Movie Music Monday – Back To School

While many schools started before Labor Day, the majority of them will start their school year tomorrow. I thought it would be fitting to feature Rodney Dangerfield’s comedy Back to School. This ties in with this week’s Music of My Life post which will feature 1986, the year that the film was released.

The plot centers on a wealthy but uneducated father (Rodney Dangerfield) who goes to college to show solidarity with his discouraged son Jason (Keith Gordon) and learns that he cannot buy an education or happiness. The film also stars Sally Kellerman, Adrienne Barbeau, Sam Kinison, Ned Beatty, and a young Robert Downey Jr.

The Dean of the college that Rodney goes to is played by Ned Beatty. His last name is Martin. When Rodney comes in and calls him Dean Martin the first time, I belly laughed. This was probably a nod to the real Dean Martin who featured Rodney on some of his variety shows.

Those familiar with the movie will perhaps be disappointed that the song I have picked from the soundtrack is not from Oingo Boingo who appear in the film. (Fun Fact: Their frontman, Danny Elfman, wrote the musical score for the film. He went on to write music for the Simpsons, Batman, Tales from the Crypt and more!) Instead, I have picked one that is so obscure, you have to laugh at it!

Michael Bolton really hit it big in 1989 with his Soul Provider album. It featured the hits: When I’m Back on My Feet Again, How Can We Be Lovers, and How Am I Supposed to Live Without You. Many are unaware that this album was actually his SIXTH album. His first was released in 1975 – 14 years earlier. That was when he was known as Michael Bolotin.

In 1985, Bolton released an album that didn’t even chart in the US (or anywhere else, unless you include Sweden, where it reached #45). Everybody’s Crazy was the title track from the album and was a minor hit on hard rock radio stations. Yes, you read that correctly – hard rock radio stations. What makes this even better is that MTV played the video for this song and a young Michael Bolton is rocking his best “hair band” look.

I have NO idea how this song made it into the soundtrack of the film, but it did. What I do know is that the songs from this “rock” album never really made it to any future compilations (except the title track which showed up on his Playlist compilation album). The reason for this was the contrast in musical style between this album and the majority of Bolton’s later (and more successful) musical output. Someone must have felt that those familiar with his Adult Contemporary stuff might not be able to handle his “rocker” side.

I anxiously away your comments on this one, especially my musical blogger friends…

Take it away, Michael…