I'm without you What have I done today, What have I done today Sue-Ellen looks so upset this isn't the first time And it won't be the last things going on behind her back Oh they give you a heart attack I go crazy when I'm without you, go crazy I go crazy when I'm without you, go crazy I go crazy when I'm without you But what have I done today I go crazy I go crazy, I go crazy, I go crazy But what have I done today, I go crazy But what have I done today I go crazy when I'm without you I go crazy I go crazy when I'm without you, go crazy I go crazy when I'm without you, go crazy I go crazy when I'm without you But what have I done today I go crazy I go crazy, I go crazy, I go crazy

Garage scene		Do Anything Performed by Pete Shelley This song is present on the soundtrack CD. Lyrics to Do Anything by Pete Shelley
Amanda skips gym class		Miss Amanda Jones Performed by The March Violets This song is present on the soundtrack CD. Lyrics to Miss Amanda Jones by The March Violets
Keith gives himself detention Duncan's welcome at the Art Museum		Catch My Fall Performed by Billy Idol This song is not present on the soundtrack CD, but can be found on his Greatest Hits album. Lyrics to Catch My Fall by Billy Idol
Playing on Hardy's car radio Club scene with The March Violets Arriving at Amanda's house for the date Driving to the Restaurant		Turn To The Sky Performed by The March Violets This song is present on the soundtrack CD. Lyrics to Turn To The Sky by The March Violets
Hardy invites Keith to the party Amanda is ignored by her friends		Brilliant Mind Performed by Furniture This song is present on the soundtrack CD. Lyrics to Brilliant Mind by Furniture
Playing at the mall		The Shyest Time Performed by The Apartments This song is present on the soundtrack CD. Lyrics to The Shyest Time by The Apartments
Keith visits Watts with his problem		Cry Like This Performed by Blue Room This song is present on the soundtrack CD. Lyrics to Cry Like This by Blue Room
Kissing lesson		She Loves Me Performed by Stephen Duffy This song is present on the soundtrack CD. Lyrics to She Loves Me by Stephen Duffy
Getting ready for the date		Miss Amanda Jones Performed by The Rolling Stones This song is not present on the soundtrack CD, but can be found on their album Between The Buttons. Lyrics to Miss Amanda Jones by The Rolling Stones
Hardy's party		Beat's So Lonely Performed by Charlie Sexton This song is not present on the soundtrack CD, but can be found on his album Pictures For Pleasure. Lyrics to Beat's So Lonely by Charlie Sexton
Closing credits		I Can't Help Falling In Love Performed by Lick The Tins This song is present on the soundtrack CD. Lyrics to I Can't Help Falling In Love by Lick The Tins
Credits		Pretty In Pink Performed by Psychedelic Furs This song is not present on the soundtrack CD, but can be found on their album Talk Talk Talk. Lyrics to Pretty In Pink by Psychedelic Furs

Soundtrack: Pretty In Pink (1986)

Pretty in Pink is an 1986 film about teenage love and social cliques in 1980s American high schools. It is one of a group of John Hughes movies starring Molly Ringwald, and is commonly identified as a "Brat Pack" movie. The title of the film comes from the song of the same name by British music group The Psychedelic Furs. The film was directed by Howard Deutch, produced by Lauren Shuler and written by John Hughes.

The Pretty in Pink soundtrack album was released in 1986 for the John Hughes movie Pretty in Pink, a film about teenage love and social cliques in a 1980s American high school. The title song by the Psychedelic Furs was the actual inspiration for the movie and was re-recorded for this soundtrack. It had been released in 1981 for the album Talk Talk Talk. "Left of Center" was also re-recorded. The first track, "If You Leave", was written in 1985 in advance specifically for the movie. In addition to their song "Shell Shock", New Order also had Thieves Like Us Instrumental and "Elegia" appear in the movie but not on the soundtrack. The Rave-Ups, who do appear in the movie, do not have any songs on the soundtrack. Nik Kershaw's Wouldn't It Be Good was re-recorded by former Three Dog Night vocalist Danny Hutton's band, Danny Hutton Hitters.

The movie also includes an Otis Redding song that Duckie lipsyncs to, which is not on the official soundtrack.

Pretty In Pink Soundtrack
1986
VARIOUS ARTISTS
[Enjoy]

Soundtrack

1. "If You Leave" - Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, 4:25
2. "Left of Center" - Suzanne Vega / Joe Jackson, 3:33
3. "Get to Know Ya" - Jesse Johnson, 3:34
4. "Do Wot You Do" - INXS, 3:16
5. "Pretty in Pink" - The Psychedelic Furs, 4:40
6. "Shellshock" - New Order, 6:04
7. "Round, Round" - Belouis Some, 4:07
8. "Wouldn't It Be Good" - Danny Hutton Hitters, 3:44
9. "Bring On the Dancing Horses" - Echo & the Bunnymen, 3:59
10. "Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want" - The Smiths, 1:51
11. "If You Leave (12 Inch)" - Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
12. "Please, Please, Please Let Me get What I Want (Live)" - Morrissey
13. "If You Leave" - Nada Surf

Soundtrack: The Breakfast Club (1985)

The Breakfast Club is a 1985 American teen film written and directed by John Hughes. The storyline follows five teenagers (each representing a different clique in high school) as they spend a Saturday in detention together and come to realize that they are all deeper than their respective stereotypes. The film has become a cult classic and has had a tremendous influence on many coming-of-age films since then. The film was shot entirely in sequence. Shooting began on March 28, 1984 and ended in May 1984.

The Breakfast Club Soundtrack
1985 Soundtrack
VARIOUS ARTISTS

Track Listing

1. "Don't You (Forget About Me)" – Simple Minds
2. "Waiting" – E.G. Daily
3. "Fire in the Twilight" – Wang Chung
4. "I'm the Dude" (instrumental) – Keith Forsey
5. "Heart Too Hot to Hold" – Jesse Johnson, Stephanie Spruill
6. "Dream Montage" (instrumental) – Keith Forsey
7. "We Are Not Alone" – Karla DeVito
8. "Reggae"(instrumental) – Keith Forsey
9. "Didn't I Tell You?" – Joyce Kennedy
10. "Love Theme" (instrumental) – Keith Forsey

nWu BONUS

Simple Minds - Don't You Forget About Me (Extended Intro)

Scene on detention room

Main characters

• Andrew Clark: (Emilio Estévez) Andrew is the film's athlete, in detention for beating a fellow student and taping his buttocks together. Andrew, like Claire, is ashamed of being in detention and is used to the better end of social life at school. Andrew hates his father for pushing him so hard to succeed and even wants his knee to give so his father could not drive him to be the best athlete. He shares a kiss with Allison, after she is made up by Claire.
• Claire Standish: (Molly Ringwald) The princess of the group, in detention for skipping class to go to the mall. She is used to being sheltered by her group of friends and doting parents who only pamper her in order to spite each other, a fact of which she is painfully aware. Claire is caught between her parents who seem to use her to get back at each other. Claire eats sushi for lunch. She shares a kiss with Bender at the end of the film, after much conflict between the two.
• John Bender: (Judd Nelson) The criminal of the group, in detention for pulling a false fire alarm. John Bender starts many of the events throughout the film. While he is hostile at first towards the others in the room with him, he defends Allison against Mr. Vernon ("She doesn't speak, sir."). Despite Bender's constant needling of the others in detention, they lie to Vernon to protect John after he escaped his solitary confinement (exacted when he allowed himself to get caught in the gymnasium while the others ran for it) and snuck back into the library through a ceiling vent. At home, John is a victim of child abuse, particularly by his father, who administered a cigar burn to his arm for spilling paint in the garage. His antics and smart mouth wind up earning him an extra eight weeks of detention.
• Allison Reynolds: (Ally Sheedy) The basket case of the group, in detention apparently because she had nothing better to do. She is the most socially isolated and claims to have no friends. She hides her face under her hair and the hood of her parka when frightened, and amuses herself by using her flakes of dandruff as snow on a picture she draws. For the first half of the film she is quiet, save for occasional squeaks of fear and a few random outbursts, but later on she opens up, particularly to Andrew. Allison's lunch consists of a sandwich made with Pixy Stix powder and Cap'n Crunch cereal. She disgusts the others while making and eating it. She is the least hesitant to talk openly about her home life and is not afraid of being different. At home, Allison is a victim of child neglect by her workaholic parents, and as a result carries a large bag with her to school every day in case she feels like running away. She claims to be in therapy, but because of her compulsive lying it is unknown if her claim is true (considering that she had previously convinced Claire that she was a nymphomaniac who was sleeping with said therapist). She shares a kiss with Andrew after Claire makes her over.
• Brian Johnson: (Anthony Michael Hall) The group's brain, in detention for bringing a flare gun to school. He tries to keep the peace. At home, Brian is pressured by his parents to be a perfect academic. Brian's younger sister is being raised to be exactly like her mother. Every grade has to be an A, regardless of what the subject is. In an effort to get some relief, he takes shop on the mistaken assumption it will be easy. Brian, assigned to create a ceramic elephant lamp that will light when the trunk is pulled, receives an F when the lamp fails to light. In despair, he brings a gun to school with suicidal intent. It turns out to be a flare gun, which goes off in Brian's locker, destroying the locker and the elephant, and landing Brian in Saturday detention. Brian uses the standard 'girl from Canada' story to escape ridicule for being a virgin.
• Principal Richard "Dick" Vernon: (Paul Gleason) The aggravated principal who mainly dislikes Bender because of his smart mouth and threats. In the movie, he is seen reading the private school files, for which Carl the janitor blackmails him $50. Despite this, he bonds with Carl, confessing various fears about the current generation. "Someday these kids are gonna be running' the country. This is the thought that wakes me up in the middle of the night."
• Carl Reed: (John Kapelos) The school janitor who tells the kids he is the eyes and ears of the school. He hears all of their conversations. A brief shot at the beginning of the movie reveals he was once voted "Man of the Year" when he attended the high school years before. Although Bender mocks Carl a bit (as he does with everybody), they end the day on a friendly note, Bender mentioning that he'll see him next week. Carl seems, however, to be on friendly terms with Brian from the beginning.