Description
Against All Odds
The film’s soundtrack, nominated for a Grammy Award, featured songs from Big Country, Kid Creole & the Coconuts, Stevie Nicks and Genesis breakout stars Mike Rutherford, Peter Gabriel and Phil Collins; the latter performed the title song, which was nominated for an Academy Award as Best Original Song and for a Golden Globe Award as Best Original Song, being one of the top-selling singles of 1984.is a 1984 American romantic neo-noir thriller film, a remake of Out of the Past (1947). The film was directed by Taylor Hackford and stars Rachel Ward, Jeff Bridges and James Woods alongside Jane Greer (who had starred in Out of the Past), Alex Karras, Richard Widmark and Dorian Harewood. The film revolves around an aging American football star who is hired by a mobster to find his girlfriend.The film’s soundtrack, nominated for a Grammy Award, featured songs from Big Country, Kid Creole & the Coconuts, Stevie Nicks and Genesis breakout stars Mike Rutherford, Peter Gabriel and Phil Collins; the latter performed the title song, which was nominated for an Academy Award as Best Original Song and for a Golden Globe Award as Best Original Song, being one of the top-selling singles of 1984. While the soundtrack to the 1984 Out of the Past remake Against All Odds is now best remembered for Phil Collins’ classic theme song for the movie, the album also features several other memorable songs, as well as excerpts from Larry Carlton’s synthesizer-heavy score. “Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now”) remains not only one of Collins’ definitive singles, but one of the 1980s’ best love songs, a perfect mix of over-the-top drama and genuine emotion that has aged better than anyone might have expected in 1984. The rest of the album, meanwhile, sounds completely of its time, but that’s a big part of its appeal; songs such as Stevie Nicks’ brooding “Violet and Blue,” Mike Rutherford’s “Making a Big Mistake,” and Big Country’s surprisingly dour “Balcony” make the soundtrack a veritable time capsule of mid-’80s mainstream pop. “Walk Through the Fire” may not be one of Peter Gabriel’s strongest or most memorable tracks, but it’s still a decent example of his ability to mix the experimental with the accessible. Kid Creole & the Coconuts’ “My Male Curiosity” sounds just as fey and wolfish, and as playful and stylish, as ever. Carlton’s synth-and-guitar-driven score tends toward the melodramatic, particularly on tracks like “Search,” “Solitario,” and the unintentionally hilarious “Rock and Roll Jaguar,” but they’re all a part of the fun. While it’s not an especially great soundtrack, Against All Odds is still an entertaining ’80s artifact.Video: Against All Odds (Take A Look At Me Now) 1984.
Video: Against All Odds -Trailer 1984
- Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)Phil CollinsPhil Collins3:23
- Violet and BlueStevie NicksStevie Nicks 5:03
- Walk Through the FirePeter GabrielPeter Gabriel3:59
- BalconyStuart AdamsonBig Country 3:56
- Making a Big MistakeMike RutherfordMike Rutherford 3:45
- My Male CuriosityAugust DarnellKid Creole & the Coconuts 4:39
- The SearchMichel ColombierLarry Carlton / Michel Colombier 3:33
- El SolitarioMichel ColombierLarry Carlton / Michel Colombier 2:35
- Rock and Roll JaguarMichel ColombierLarry Carlton / Michel Colombier 2:17
- For Love AloneLarry CarltonLarry Carlton 3:00
- The RaceLarry CarltonLarry Carlton 2:36
- Murder of a FriendLarry Carlton / Michel ColombierLarry Carlton / Michel Colombier 6:11
Track listing
| 1. | “Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)” (performed by Phil Collins) | Phil Collins | Arif Mardin | 3:23 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2. | “Violet and Blue” (performed by Stevie Nicks) | Stevie Nicks | Jimmy Iovine | 5:03 |
| 3. | “Walk Through the Fire” (performed by Peter Gabriel) | Peter Gabriel | Peter Gabriel | 3:59 |
| 4. | “Balcony” (performed by Big Country) | Stuart Adamson | Chris Thomas | 3:56 |
| 5. | “Making a Big Mistake” (performed by Mike Rutherford) | Mike Rutherford | Mike Rutherford | 3:45 |
| 6. | “My Male Curiosity” (performed by Kid Creole & The Coconuts) | August Darnell | August Darnell | 4:39 |
| 7. | “The Search (Main Title Theme)” (performed by Larry Carlton & Michel Colombier) | Michel Colombier | Larry Carlton, Michel Colombier | 3:33 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8. | “El Solitario” (performed by Michel Colombier & Larry Carlton) | Michel Colombier | Michel Colombier | 2:34 |
| 9. | “Rock and Roll Jaguar” (performed by Larry Carlton & Michel Colombier) | Michel Colombier | Larry Carlton, Michel Colombier | 2:17 |
| 10. | “For Love Alone” (performed by Larry Carlton) | Larry Carlton | Larry Carlton | 3:00 |
| 11. | “The Race” (performed by Larry Carlton) | Larry Carlton | Larry Carlton | 2:36 |
| 12. | “Murder of a Friend” (performed by Larry Carlton & Michel Colombier) | Michel Colombier | Michel Colombier | 6:11 |
