Essential ’80s Soundtrack Albums

To drum up interest in the film, the first single for the movie, “Flashdance…What A Feeling,” written by Giorgio Moroder and performed by Irene Cara, was released a month before the film. Paramount Pictures had doubts that the film would perform well, but thanks in large part to the music, Flashdance took off at the box office, while the soundtrack flew off the shelves of Sam Goody. “What A Feelin” became the longest-running top ten single of 1983, and also became an international hit. Additional singles from the soundtrack include “Maniac” by Michael Sembello, “Lady Lady Lady” by Joe Esposito, and “Manhunt” by Karen Kamon. Since 2015, CD reissues of the soundtrack continue to be released by Mercury Records in Japan. And fortunately, the original 1983 pressing of the soundtrack on vinyl remains in circulation on Discogs.

The original nine-track album for Footloose (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) was released in January of 1984 and reached number one on the US Billboard 200 chart in April, where it remained until June. Of the original nine tracks on the Footloose soundtrack, seven were released as singles, including Kenny Loggins’ “Footloose” (which went to number one for three weeks), “Let’s Hear It For The Boy” by Deniece Williams (which went to number one in May), and “Almost Paradise… Love Theme from Footloose” by Mike Reno of Loverboy and Ann Wilson of Heart. In 2020, Columbia Records reissued the soundtrack on lavender vinyl and on picture disc. 

Compiled to portray a snapshot of the early 1980s hardcore and punk scene in Los Angeles, Repo Man (Music From The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) features songs from Iggy Pop, Black Flag, Suicidal Tendencies, Circle Jerks, and more. According to Repo Man director Alex Cox, he wanted the music to serve as a backdrop to the story of the life of repo men. Released in March of 1984, Repo Man was pulled from theaters by Universal for underperforming after a single week. Six months later, with soundtrack sales eclipsing 50,000 copies, the film was re-released to critical acclaim and turned a profit. A vinyl version of the soundtrack was released by Kojack Records in Germany in 2022, but classic cassettes from 1984 are still highly sought-after on Discogs.

Universally known for the eponymous single released by Ray Parker Jr., Ghostbusters (Original Soundtrack) was released on June 8, 1984, and the title track proceeded to climb the charts until it reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in August of 1984. According to Ghostbusters legend, there were approximately 50 to 60 theme songs developed for the film before Ray Parker Jr. stumbled onto a late-night television ad spot and created an advertising jingle that could double as a theme song (“Who ya gonna call?”). But Ghostbusters goes far deeper than the theme song, which was nominated for Best Original Song at the 57th Academy Awards. Complimenting the soundtrack were standout songs from The BusBoys, Thompson Twins, Air Supply, and Laura Branigan. In 2020, Arista Records reissued the soundtrack on “marshmallow white” vinyl.

Released in June of 1984 in advance of the film of the same name, Purple Rain is the sixth studio album from Prince. Backed by The Revolution, Prince’s backing band from the late ’70s through 1986, Purple Rain became Prince’s first album to reach number one on the Billboard 200, additionally spending 167 weeks on the charts (that’s over three years.) Known for its experimental, bombastic, and sometimes psychedelic moments, Purple Rain is also regarded as one of the most pop-oriented albums in the Prince discography. With sales of over 25 million copies worldwide, Purple Rain is one of the best selling albums of all time, and according to Vanity Fair, it’s also the best soundtrack of all time. The album produced five singles and remains in high demand on Discogs.

Released in December of 1984 alongside the release of the film, Beverly Hills Cop (Music From The Motion Picture Soundtrack) featured an eclectic mix of R&B royalty (The Pointer Sisters, Patti Labelle), action-oriented rock (Glenn Frey), and instrumental electronic (courtesy of Harold Faltermeyer.) Faltermeyer’s theme, dubbed “Axel F” after Eddie Murphy’s character in the film, was initially met with indifference by the film’s producers and editor, but director Martin Brest said it was “the most perfect cue for this movie.” The soundtrack produced four singles: “New Attitude” and “Stir It Up” by Patti Labelle, “The Heat is On” by Glenn Frey, and “Axel F” from Faltermeyer, which became an international hit. A vinyl version of the soundtrack was reissued in 2015.

Released in October of 1985, Krush Groove showcased the burgeoning NYC hip-hop culture of the 1980s, and was loosely based around the formation of Def Jam Records and Russell Simmons’ rise as a record producer. The soundtrack features a lineup of artists that were instrumental in shaping the ’80s hip-hop scene in New York, including Run D.M.C., LL Cool J, Fat Boys, Beastie Boys, and Kurtis Blow. According to legend, only 1000 copies of the soundtrack were made available on CD, although it was reissued by Perseverance Records in 2013. A vinyl version was also reissued by Varèse Sarabande in 2018, and although it was limited to only 1500 copies, it’s still an affordable option on Discogs.

The Breakfast Club soundtrack is a quintessential ’80s time capsule. While it’s forever linked to Simple Minds‘ anthemic “Don’t You (Forget About Me),” the album offers more than just that iconic track (the single alone is in over 30,000 Collections on Discogs.) It’s a collection of new wave and synth-pop tunes that perfectly capture the film’s themes of teenage confusion, rebellion, and personal growth. Artists like Wang Chung, E.G. Daily, and Karla DeVito contribute to the John Hughes-directed soundtrack, creating a nostalgic backdrop to the film’s unforgettable moments.

According to Pretty In Pink star Molly Ringwald, Pretty In Pink writer John Hughes wrote the film based loosely on the Psychedelic Furs song of the same name (from the 1981 album Talk Talk Talk). Initially, director Howard Deutch intended to use theme music throughout the movie, but Hughes pushed for a mix of new wave and post-punk tunes that helped to shape the film’s ’80s alternative music aesthetic. The Furs re-recorded a more pop-friendly version of the title track specifically for the film, while Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark wrote the first track, “If You Leave,” specifically for the film. The remainder of the soundtrack is peak alternative circa 1986, including the Smiths, New Order, INXS, Suzanne Vega, Echo and The Bunnymen and more. The soundtrack was released by A&M Records in 1986, and re-released on limited edition pink vinyl in 2012. 

Released in conjunction with Top Gun the movie in May of 1986, Top Gun (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) produced six singles through the summer of 1986, including “Danger Zone” and “Playing With The Boys” by Kenny Loggins, “Take My Breath Away” by Berlin, “Mighty Wings” by Cheap Trick, and “Heaven In Your Eyes” by Loverboy. Considered a quintessential artifact of the mid-’80s, the Top Gun soundtrack has everything, from adrenaline-filled rock to slow-dance respites, plus an anthemic instrumental courtesy of Steve Stevens and Harold Faltermeyer. That song, the “Top Gun Anthem,” was also released as a single in 1986, and featured again in the 2022 sequel Maverick.

Released a week prior to the film in June of 1989, (Music From) Do The Right Thing featured Public Enemy, Steel Pulse, Perri, Take 6, and more. But it was Public Enemy’s “Fight The Power” which dominated this soundtrack. Conceived at the request of director Spike Lee, who was searching for a theme song, Public Enemy returned with a sweeping declaration of solidarity and action. The duo even asked Lee to direct their video for the song, which depicted PE leading a political rally through the streets of Bed-Stuy. Meanwhile, Teddy Riley and Guy’s “My Fantasy” went to number one on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks Chart. The soundtrack was reissued by Motown in 2015 as part of the Respect The Soundtracks series.