Pasha
39333
1984
Nostalgia is a powerful force: when something sucks, time makes it harmless and innocent, hearkening a period when life seemed simpler. Of course 80's T&A frat flicks were very simple and part of the obsessive fun is finding something cool at the bottom of the barrel (or keg in this case). Like Cheap Trick's ridiculous theme song: even these distinguished junk dealers abandoned this piece (When inquired as to why "Up the Creek" has never graced any legit Trick collection, archivist and drummer Bun E. Carlos ponderously replied, "Cause it sucks.") This version does not have the a cappella opening only available (good luck) in promo format, but you do get the "Freeway Jam" finale, a spirited vocal and an aural reminder of a stupefying movie tie-in video ($Trick going down the bathtub drain). Another great aspect of past soundtracks is big leaguers actually making new songs -a rarity in this era of remixed or live rip-offs. Course Randy Bishop, resident song writer for this soundtrack (good gig), penning "The Heat" for Heart is not a good thing. No doubt "The Heat" is background for a raucous action scene so these lyrics are unnecessary and unwelcome. Kick Axe takes a stab at Humble Pie's wonderfully woeful "Thirty Days in the Hole," surprisingly the record's only remake. Curio Danny Spanos guns for Rod Stewart with "Passions in the Dark (aided by Rod cohort Carmine Appice)." Ian Hunter, the duke of deletion, contributes "Great Expectations," inspired by his daughter Tracey. Producer Spencer Proffer tried to push Shooting Star on the talented Mr. Hunter, who instead stuck with his demo (Charles Waltz's violin wouldn't have fit the song anyway). Beefy Kansas clones Shooting Star bark out two too-similar fight-to-win anthems. One of which, the Kiss quotin' "Get Ready Boy," returns as the instrumental track tacked on the end, picking up some steam but betraying a dearth of ideas. Yet considering the film this soundtrack reflects, Up the Creek isn't bad. Some 17 years later, Amplifier and Alternative Press refer to Up to Creek as bands now strive to achieve this level of blissed-out vacuousness. It's better to suck than be average and these celebs make fun look easy.
-STONE, Cheap Trash NYC
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