2020 Album Draft- Round 11 Pick 1- Soundtracks- MSJADELI selects- Groose Pointe Blank.
When Hans decided to add three more rounds and the first bonus round was a movie soundtrack, this and one other (The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou) sprang to mind. Grosse Pointe Blank is a film I’ve watched many times for many reasons, and the soundtrack is one of them. I ended up buying the album and have used it numerous times while doing housework. It’s a jaunty yet sleek compilation that never fails to uplift while listening to it.
What I learned about the soundtrack is that it covers only about one-third of the total songs that were in the movie! Not sure if this is the usual or not but I was impressed by quantity and quality. A second disk with another third of the songs, called, “Grosse Pointe Blank: More Music from the Film,” was released a few months later. The final third is made up of songs that were in the movie or in the trailer but didn’t make it to either soundtrack disc. I’m not sure how movie soundtrack is to be defined for the purposes of the Desert Island Draft (DID,) but for informational purposes, I am including all tracks from the movie and the movie trailer here.
The soundtrack album I have (the original) reached number 31 on the Billboard 200 chart.
Grosse Pointe Blank – Music From the Film
- “Blister in the Sun” – Violent Femmes (2:08)
- “Rudie Can’t Fail” – The Clash (3:31)
- “Mirror in the Bathroom” – English Beat (3:09)
- “Under Pressure” – David Bowie and Queen (4:03)
- “I Can See Clearly Now” – Johnny Nash (2:46)
- “Live and Let Die” – Guns N’ Roses (3:02)
- “We Care a Lot” – Faith No More (4:03)
- “Pressure Drop” – The Specials (4:18)
- “Absolute Beginners” – The Jam (2:50)
- “Armagideon Time” – The Clash (3:53)
- “Matador” – Los Fabulosos Cadillacs (4:34)
- “Let My Love Open the Door (E. Cola Mix)” – Pete Townshend (4:58)
- “Blister 2000” – Violent Femmes (2:58)
Grosse Pointe Blank – More Music From the Film
- “A Message to You, Rudy” – The Specials (2:53)
- “Cities in Dust” – Siouxsie and the Banshees (3:49)
- “The Killing Moon” – Echo & the Bunnymen (5:44)
- “Monkey Gone to Heaven” – Pixies (2:56)
- “Lorca’s Novena” – The Pogues (4:35)
- “Go!” – Tones on Tail (2:32)
- “Let It Whip” – Dazz Band (4:24)
- “The Dominatrix Sleeps Tonight” – Dominatrix (3:40)
- “War Cry” – Joe Strummer (5:58)
- “White Lines (Don’t Don’t Do It)” – Melle Mel (7:24)
- “Take On Me” – A-ha (3:46)
- “You’re Wondering Now” – The Specials (2:37)
Soundtrack omissions
Many songs from the film do not appear on the soundtracks.
Songs that appear in the film (in order of film appearance):
- “Blister in the Sun” (LP Version) – Violent Femmes
- Johannes Brahms’ “Fugue in A-Minor” – Jacques van Oortmerseen
- “Live and Let Die” (Muzak Version) – Adam Fields
- “Ace of Spades” – Motörhead
- “In Between Days” – The Cure
- “Your Lucky Day in Hell” – Eels
- “Sharks Can’t Sleep” – Tracy Bonham
- “Little Luxuries” – The Burros
- “Big Boss Man” – Jimmy Reed
- “Detroit City” – Bobby Bare
- “Walk Like an Egyptian” – The Bangles
- “99 Luftballons” – Nena
- “Doors of Your Heart” – The English Beat
Songs in the trailer but not in the film:
- “I Got You Babe” – UB40 and Chrissie Hynde
- “Friend or Foe” – Adam Ant
- “Modern Love” – David Bowie
Information comes from wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grosse_Pointe_Blank#Grosse_Pointe_Blank_-_Music_From_the_Film
Shockingly, I’ve never seen “Grosse Pointe Blank”, despite the fact I’m a pretty big fan of John Cusack. But what a tremendous collection of great songs!
Jeff, GPB may be Cusack’s best film. Yes, it is a tremendous collection isn’t it 🙂
I just googled the film and read about it. Looks like I’ll have to find a copy and watch it.
No no no- High Fidelity is Cusack’s best— Grosse Pointe Blank is a good one though!
Good soundtrack to a good movie.
Thanks, Stephen!
Excellent album, wonderful film. Terrific write up.
Steve for the Deaf lives! Write more.
Hey Steve! So good to see you. Thank you.
Good write up. I’d never heard of this film.
Thank you, Angel. It’s a dark comedy where Cusack and Crew all shine. If you like that first clip you’ll probably like the movie 🙂
Wowsa – that’s a soundtrack I can get behind! Clash’s “Rudie can’t fail” is almost worth it alone, but add in the Specials, Jam (btw- have you heard David Bowie’s cover of that song? Very good one), old Johnny Nash… that’s a good package. Funny, only song I would’ve instantly known was from it is “blister in the sun” which is one of not many 80s new wave songs I’m not big on.
I’ve only seen that movie once, but oddly I think I have it on DVD… seems like that last copy of ‘High Fidelity’ I bought had it on the “flipside” as one of those double-movie deals. Generally I like John Cusack as an actor so maybe time to give it a viewing.
No, I haven’t heard Bowie cover Jam but will seek it out now. I used to have the movie on VHS but gave all VHS away when I moved (no room for them!) It’s a great film, with such delicious cutting humor in it. High Fidelity is another good’n and am guessing it has a great soundtrack also (but can’t remember.)
Dave, what song did David Bowie do a cover of? I tried what I thought you said but not finding it.
Mea culpa! I meant ‘Absolute Beginners’ but checking on the Jam, obviously 2 different songs…which is probably why I couldn’t recall The Jam ever doing the song that Bowie did!
🙂
Great movie and soundtrack…looking down that list…what a collection! Awesome selection Lisa.
It’s amazing that many (good) songs can fit into a movie but I have to trust it is true. Another category that I hope is added at some point is series soundtrack. So many newer series put a lot of effort into their soundtracks. I just borrowed the 2-disc soundtrack set from netflix series, Peaky Blinders, and it is knocking me over! That one series you and Hans told me about where the detective gets put into the future is one with an awesome soundtrack as well. Thanks and glad you liked my choice, Max. Can’t wait to see what you pick.
Oh yea Life On Mars…yes it’s cool…I wish I could pick it.
I’m still debating!
Man is that a lot of songs or what. That has to be a record. Not only that but there are so many that I dig. Even songs I’m not crazy about work in films sometimes. That’s kicking things off with a bang. I like Cusack also so I will a have to catch this one.
CB, I knew there were a lot of good’ns on the CD I have but only writing this up did I see how many didn’t make it onto it. Agreed that songs can be ninjas like that, suiting many purposes. I hope you do give “Grosse Pointe Blank” a try. Let me know what you think. Thanks for your comment 🙂
Hans the title is Grosse, not Groose!
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My reaction is like almost all of the prior comments, i.e., wow! What a great collection of music. I’ve heard of this movie, but never saw it. I’ve got to look it up now. Great first soundtrack pick and write up!
Thank you, Diana, I’m sure you’re happy to see a cut from The Clash album you picked 🙂 The film is brilliant, imo, hope you enjoy it if you check out 🙂
I’m not the one who picked The Clash, but I did like that pick a lot. 🙂 I’ve added the movie to my watch list.
I can see this would be good for housework! I like soundtracks in general and am always taking them out of the library. I’m quite fond of the “I am Sam” soundtrack although I never saw the movie. (K)