Top Gun (soundtrack)

Top Gun
Soundtrack album by Various Artists
Released	May 13, 1986
Genre	Rock
Length	56:51
Label	Columbia CK 40323
Producer	Don Simpson, Jerry Bruckheimer

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]

Top Gun is the soundtrack from the film of the same name, released in 1986 by Columbia Records. In 1999, it was reissued in a Special Expanded Edition with additional songs. In 2006, it was reissued again in a Deluxe Edition with more additional songs. The album reached number one in the charts for five nonconsecutive weeks in the summer and autumn of 1986.

Track listing

The original version included only 10 tracks. Tracks 11 to 15 are available on a Special Expanded Edition released in 1999. Tracks 16 to 20 are available on a Deluxe Edition released in 2006. Note that tracks 16-20 do not appear in the film, nor are they related to it in any way.

1. "Danger Zone" by Kenny Loggins – 3:36
2. "Mighty Wings" by Cheap Trick – 3:51
3. "Playing with the Boys" by Kenny Loggins – 3:59
4. "Lead Me On" by Teena Marie – 3:47
5. "Take My Breath Away (Love Theme from Top Gun)" by Berlin – 4:11
6. "Hot Summer Nights" by Miami Sound Machine – 3:38
7. "Heaven in Your Eyes" by Loverboy – 4:04
8. "Through the Fire" by Larry Greene – 3:46
9. "Destination Unknown" by Marietta – 3:48
10. "Top Gun Anthem" by Harold Faltermeyer & Steve Stevens – 4:12

1999 Special Edition bonus tracks

11. "(Sittin' on) the Dock of the Bay" by Otis Redding – 2:42
12. "Memories" by Harold Faltermeyer – 2:57
13. "Great Balls of Fire" (Original Version) by Jerry Lee Lewis – 1:57
14. "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" by The Righteous Brothers – 3:44
15. "Playing with the Boys" (12" Version) by Kenny Loggins – 6:41

2006 Deluxe Edition bonus tracks

16. "Can't Fight This Feeling" by REO Speedwagon
17. "Broken Wings" by Mister Mister
18. "The Final Countdown" by Europe
19. "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now" by Starship
20. "The Power of Love" by Jennifer Rush

Omissions

Bryan Adams was approached to allow his song "Only the Strong Survive" on the soundtrack. He refused because he felt the film glorified war and he didn't want any of his work linked to it.

Judas Priest were also approached to allow their song "Reckless" on the soundtrack, but declined, both because they thought the film would flop and because it would have meant leaving the song off their 1986 album Turbo.^[2] Ironically, they contributed the title track to the film Johnny Be Good two years later, which was a commercial failure.

The Motels were originally considered for the song "Take My Breath Away". A demo version exists on their compilation, Anthologyland.

Other songs not included on any release of the soundtrack include the cast recordings of "You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling" and "Great Balls of Fire", as well as the "humming" version of "Take My Breath Away" and Giorgio Moroder's "Radar Radio". The band Toto was supposed to sing the song "Danger Zone" but due to legal conflict, it was passed on to Kenny Loggins.^[3]

The Cars song "Stranger Eyes" was featured in an early trailer for the film, though did not appear in the final version of the movie.

Chart positions

Album

Year	Chart	Position
1986	The Billboard 200	1

Singles

Year	Song	Chart	Position
1986	"Danger Zone"	The Billboard Hot 100	2
1986	"Take My Breath Away"	The Billboard Hot 100	1
1986	"Heaven in Your Eyes"	The Billboard Hot 100	12

The Score

Whilst three versions of the Top Gun soundtrack have been released, there has only been one track of score officially released, "Memories". The score however is available as a bootleg (usually labeled as a promo), although it's far from complete.

There are three central themes in Top Gun. The main theme is a triumphant ode to those daring daredevil fighter pilots, almost like an American rock version of Chariots of Fire, and as such occasionally featuring an electric guitar. It’s backed up by some interesting percussion, and what sounds like a church bell (which amusingly was used on its own in the teaser trailer for another Paramount production of 1986, Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives).

The ‘Memories’ theme is an introspective and melancholy theme with electric strings (and possibly a real guitar) that is used for Maverick confronting his past, as well as the tragic things that happen to him, i.e. his best friend dying. This is followed by the love theme, otherwise known as ‘Take My Breath Away’, which appears in both instrumental and vocal flavours, and was written by 80s powerhouse Giorgio Moroder and lyricist Tom Whitlock (who unbelievably was previous Moroder’s Ferrari mechanic). It’s notable that many of the songs in the film (and subsequently on the album) were actually written for the film, and not necessarily just culled from other sources. As such, some of them also appear as instrumental versions in the film (‘Mighty Wings’ for example, which was co-written by Harold Faltermeyer).

The Promo

1. Top Gun Anthem (Film Version)
2. Opening Theme
3. Danger Zone
4. MIG 28s
5. Negative G Pushover-Cougar’s Landing
6. Still Awake-Can’t Sleep
7. Playing With the Boys
8. Take My Breath Away (Instrumental)
9. Who’s Side Are You On-Never Again
10. Flat Spin
11. Goose’s Death-Goodbye Goose
12. New Mission
13. Top Gun Anthem
14. Mighty Wings
15. Take My Breath Away
16. Great Balls Of Fire Demo (Bonus Track)

Many of the tracks are erroneously labelled when compared to the film, and the final track is taken from the DVD soundtrack.

Cue Breakdown

1. Main Title 0:00 – 2:42 t2:43

Quiet version of the Top Gun Anthem over the credits as the aircraft carrier prepares to launch fighters. Segues immediately into the next track, alongside a very loud roar from a jet engine

2. Danger Zone – Kenny Loggins 2:43 – 4:13 t3:32

An edit of Kenny Loggins’ song plays over scenes of F14s landing and taking off.

3. MiG 28s 6:03 – 7:39 t1:40

Two MiG 28s appear and engage the F14s. Tense electronic underscore.

4. Missile Lock 7:44 – 8:46 t1:12

Cougar is engaged by the MiG 28. More tense electronic underscore.

5. Watch The Birdie 8:52 – 9:19 t0:34

Short triumphant version of the Top Gun Anthem as Maverick inverts his F14 and Goose takes a photo.

6. Cougar’s Landing 9:20 – 12:42 t3:32

More tense music as Cougar has an emotional breakdown in his cockpit, with Maverick having to rescue him. Heavy percussion.

7. Danger Zone (Reprise) 15:00 – 16:44 t1:44

Maverick and Goose learn they are going to Top Gun. Lyrics start as Maverick arrives in Miramar.

8. Lead Me On – Teena Marie

Song is played in the club Maverick and Goose visit.

9. You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling (Karaoke)

Goose and Maverick perform the song to Charlie. Badly.

10. Hot Summer Nights – Miami Sound Machine

Song is played in the bar as Maverick goes into the ladies room.

11. The First Hop 29:33 – 32:40 t3:07

An instrumental version of ‘Mighty Wings’ plays as they try to defeat Jester.

12. Jester’s Dead 32:41 – 33:45 t1:06

Triumphant rendition of the anthem as they get Jester.

13. Dismissed 36:02 – 36:36 t0:35

Maverick and Goose are reprimanded by Viper. More tense music.

14. Still Awake 37:07 – 39:07 t1:59

Goose confronts Maverick about his recklessness. Electronic strings. Features a riff that sounds like the ‘Memories’ theme, but isn’t.

15. Playing With The Boys – Kenny Loggins

Goose, Maverick, Iceman and Slider, play volleyball. Generally known as the most homoerotic scene in the history of cinema.

16. Charlie’s House 42:48 – 44:05 t1:28

Maverick arrives late at Charlie’s. Instrumental rendition of ‘Take My Breath Away’. On album as ‘Take My Breath Away (Instrumental)’

17. Sitting On The Dock of the Bay – Otis Redding

The Otis Redding classic plays as Maverick tells Charlie about his father

18. Complicated 47:13 – 48:16 t1:03

Charlie realises she’s falling for Maverick. Instrumental rendition of ‘Take My Breath Away’. Lyricless vocals at 0:41.

19. Glad We Got That Straight 49:11 – 49:45 t0:34

Maverick and Charlie talk in an elevator. Another instrumental rendition of ‘Take My Breath Away’. Doesn’t have the electric piano riff.

20. The Love Scene 52:05 – 55:24 t3:20

Maverick and Charlie finally get it on. Instrumental rendition of ‘Take My Breath Away’ with vocals coming in at 2:01.

21. Hop 19 57:26 – 39:33 t2:04

Maverick and Goose go after Viper. Catchy Faltermeyer riff.

22. Memories 1:00:46 – 1:01:28 0:43

Maverick remembers his father as he looks at a picture. Contains the ‘Memories’ theme. Not the same as the corresponding score track on the expanded album.

23. Great Balls of Fire Medley 1:01:29 – 1:03:46 t2:17

Maverick and Goose and family sing the song, which segues into the Jerry Lee Lewis recording.

24. Hop 31 1:03:52 – 1:05:19 t1:24

Reprise of ‘Danger Zone’, starting instrumental then coming in with vocals at 0:38.

25. Flat Spin 1:05:19 – 1:07:36 t2:22

Whilst acting as his wingman, Maverick gets lost in Iceman’s jetwash and the plane spins out. Unreleased, the ‘Flat Spin’ on the promo score is mislabelled.

26. Goose’s Death 1:07:39 – 1:09:24 t1:44

Goose dies. Very melancholic rendition of the ‘Memories’ theme. Again, does not match the track on the promo purporting to be ‘Goose’s Death’.

27. Guilt 1:10:25 – 1:17:03 t6:38

Maverick blames himself for Goose’s death. He is cleared to fly. It’s possible that this is two cues, as the first half corresponds with ‘Memories’ on expanded album. The vocal “oooh” on the album track is mixed right down in film so you can barely hear it.

28. Maverick Quits 1:17:54 – 1:21:21 t3:29

Charlie and Maverick talk after he quits. On the promo this is labelled ‘Whose Side Are You On – Never Again’.

29. Maverick’s Father 1:22:09 – 1:23:24 t1:14

Viper tells Maverick about his father. Quiet rendition of the anthem.

30. Options 1:23:40 – 1:25:28 t1:48

Maverick asks Viper what his options are, with another rendition of the ‘Memories’ theme. Appears on promo labelled as ‘Goose’s Death – Goodbye Goose’.

31. Destination Unknown – Marietta

Plays at the graduation ceremony.

32. Crisis Situation 1:26:50 – 1:27:07 t0:20

The pilots are given orders and Viper tells Maverick he’ll potentially fly with him (is he mad?). Similar to ‘Maverick’s Father’. End fades into next cue.

33. New Mission 1:27:06 – 1:29:27 t2:25

The pilots are briefed. Similar to ‘Main Title’, and one of the few tracks on the promo with the correct title.

34. Maverick’s Airborne 1:31:36 – 1:34:38 t3:02 t3:02

Maverick launches to support Ice and Slider. Bits of the ‘Mighty Wings’ riff here and there.

35. Maverick Re-engages 1:34:39 – 1:39:00 4:24

Hooray for Maverick. Fun action music. Labelled as ‘Flat Spin’ on promo.

36. Victory Flyby 1:39:03 – 1:42:39 t3:21

Maverick buzzes the tower. ‘Top Gun Anthem (Film Version)’ on promo.

37. Radar Radio – Giorgio Moroder and Joe Pizzulo

Another of Giorgio Moroder’s epics. Plays in the bar at the end. Available only on the B-side to the ‘Take My Breath Away’ single.

38. You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’ – The Righteous Brothers

Plays in the bar at the end and over the final shots of the film.

39. Mighty Wings – Cheap Trick

Plays over the end credits.

If you want to relabel the promo, this is the way to do it:

1. Main Title (t2 Opening Theme)
2. Danger Zone
3. MiG 28s
4. Cougar’s Landing (t5 Negative G Pushover)
5. Still Awake
6. Playing With The Boys
7. Charlie’s House (t8 Take My Breath Away)
8. Memories (insert the expanded track here)
9. Maverick Quits (t9 Whose Side Are You On)
10. Options (t11 Goose’s Death – Goodbye Goose)
11. New Mission
12. Maverick Re-Engages (t10 Flat Spin)
13. Victory Flyby (t1 Top Gun Anthem (Film))
14. You’ve Lost That Lovin Feelin
15. Mighty Wings
16. Take My Breath Away
17. Top Gun Anthem

References

1. ^ Allmusic review
2. ^ Top Gun Soundtrack http://www.topgunsoundtrack.com/index.htm#1
3. ^ http://www.toto99.com/blog/ency.php?/archives/378-TOP-GUN-soundtrack.html

Preceded by Winner in You by Patti LaBelle

Billboard 200 number-one album July 26 - August 15, 1986 September 20–26, 1986 October 11–16, 1986

Succeeded by True Blue by Madonna