THEME = movie tunes: ‘Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid’, ‘Dangerous Minds’ & ‘Flashdance’
This week’s entry features tunes from BJ Thomas, Coolio & Irene Cara….
#1 ‘Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid’
For this movie, “Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head” was written by Hal David & Burt Bacharach. It was released as a single 10/14/1969 from Thomas’ album of the same name & claimed #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 & Adult Contemporary charts in early 1970. This single also topped charts in Canada, Norway & South Africa, while reaching the Top 10 in Ireland (#9) & New Zealand (#3). Ray Stevens was 1st offered the opportunity to record this song, but turned it down in favor of the Kirs Kristofferson tune “Sunday Morning Coming Down”. This song won the Best Original Song Academy Award.
FYI: this film arrived in theaters 10/24/1969, but was premiered a month earlier at the Roger Sherman Theatre (New Haven CT). Based loosely on fact, this movie stars Paul Newman, Robert Redford, Katharine Ross & Cloris Leachman.
#2 ‘Dangerous Minds’
For this movie, “Gangsta’s Paradise” samples the chorus & music of Stevie Wonder’s “Pastime Paradise” (1976). Released from 3 different albums, this song officially hit the airwaves 08/08/1995; it claimed #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, while reaching #2 on the R&B chart. Internationally, it claimed the top spot of 17 charts. It also garnered a number of awards & accolades.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpGbzYlnz7c
FYI: this film arrived in theaters in mid 1995; it is based on the autobiography ‘My Posse Don’t Do Homework’ by retired US Marine LouAnne Johnson, who taught at Carlmont HS (Belmont CA) in 1989. The film stars Michelle Pfeiffer in the title role & also features George Dzundza & Courtney B Vance. While the film was a hit with audiences, it received mixed reviews. That success led to the creation of a TV series of the same name with Annie Potts (“Designing Women”) in the role of LouAnne Johnson; the series lasted 1 season, 17 episodes, between 09/30/1996 & 03/15/1997.
#3 ‘Flashdance’
For this movie, “What A Feeling” was written by Giorgio Moroder, Keith Forsey & Irene Cara. 3 years removed from the success of “Fame”, Cara performed this song, which debuted 04/03/1983 & claimed #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Internationally, this single reached the top spot of 10 charts, while reaching the Top 5 of 4 additional charts. This song also won the Best Original Song Academy Award.
FYI: this film debuted in theaters 12 days later (04/15/1983) & was the 1st collaboration of producers Don Simpson & Jerry Bruckheimer. The movie also stars Jennifer Beals & Michael Nouri. Much of the film was shot on location in the Pittsburgh PA area.