Boogie Nights Soundtrack CD
Boogie Nights.
1997, New Line.
Various.
Capitol, CD, 1997, 7243 8 55631 2 6.
Rating: 
Paul Thomas Anderson’s first feature ‘Hard Eight’ was a quiet neo-noir populated by troubled characters (a cocktail waitress and prostitute, a petty crook) and anchored by a cool, intelligent script. ‘Boogie Nights’ released the following year continues his fascination with offbeat characterisation, this time within the American porn industry of the 1970s and early 80s, as Mark Wahlberg’s well-endowed, and unfortunately named, Dirk Diggler rides the highs and lows of the alternative American dream. Featuring songs from the period, the soundtrack is a pretty good reflection of the film, including the album’s opener, ’Intro (Feel The Heat)’, performed by stars John C. O’Reilly (who also starred in ‘Hard Eight’) and Mark Wahlberg. Hits such as the folk influenced ‘Brand New Key’ (Melanie), funky ‘Spill The Wine’ (War with Eric Buroon) and the rockier ‘Sister Christian’ (Night Ranger) also provide some scope. The album’s main problem, however, is its length; with the amount of material featured in the film, this could easily have been a double album - the producers obviously realised this because they released volume two the following year, which is even briefer, running to only eleven tracks. Songs on volume one by The Emotions (‘Best Of My Love’), Chakachas (‘Jungle Fever’) and McFadden & Whitehead (‘Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now’) provide the entire disco content and Michael Penn and Patrick Warren’s score music ‘The Big Top’ that concludes the album is a slow, dreary trawl through treacle; a shame, because this is one example where bigger would most definitely have been better.
Boogie Nights Movie Soundtrack. Review: Tim Mowbray.
Track Listing:
1. Intro (Feel The Heat) (John C. Reilly/Mark Wahlberg).
2. Best Of My Love (The Emotions).
3. Jungle Fever (Chakachas).
4. Brand New Key (Melanie).
5. Spill The Wine (War With Eric Buroon).
6. Got To Give It Up (Part 1) (Marvin Gaye).
7. Machine Gun (The Commodores).
8. Magnet & Steel (Walter Egan).
9. Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now (McFadden & Whitehead).
10. Sister Christian (Night Ranger).
11. Livin’ Thing (ELO).
12. God Only Knows (Beach Boys).
13. The Big Top (Theme From ‘Boogie Nights’) (Michael Penn/Patrick Warren).
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