The Principal (1987) - How to deal with disobedience

If you like the good old school based ghetto movies, then make sure you watch Jim Belushi is his legendary role as "The Principal".  It features action, plenty of great one liners, and villians with greased up jheri curls to match the Soul Glow look.

You can just feel the energy when Jim Belushi literally kicks the shit out one the pupils, and then gets on motorbike to teach these asswipes a real lesson!

Check out some of these legendary scenes.  Even Louis Gossett Jr makes an appearance as a hard ass caretaker.  This movie also features a scene where Strafe's Set it Off is played, a great example of motion pictures and music as an artform.

Flashworx - Disco Synths and Italo Flavours

If you like disco synths and italo flavours in your music, then you must listen to Flashworx.  Flashworx are Anthony Hammer and Mike Arthur Le Trèfle from Switzerland.  They are creating some of the best music around with vintage synth sounds and their trademark productions.

They have already made remixes for Futurecop!, Keith Masters, Visitor, Pnau, Cavaliers of Fun, and many more.

here is a selection of some of their best work.

Check out their soundcloud at: http://soundcloud.com/flashworx
Their facebook page at: http://www.facebook.com/pages/FlashWorx/30018532082?v=info
And also check out their official site at: http://www.flashworx.net/

Commando (1985) - The Arnie Show - The Almighty One Liners

You don't need to say anything to describe this ultimate macho masterpiece. Its the one liner king as Arnie shows today's "action" dickheads how to do proper action scenes.

The only modern movie which even comes close is Liam Neeson in Taken, but none of Neeson's lines can match such legendary quotes as "WRONG" and "I eat green berets for breakfast, and right now i'm very hungry", not to mention the way Arnie skilfully snaps the neck of his "Dead Tired" friend.

This movie also features the pounding action classic by James Horner where he improves his 48 Hours score by giving us more tropical and jungle flavours than ever before. Bask in the glory of the one of the greatest action scores known to mankind.

It ends with a hard hitting Power Station classic to close out this masterpiece of film making.

This is how you make a proper action movie Hollywood, now give us another one like this and stop pussying about!

Check out Commando Fans for more great entertainment. http://commandofans.com/

Trick Or Treat (1986) - Death By Headphones

This is one my favourites, a classic 1986 horror movie starring some unknowns.  Great music by the band Fastway and featuring an interesting concept.  Sammi Curr is a rock star who comes back from the dead to kill them all, using backmasking and various electricity induced shenanigans.  It features a death by headphones scene in what some would say is the original audio killer! A full year before Corey Haim immortilised the "Death by Stereo" line in The Lost Boys.

It also features Ozzy Osbourne and that old KISS tosser Gene Simmons.  Its Sammi Curr who is the real star of the show.  With campy spandex and big hair, he still manages to kill off many ass holes before being finished off.  Overall, a decent movie thats is apparently getting a remake sometime in the next few years.  The soundtrack is brilliant, Fastway give it some real hard rock old school style.  Only Sammi Curr can make a death by guitar look cool! There should be a whole movie where people get killed off with an electrifying guitar. 

Catch Me If You Can (1989) - Tangerine Dream

Catch Me If You Can is a forgotten 1989 movie starring Matt Latanzi which you've probably never heard of.  This movie is not even available on DVD! The notable feature of this movie is the soundtrack by Tangerine Dream.  Featuring a DX7 heavy soundtrack, this soundtrack finds TD on auto pilot as the deliver their trademark synth sounds.

Overall, good movie, great cars, big hair, hammy acting and all the usual shit with these classics!

Clarence Boddicker - Bitches Leave

If there is one movie with classic one liners that you will never forget, Robocop is right up there.  Clarence Boddicker, possibly the nastiest, funniest and downright disgusting villian in the history of film delivers the goods in Paul Verhoeven's 1987 classic.  The inevitable remake is apparently going to include some "serious" drama, so I guess the one liners ain't gonna come back! Bastards!

 

Bitches Leave!

Oh, and if anyone else is in the UK, you can apparently find Clarence in a pub in Gloucester.  What a legend.

Tango and Cash 2 - Time For Some Wild Action Synths!

Here is the classic opening to the 1989 masterpiece starring Sylvester Stallone and Kurt Russell.  Two legends team up in a wild action movie with some vintage one liners and some cracking synths for the soundtrack.

Harold Faltermeyer provided the TR808 drums and the state of the art Synclavier produced score.  Sonically, its a full tour de force of vintage synthesizers conveying the action comedy on screen.  You can literally rewatch this movie again and again and you can never got bored!  It also features Mr Maniac Cop himself, Robert Z'Dar, the guy with the biggest chin on this motherfucking planet!

Now that Stallone has brought back Rocky, Rambo, its time for more Tango & Cash. Rumours have been circulating of his attempt to bring back Ray Tango once more.  I say why not? Most buddy cop movies made today are complete and utter shite give or take a few.  Give us some proper buddy cop action movie's again please, not the shit we have had to watch for the past ten years!  And while they are it, put in some synthesizers again, we need some groove back in these sorry excuses for "action" movies!

If you like vintage synth soundtracks, then you get a copy of the Tango and Cash soundtrack from LaLaLand Records.

http://www.lalalandrecords.com/

Robbie Robb - In Time (A Most Triumphant Song)

Don't you just hate it when you hear a song, but the version you want is never released?
Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (1988) featured a song titled "In Time" by Robbie Robb during the most triumphant Future Council scene.

The song is a masterpiece featuring the most excellent guitar work of Stevie Salas.  Billy The Kid and "So Crates" as Bill called him watch in amazement as this most epic song is played!

The one on the officially released soundtrack album though omits the opening guitar riff and much of Salas's overdubs.  Apparently, even Stevie Salas doesn't have a copy of this epic song! Most Heinous!

Luckilly, a guy named Marcus Wright has done his own rendition of the extra guitar overdubs and has helped to recreate this amazing movie version! Enjoy!  You can download this version at Bill & Ted's Most Excellent Online Adventure.

http://www.billandted.org/musiceaintime.htm

Since then, Robbie Robb is now known as Robbi Robb, but as to why he omitted the "e" from his name is a mystery!

Steven Dolby - Soundtrack Composer Inspired By The Greats

Steven Dolby was born May 23, 1974 in Rotherham, England. His first interest in music was playing the drums at age 13. He gained experience by going to various holiday camps with his mum and dad around the UK and asking the drummers if he could have a play and sometimes performing with the bands. He also has an interest in synthesisers, especially the old classic DX7 synth. Every band back then had a DX7, pretty difficult to program but it had a great sound and still has. Steven also played keyboard in his school band for four years.  After comprehensive school Steven attended Music College in Barnsley studying MIDI, sampling, mixing and studio recording. It was great, my friend and I had a state of the art studio to play with all to ourselves. We made some great music, but I dont know where the recordings are. Electronic music has developed so much and with the software available today your boundaries are unlimited. I love all types of music if its done well. Steven has just finished work on his album Pandora, which will be available sometime in the next few months. Steven now lives in the USA.    

 

Check out his myspace at: http://www.myspace.com/dolbymusic

           

DayAfterDiscovery (formerly D/A/D) relives the 80s

Zach Robinson is a multi instrumentalist who created his alter ego DayAfterDiscovery (formerly D/A/D) to showcase his amazing melodies and nostalgic themes.  He has already worked with the likes of electro pop group Futurecop! and has released a free EP so far.

Here are a couple of his amazing new tracks from his upcoming releases.

Check his soundcloud at: http://soundcloud.com/dayafterdiscovery
Also check out his facebook page at: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Day-After-Discovery/155998477783913

Miami Nights 1984 - The Soundtrack of Miami Returns

Miami Nights 1984 aka Mike Edward Glover aka Actraiser delivers the sound of Miami to a new generation with synths and melodies galore. This is the real deal. Enjoy the true sound of Miami and the summer anthems.  Founder of Rosso Corsa Records, this music takes you back to a time where the good times exist and synths power you up and take you on a trip back to the future.

Soundcloud: http://soundcloud.com/miami-nights-1984
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/miaminights1984
Web: http://rossocorsarecords.com/

Murder One - Australian Hard Electro Synth

One of my favourites. Murderone delivers pounding phaser synths with hard hitting drums to the sound of hard electro. Check out his soundcloud: http://soundcloud.com/murderone

http://soundcloud.com/murderone/james-varnish-compare-murder-one-rmx

http://soundcloud.com/murderone/kavinsky-nightcall-murder-one-remix

http://soundcloud.com/murderone/vengeance

PETER GUJA - Beyond the mind limit - Miami Vice tribute music

No need to describe, the music is enough by itself. Peter Guja creates a timeless tribute to one of the greatest TV shows ever made. Jan Hammer would be proud of this one.

Jan Hammer's Unreleased Miami Vice Soundtrack Score Tracks

Apart from the 2 CD Ultimate Collection and several releases in the 80s, there is still a vast amount of Jan Hammer' Miami Vice music which still remains unreleased to this day. Some of it probably will never because of Universal's reluctance to allow its release.  Much the same with how Tim Truman has been prevented from having his 1989 Season 5 score music released, Jan Hammer's best work remains hidden in the vaults.

Luckilly though, several fan made cover versions have replicated these tracks almost 100% accuratel using the same equipment Jan used such as the infamous Rockman Distortion unit and MXR Flanger. You can find these amazing cover versions done by Rick Leon and Dadrian Wilson.

Recently, I also came across a youtube channel from Crockett1984 which has featured many of the great unreleased instrumentals from the TV Series.

You can find the channel here: http://www.youtube.com/user/Crockett1984

Here is a selection of some of the rare unreleased score tracks extracted from the DVD's.  Browse around Crockett's youtube channel to hear plenty more of Jan Hammer's unreleased Miami Vice score instrumentals.

Zonik Zynth - 80s Soundtrack Specialist & One Man Band

Zonik Zynth is a one man 80s unstoppable tour de force, creating new soundtrack scores for the vintage classics. A prolific master of synths, check out Zonik Zynth on his youtube channel.  Inspired by Faltermeyer, Hammer and all the greats, Zonik Zynth can create a soundtrack for any genre.

Just a few of his many classics are presented here.

Check out his channel at: http://www.youtube.com/user/Soleilfreak

Mitch Murder - 80s Synth Master Burns It Up Again

Mitch Murder is from Sweden and has released several EP's and a full length album with his trademark synth style and soundtracks.  Inspired by Paul Hardcastle, David Frank amongst many others, Mitch has perfected the art of bringing vintage style 80's music back from the past and into the present.  His Burning Chrome album is synth and sonic perfection, going from Vangelis, to Vince DiCola to breakdance funk to Beverly Hills Cop all in one go.

Here is a selection of some of his best work.

Check out his soundcloud at: http://soundcloud.com/daataa
His myspace is at: http://www.myspace.com/mitchmrdr
Also check out his youtube at: http://www.youtube.com/user/roootx

Cusax - Got That Feeling - Synths & Warm Melodies

This month I came across a new project by Chris Faccone and Chris Stallone (of Sakura Knight and 80s Stallone). Featuring great melodies and beautiful synth sounds, this is a great throwback to the soundtracks of old. I highly recommend these tracks, up there with the best of them.

http://soundcloud.com/cusax/for-the-win

http://soundcloud.com/cusax/cusax-french-lessons

http://soundcloud.com/cusax/cusack-highschool-romance

http://soundcloud.com/cusax/cusax-k12



Check out the soundcloud at: http://soundcloud.com/cusax
Also check out the bandcamp link to show support: http://cusax.bandcamp.com/

Lazerhawk - Electro Master Bringing Synths Back To The Future

Lazerhawk is an electro synth master from Austin, Texas, USA and has been compared to the French artist Kavinsky, except with more powerful synths.  Lazerhawk has released an LP titled "Redline" and has another upcoming EP based on UFO's and utilising his trademark synths.

Here are a selection of Lazerhawk's great tracks.
More details at: http://rossocorsarecords.com/
Also check out his soundcloud at: http://soundcloud.com/lazerhawk

Harold Faltermeyer - Beverly Hills Cop Soundtrack Score (1984)

A classic score for a classic movie. Harold Faltermeyer created an iconic score for this 1984 action comedy starring Eddie Murphy. The funky electro synth instrumentals were featured throughout this movie and inspired countless other imitators throughout the 80s.

The highlights of this unreleased score (as of 2011) are "The Discovery", and the amazing end shootout score, which goes from serious to funky to comedy and back again, all in the space of 10 action packed minutes. Its mind boggling how this score has never been released. Even Serge is probably unimpressed with that!

A youtube user named "msupplies1" has however managed to extract large chunks of the scores for both Beverly Hills Cop and Beverly Hills Cop 2 which is quite amazing and will tide you over until the actual scores are released.  

A true synth master, Faltermeyer made a return in 2010 with "Cop Out", but it remains to be seen whether it is permanent. Let's hope so, because these days, many soundtrack scores are complete and utter rubbish and more synths are required!