Long before the Twilight books and movies made vampires cool, the motion picture The Lost Boys was a hit. This dark comedy/action drama centers around Michael and Sam Emerson and their experiences with a biker gang who are secretly vampires living in the California beach town of Santa Carla. When Michael is drawn into the influence of the vampires, he must make a choice between becoming a vampire himself or fighting the conversion by killing the head vampire. The name comes from the Peter Pan stories, because much like the lost boys in that tale, vampires never grow up. The cast included Kiefer Sutherland, Jason Patric, Corey Haim, and Corey Feldman, and was a box office hit.
The film also created a hit with The Lost Boys: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack. Featuring a number of notable rock stars and groups including INXS, Foreigner's Lou Gramm, Echo & the Bunnymen, and The Who's Roger Daltrey, it spawned multiple singles. The soundtrack contains both original songs and covers, all either alluding to events in the movie or to what could be considered “vampire culture” - lostness, staying up at night, and similar characteristics.
The film is credited for changing the perception of vampires to a more youthful and appealing monster. Subsequent adaptations of the vampire genre which would be inspired by the film include movies as diverse as “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and the mockumentary film “What We Do in the Shadows.”
John Lynch was up all night “staking his claim” on this podcast feature.
Cry Little Sister by Gerard McMann
Singer-songwriter Gerard McMahon wrote this anthem under the pseudonym Gerard McMann. It would be considered the theme for the movie, and was specifically written for the film. McMann was thinking of a Gotham-like image in which you have to turn to faith in order to escape the doom in the night.
Lost in the Shadows by Lou Gramm
Gramm steps out from the shadows of his group Foreigner for this solo effort. The video for this song would feature clips from the film. Fuzzy guitar distortion and harmonica drive this deep cut, and was also written specifically for the movie.
Don't Let the Sun Go Down On Me by Roger Daltrey
The Elton John hit is covered by Who front man Daltrey, and the allusion to vampires is pretty clear to see. The film ends with morning breaking and the sun coming up, and Daltrey is singing this song as the credits roll.
I Still Believe by Tim Cappello
The Call's song is covered by saxophonist Cappello, who also makes a cameo where he is playing the song on the boardwalk. The lyrics are about the 40 days of fasting that Jesus undertook at the start of His ministry, and the reference to belief plays into the theme of faith versus giving into darkness that runs through this film.
ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:
Once Upon a Time...Storybook Love by Mark Knopfler (from the motion picture “The Princess Bride”)
It would be inconceivable for us to pass up this theme from the Rob Reiner movie which was in the theaters in the fall of 1987.
STAFF PICKS:
One Slip by Pink Floyd
After the departure of Roger Waters, Pink Floyd released the album "A Momentary Lapse of Reason" with only David Gilmour and Nick Mason listed as members. Bruce brings us this staff pick which was co-written by Gilmour and Phil Manzanera of Roxy Music. It is about unintended consequences of impulsive action, in this case an unintended pregnancy.
Hourglass by Squeeze
Rob features the debut single from Squeeze's seventh album, “Babylon and On.” The fast-paced chorus is distinctive and catchy. Songwriters Chris Dilford and Glenn Tilbrook typically wrote the lyrics and music respectively in separate sessions (much like Bernie Taupin and Elton John), but collaborated in the same room on this song. The memorable video is full of surrealism and optical illusions.
Luka by Suzanne Vega
Wayne takes an uncharacteristically softer and slower pick with singer-songwriter Suzanne Vega's song about child abuse. The song was actually written prior to Vega's first album but didn't make its studio debut until her second album, “Solitude Standing."” The name comes from a boy who played in front of Vega's building and stood apart from the other children.
Bad by Michael Jackson
Lynch brings us the title track to Michael Jackson's massively successful follow-up album to “Thriller.” Jackson wrote this song in an attempt to change his persona to a tough guy. The video was directed by Martin Scorsese, and Prince auditioned for the video. He departed as soon as he read the line, "your butt is mine," and Wesley Snipes would take the role.
NOVELTY TRACK:
Wipeout by the Fat Boys featuring The Beach Boys
We finish off with this unlikely pairing of beatbox rappers of the 80's and beach music founders of the 60's.
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