************************************************************** EDITOR’s RECOMMENDATION May 2003 **************************************************************
Fame
Music by Michael Gore
(with lyrics by Dean Pritchford and Lesley Gore)
Available on RHINO R2 73862
Running Time: 46.44
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Fame (vocalist: Irene Cara)
Out Here on My Own (vocalist: Irene Cara)
Hot Lunch Jam (vocalist: Irene Cara)
Dogs in the Yard (music & lyrics by Dominic Bugatti & Frank Musker; vocalist: Paul McCrane)
Red Light (vocalist: Linda Clifford)
Is It OK If I Call You Mine? (written and sung by Paul McCrane)
Never Alone (Music by Anthony Evans. Performed by Contemporary Gospel Chorus, The High School of Music & Art.)
Ralph and Monty (Dressing Room Piano)
I Sing the Body Electric (sung by: Laura Dean, Irene Cara, Paul McCrane, Traci Parnell and Eric Brockington)
Plus bonus tracks –
Miles From Here (vocalist: Paul McCrane)
Out Here on My Own (Instrumental Version)
Fame (reprise)
Who could ever forget the sheer joy and high-spirits of the young students of New York City’s High School of the Performing Arts as they spilled out of school to climb over the traffic as they sung and danced the title number -- "Fame… I’m going to live for ever… I’m going to learn to fly… light up the sky like a flame… remember my name…Fame!" That title number, sung by Irene Cara, went on to become a huge hit rising to number 4 on the Billboard Pop chart. In 1980, the film itself grossed $15 million (domestic USA sales) and then went on to make another $25 million internationally as that title number’s popularity took off like a skyrocket. The soundtrack album enjoyed world-wide popularity and went on to pass the platinum mark and land Irene Cara a second single ‘Out Here on My Own’ another Billboard top 20 hit.
This well-loved soundtrack album now reappears in a digitally remastered edition with all the great vibrant numbers listed above which really need no comment from me, plus the three bonus tracks.
Following on from the film came the successful TV series and stage show starring Irene Cara and a number of the other stars from the film. Although one might agree with the comments in the fully illustrated 16-page booklet that the TV series lacked the gritty reality of the original film it nevertheless had tremendous appeal and I hope that RHINO will release a follow-up TV Fame album.
I defy anybody to remain still through the youthful infectiously gay (in the true old fashioned sense of that word) music on this wonderful album. Full marks.
Ian Lace
5
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