Description
The motion picture soundtrack album for
Fame was released in the U.S. on May 16, 1980, by
RSO Records.
It features nine songs, all of which appear in various scenes in the film. In his later review for
AllMusic,
Stephen Thomas Erlewine awarded the album five stars out of five and wrote, “Yes, the production techniques often do sound dated … but the music by Michael Gore is dynamic, varied, and alive, sung with real passion and vigor, and it still retains its essential spark 23 years after it was a pop culture phenomenon.” The music by
Michael Gore is dynamic, varied, and alive, sung with real passion and vigor, and it still retains its essential spark 23 years after it was a pop culture phenomenon. Sure, it’s glitzy and glossy, sounding like show tunes, but that’s the tradition of this music, and it was done better than most Broadway tunes and movie soundtracks of the ’80s. Years later, this still has the spark and vitality of kids trying to make their big break, no matter the kind of music they’re singing, and that’s one of the main reasons (along with
Gore‘s fine compositions)
Fame retains its power and entertainment value years later.
Video: Fame Trailer (1980)
Tracklist:
1. |
“Fame“ |
Michael Gore, Dean Pitchford |
Irene Cara |
5:14 |
2. |
“Out Here on My Own“ |
Michael Gore, Lesley Gore |
Irene Cara |
3:11 |
3. |
“Hot Lunch Jam” |
Michael Gore, Lesley Gore,
Robert F. Colesberry |
Irene Cara |
4:10 |
4. |
“Dogs in the Yard” |
Dominic Bugatti, Frank Musker |
Paul McCrane |
3:13 |
5. |
“Red Light“ |
Michael Gore, Dean Pitchford |
Linda Clifford |
6:10 |
6. |
“Is It Okay If I Call You Mine?” |
Paul McCrane |
Paul McCrane |
2:40 |
7. |
“Never Alone” |
Anthony Evans |
Contemporary Gospel Chorus of the High School of Music and Art |
3:23 |
8. |
“Ralph and Monty (Dressing Room Piano)” |
Michael Gore |
Michael Gore |
1:49 |
9. |
“I Sing the Body Electric” |
Michael Gore, Dean Pitchford |
Laura Dean, Irene Cara, Paul McCrane, Traci Parnell, Eric Brockington |
4:59 |
Vocalists:
- Eric Brockington – lead vocals (9), backing vocals (3, 9), tambourine (3, 9)
- Irene Cara – lead vocals (1, 2, 3, 9), backing vocals (1, 3)
- Laura Dean – lead vocals (9)
- Linda Clifford – lead vocals (5)
- Paul McCrane – lead vocals (4, 6, 9), guitar (6)
- Traci Parnell – lead vocals (9), backing vocals (3, 9), tambourine (3, 9)
- Contemporary Gospel Chorus of the High School of Music and Art – vocals (7)
- Alan Vetter – backing vocals (9)
- Amy Wheeler – backing vocals (9)
- Ann Roboff – backing vocals (9)
- Ann E. Sutton – backing vocals (1, 3)
- Annie Roboff – backing vocals (3)
- Anthony Evans – backing vocals (3, 9), tambourine (3, 9)
- Anthony Ogburn – backing vocals (3)
- April Lang – backing vocals (3, 9)
- Ben Werblolowsky – backing vocals (9)
- Cheryl Questell – backing vocals (3)
- Cheryl Williams – backing vocals (9)
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- Darryl Ware – backing vocals (9), tambourine (9)
- Deborah McDuffie – backing vocals (1)
- Delphia Shipman – backing vocals (9), tambourine (9)
- Denise Andrades – backing vocals (9)
- Derek Cheeley – backing vocals (9)
- Desiree Lindsay – backing vocals (3), tambourine (3)
- Gordon Sayles – backing vocals (3, 9), tambourine (3)
- Jean Deetjin – backing vocals (9)
- Judith Charlton – backing vocals (9)
- Julie Cohen – backing vocals (9)
- Kevin Windley – backing vocals (9)
- Kim Carlson – backing vocal (3)
- Ladd Boris – backing vocals (9)
- Lance Gross – backing vocals (9)
- Leonard Battle – backing vocals (9)
- Lillian Miller – backing vocals (9)
- Linda Jefferson – backing vocals (9)
- Lisa Herman – backing vocals (3, 9)
- Lisa Lowell – backing vocals (3, 9)
- Louise Bethune – backing vocals (1, 3)
- Luanne Holder – backing vocals (9)
- Luther Vandross – backing vocals (1)
- Maeretha Stewart – backing vocals (5)
- Mary Wormworth – backing vocals (3)
- Monica Dizzoza – backing vocals (9)
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- Nanette Dermanjian – backing vocals (9)
- Nanette Schwersenz – backing vocals (9)
- Peggi Blu – backing vocals (1)
- Ralph Dujour – backing vocals (9)
- Raul Lugo – backing vocals (9)
- Robert Bostwick – backing vocals (9)
- Robert Koch – backing vocals (3, 9)
- Rodney Gray – backing vocals (9)
- Saundra Evans – backing vocals (9)
- Shirley Jiha – backing vocals (9)
- Thais Hockaday – backing vocals (3)
- Ullanda McCullough – backing vocals (1, 5)
- Vicki Sue Robinson – backing vocals (1, 3)
- Wanda Tanks – backing vocals (9)
- Willie Henry Jr. – backing vocals (3, 9)
- Vivian Cherry – backing vocals (5)
- Yvette Carrington – backing vocals (9)
- Yvonne Lewis – backing vocals (1)
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String and keyboard musicians:
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- Carolyn Halif – cello (9)
- Holly Singer – cello (9)
- Jesse Levy – cello (4)
- Jonathan Abramowitz – cello (3, 4)
- Lawrence Lenske – cello (9)
- Maurice Bialkin – cello (3, 9)
- Richard Locker – cello (4, 9)
- Seymour Barab – cello (3)
- Donald Palma – double bass (9)
- John Beal – double bass (4, 9)
- Lewis Paer – double bass (9)
- Ralph Oxman – double bass (9)
- Ron Carter – double bass (4)
- Carolyn Voight – viola (9)
- Evelyn Glover – viola (9)
- Harold Coletta – viola (9)
- Helen C. Huybrechts – viola (9)
- Judy Geist – viola (4)
- Julien Barber – viola (4)
- Lenore Weinstock – viola (4)
- Maureen Gallagher – viola (4)
- Seymour Berman – viola (9)
- Sue Pray – viola (9)
- Adam Abeshouse – electric violin (3)
- Alphonse Schipani – violin (9)
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- Arianne Bronne – violin (9)
- Carmel Malin – violin (9)
- Diana Halprin – violin (4)
- Frederick Buldrini – violin (4, 9)
- Harold Kohon – violin (4)
- Israel Chorberg – violin (9)
- Jean Ingraham – violin (9)
- Joe Malin – violin (4, 9)
- Joseph Rabushka – violin (4)
- Joyce Flissler – violin (9)
- Kathryn Kienke – violin (9)
- Lamar Alsop – violin (4)
- Leo Kahn – violin (9)
- Leon Goldstein – violin (9)
- Leonore Walaniuk – violin (9)
- Lewis Eley – violin (4)
- Marilyn Wright – violin (9)
- Max Ellen – violin (4)
- Max Hollander – violin (9)
- Peter Dimitriades – violin (9)
- Peter VanDerwater – violin (9)
- Regis Iandiorio – violin (4, 9)
- Sanford Allen – violin (4)
- Suzanne Ornstein – violin (9)
- Tony Posk – violin (4)
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Brass and wind musicians:
- Donald MacCourt – bassoon (9)
- Loren Glickman – bassoon (9)
- Charles Russo – clarinet (9)
- William Blount – clarinet (9)
- Andrew Lolya – flute (9)
- Julius Baker – flute (9)
- Phil Bodner – flute (9)
- Al Richmond – French horn (9)
- Peter Gordon – French horn (9)
- Ron Sell – French horn (9)
- Sharon Moe – French horn (9)
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Drum and percussion musicians:
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- Chris Parker – drums (4)
- ‘Crusher’ Bennett – percussion (1)
- Gordon Gottlieb – percussion (9)
- James Ogden – percussion (9)
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- Jimmy Maelen – percussion (1, 5)
- Michael Levenson – percussion (9)
- Tony Lewis – percussion (3)
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