🎶 ALBUM VAULT #214 🎶
SOUNDTRACK MONDAY
Grease – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack — 10/10
💿 Plex Server
This one is different for me.
Before the movie, Grease was Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey’s Chicago musical. It started at Kingston Mines in 1971, went to Broadway in 1972, and was based on Jacobs’ own experiences at Taft High School. Yep, MY Taft High School.
Then in 1978, John Travolta, Olivia Newton-John and company turned it into one of the biggest movie musicals ever.
And I have my own little piece of Grease history.
In 1990, my senior year at Taft, I was lucky enough to be in our production of Grease. I played Eugene. Jim Jacobs was around during that time and we actually got to hang out with him. Great guy. I still remember Jim and me throwing “Hi Jim” back and forth whenever we saw each other. 😂
Looking back, that whole period was amazing… and also mixed with a lot of turmoil.
Long story.
But the good memories are REALLY good.
And then there’s this soundtrack. Twenty-four tracks and ridiculous hit power. The album itself spent 12 weeks at #1 on the Billboard 200.
A quick trip through the whole thing:
- “Grease” – Frankie Valli – Barry Gibb wrote it. Huge record. #1 in the U.S.
- “Summer Nights” – One of THE songs from the movie. #5 U.S., #1 UK.
- “Hopelessly Devoted to You” – Olivia at her best. #3 U.S.
- “You’re the One That I Want” – Travolta and Olivia. Monster. #1 U.S. and UK.
- “Sandy” – Great Travolta solo. Not a U.S. smash, but #2 in the UK.
- “Beauty School Dropout” – Frankie Avalon. Never needed a chart number. Everybody knows it.
- “Look at Me, I’m Sandra Dee” – Rizzo’s classic. Not a chart single.
- “Greased Lightnin’” – Still one of the most fun songs in the movie. #47 U.S., #11 UK.
- “It’s Raining on Prom Night” – Pure old-school teenage heartbreak. Not a chart single.
- “Alone at a Drive-In Movie” – Instrumental, but it fits the movie perfectly.
- “Blue Moon” – Sha Na Na bringing the real ’50s flavor.
- “Rock & Roll Is Here to Stay” – Another Sha Na Na blast.
- “Those Magic Changes” – One of those songs that instantly sounds like Grease.
- “Hound Dog” – You can’t do the ’50s without Elvis somewhere nearby.
- “Born to Hand Jive” – If this comes on, somebody is eventually doing the hand jive.
- “Tears on My Pillow” – Great old-school slow dance.
- “Mooning” – One of the original Jacobs/Casey stage songs.
- “Freddy, My Love” – Another stage favorite that gives the Pink Ladies their moment.
- “Rock & Roll Party Queen” – Short, loud and fun.
- “There Are Worse Things I Could Do” – Rizzo gets one of the best songs in the entire show.
- “Look at Me, I’m Sandra Dee (Reprise)” – Sandy’s turning point.
- “We Go Together” – Perfect ending. Everybody together, exactly where they should be.
- “Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing” – Quick instrumental breather.
- “Grease (Reprise)” – One more lap before the credits.
The five big U.S. chart singles were ridiculous: two #1s, a #3, a #5 and even “Greased Lightnin’” cracking the Hot 100.
For most people, Grease is Travolta, Olivia, the T-Birds and the Pink Ladies.
For me, it’s also Taft High School, senior year, Eugene, Jim Jacobs and “Hi Jim.”
That makes this one a little more than just a soundtrack.
#Grease #SoundtrackMonday #JimJacobs #TaftHighSchool #JohnTravolta #OliviaNewtonJohn #SummerNights #GreasedLightnin #YoureTheOneThatIWant #AlbumVault