Songs in Cinema: Part 1

Here's another in a long list of British films I've never seen because it never made it across the pond. Yet, the soundtrack to 'Party Party' made quite an impression on outsider American teens like me in the early '80s. I wanted this record, primarily, for one song, Elvis Costello & The Attractions' "Party Party". The song has never appeared on a Costello record... not even with all of the reissues and reissues of reissues. Many fans (and even Costello himself) have shown disdain for this period in his career and this song in particular, but I thought 1983 was a great year for the artist. I love his work with the TKO Horns and, like on his album 'Punch the Clock', they are featured prominently here.

Turns out, there are some other fun songs here. Sting does a rousing version of Little Richard's "Tutti Frutti", and there are appearances by Bananarama, Altered Images, Madness and the great Dave Edmunds, to name a few. Perhaps the best of the lot is Midge Ure of Ultravox doing David Bowie's "The Man Who Sold the World". Maybe this was Nirvana's inspiration. I found this lovely piece of vinyl in a used record shop for $1.99.

Elvis Costello & The Attractions - Party Party (mp3)