Various Artists "Original Motion Picture Soundtrack: St. Elmo's Fire"

It was the first soundtrack written by Canadian composer/producer David Foster. "When I was writing the score to St. Elmo's Fire, I loved it," he said. "But for that month and a half or so that I had to write the songs, it just felt like doing my regular job."

The theme song "St. Elmo's Fire (Man in Motion)" was written by Foster and English musician John Parr, and also performed by Parr. Foster had been impressed by Parr's song "Naughty Naughty" and invited him to perform the title track. Originally another song was chosen which Parr disliked. "That song sounded like `Fame II' or "Flashdance II," said Parr later. "I thought the movie was supposed to have more class than that. It was a regurgitated song and I didn't really want to sing it."

Parr urged Foster to try another song. They wrote it together, "very fast, between 2 and 4 on Friday afternoon," Parr recalled. "We wrote it together, with David sitting at the piano." Schumacher had given Parr rough guidelines for the lyrics. "He wanted a song about determination," Parr recalled. "He wanted a song about kids who are growing up and have to make decisions about what to do with their lives. That's what the movie is about." Schumacher told them not to use "St Elmo's Fire" in the lyrics but Parr did it regardless. "I thought it fit in the song," he said. "In the movie, St. Elmo's is a bar. But to me St. Elmo's Fire is a magical thing glowing in the sky that holds destiny to someone. It's mystical and sacred. It's where paradise lies, like the end of the rainbow."

Parr was inspired to write the lyrics not by the movie (which he had not seen) but by the Canadian athlete Rick Hansen who, at the time, was traveling around the world via his wheelchair to raise awareness for spinal cord injuries, a trip called the "Man in Motion Tour." The song did not appear on any Parr album until Letter to America was released in July 2011.

The song "Give Her a Little Drop More", which plays during the movie when the characters enter St. Elmo's Bar & Restaurant, was written by British jazz trumpeter John Chilton.

"St. Elmo's Fire (Man in Motion)" hit No. 1 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart for two weeks in September 1985, and "Love Theme from St. Elmo's Fire" (the instrumental theme to the movie by David Foster) reached No. 15. Another version of the "Love Theme from St. Elmo's Fire" with lyrics, titled "For Just a Moment", was performed by Amy Holland and Donny Gerrard, and was included as the final song on the soundtrack album.

Track list:

1. John Parr St. Elmo's Fire (Man In Motion) 4:08
2. Billy Squier Shake Down 4:07
3. Elefante Young And Innocent 4:34
4. Jon Anderson This Time It Was Really Right 4:39
5. Fee Waybill Saved My Life 3:45
6. David Foster Love Theme From St. Elmo's Fire (Instrumental) 3:27
7. Vikki Moss If I Turn You Away 4:38
8. Airplay Stressed Out (Close To The Edge) 4:14
9. David Foster Georgetown 1:34
10. David Foster Love Theme From St. Elmo's Fire (Just For A Moment) 3:48

Electric Light Orchestra + Olivia Newton-John "Xanadu (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)"

Xanadu is the soundtrack of the 1980 musical film of the same name, featuring the Australian singer Olivia Newton-John and the British group Electric Light Orchestra (ELO). It was released in June 1980 on MCA Records in the United States and July 1980 by Jet Records in the United Kingdom. The original LP release featured on side one the songs of Newton-John, and on side two the songs of ELO. In 2008 the soundtrack album was digitally remastered as a bonus CD as part of the film's DVD release entitled Xanadu – Magical Musical Edition.

Although the film was a critical and commercial disappointment, the soundtrack was a worldwide success and received positive reviews from music critics going double platinum in the US and Canada. The hit singles "Magic" and "Xanadu", peaked at number one in the United States and United Kingdom, respectively. Both singles also went to number one in the Netherlands and Italy, respectively. It was the 5th most popular US soundtrack in 1981.

The soundtrack featured songs on side one by the film's star, Olivia Newton-John, written by her long-time producer, John Farrar. The songs on side two were written and performed by ELO. The title track which closed side two featured Newton-John as lead vocalist.

The Newton-John side also featured Cliff Richard, the Tubes and Gene Kelly.


At the time of the album's release, Olivia Newton-John was signed to MCA Records, while ELO were signed to Jet Records. A compromise was worked out between the two companies in that the album was released on MCA in the US and Canada, and on Jet in the rest of the world.

Richard Marx "Should've Known Better"

"Should've Known Better" is a hit song written, composed, and performed by American rock singer Richard Marx, who released in September 1987 as the second single from his self-titled debut album. The song peaked at number three on the US Billboard Hot 100 as well as #7 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart in 1987 and #4 on the Radio & Records CHR/Pop Airplay chart.

Marx became the first solo artist in recording history to reach the top three of the Billboard Hot 100 with four singles from a debut album.

In the lyrics, the speaker is still in love with an ex-lover and tortured by it, to the point of regretting falling in love with them.

The music video for the selection was directed by Dominic Sena.

Released in September 1987 as the second single from his debut solo album, "Should've Known Better" entered the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 on September 26, 1987 at number 64, the highest debut of the week. The single also peaked at number 20 on the U.S. Adult Contemporary chart. The song also reached #4 on the Radio & Records CHR/Pop Airplay chart on November 20, 1987 for two weeks and remained on the chart for 13 weeks. Elsewhere, the single reached number 50 in the United Kingdom.