Dirty Dancing was released in 1987 and 30 years on the film is still hugely popular. Starring Jennifer Grey and Patrick Swayze, the film tells the story of Baby (Grey) who falls in love with dance instructor Johnny (Swayze) during a family vacation. After discovering secret parties at the resort she’s staying at, Baby becomes intrigued by Johnny’s dancing style and she soon gets swept up in a world that she has to keep secret from her family.
2017 is the film’s 30th anniversary and earlier this year ABC in the US released a remake starring Abigail Breslin, Sarah Hyland, Debra Messing and Nicole Scherzinger. It was awful and quite honestly I’ve no idea why anyone would even go near the film as the original will never be beaten. Now Sony Music have released Ultimate Dirty Dancing, on CD and for the first time ever the soundtrack is available on vinyl.
Ultimate Dirty Dancing features 26 tracks, all of which were previously available on the 20th anniversary release of the soundtrack. They are sequenced in a different order with a handful of remasters throughout. It’s easy to forget just how many fantastic songs featured on Dirty Dancing. The vinyl opens with Be My Baby by The Ronettes, which kicks off a mish-mash of 50s, 60s and 80s tunes.
With artists such as Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons (Big Girls Don’t Cry), Otis Redding (Love Man & These Arms of Mine), Solomon Burke (Cry to Me) and The Drifters (Some Kind of Wonderful), the soundtrack wastes no time in rolling out the hits. There are a handful of tracks that were new at the time the film was made too such as Merry Clayton’s uptempo and very infectious Yes, Eric Carmen’s Hungry Eyes and The Blow Monkeys’ take on You Don’t Own Me.
One of the highlights is definitely the late Patrick Swayze’s She’s Like the Wind. I still remember hearing the song as a kid and had no idea Swayze was a singer too. He’s actually a pretty gifted vocalist and most people probably don’t even realise that he co-wrote it for the movie.
The album comes to a close with (I’ve Had) the Time of My Life by Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes, which took on a life of its own after the movie. It’s been played at pretty much every wedding I’ve ever been to and it’s still great song after all these years.
The release features different artwork and the limited edition vinyl has a pop up of the iconic lift from the movie in the gatefold. To be honest the pop up is a little gimmicky and it doesn’t actually look all that great. It’s a little too small in my opinion to make much of an impact but hardcore fans will love it.
Ultimate Dirty Dancing may not contain anything particularly new but it’s a timely reminder of just how fantastic a soundtrack the film has. There’s not a bad song on there and the new vinyl edition is pretty awesome. If you bought the 20th anniversary version on CD then you may have little reason to add this one to your collection but if you love vinyl then this is a must-have.
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Track list: Side A: 1. Be My Baby – The Ronettes 2. Big Girls Don’t Cry – Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons 3. Merengue – Michael Lloyd & Le Disc 4. Trot the Fox – Michael Lloyd & Le Disc 5. Johnny’s Mambo – Michael Lloyd & Le Disc 6. The Time Of My Life – The John Morris Orchestra 7. Where Are You Tonight? – Tom Johnston Side B: Do You Love Me – The Contours 2. Love Man – Otis Redding 3. Stay – Maurice Williams & The Zodiacs 4. Wipeout – The Surfaris 5. Hungry Eyes – Eric Carmen 6. Overload – Zappacosta 7. Hey Baby – Bruce Channel Side C: 1. De Todo Un Poco – Michael Lloyd & Le Disc 2. Some Kind of Wonderful – The Drifters 3. These Arms of Mine – Otis Redding 4. Cry to Me – Solomon Burke 5. Will You Love Me Tomorrow – The Shirelles 6. Love is Strange – Mickey & Sylvia 7. You Don’t Own Me – The Blow Monkeys Side D: 1. Yes – Merry Clayton 2. In the Still of the Night – The Five Satins 3. She’s Like the Wind – Patrick Swayze 4. Kellerman’s Anthem – The Emile Bergstein Chorale 5. (I’ve Had) the Time of My Life – Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes Record label: Sony Music Release date: 1st December 2017
