Artist:Kenny Loggins
Song:Danger Zone
Album:The Essential Kenny Loggins
When most recording artists record for a movie soundtrack, it's usually a one shot deal. But back in the 80s, Kenny Loggins was known as King of the Soundtracks. He had a total of six big hits from films including the 1986 single Danger Zone from the film Top Gun. And the funny part was his own music was nowhere near as successful as the songs from film soundtracks. And that makes all six songs discography orphans. I know other artists have recorded multiple songs for soundtracks, But I dunno about six. I don't think Loggins planned this. It helped that he recorded for Columbia Records and that he was willing to record songs that he didn't write. Remember when Simple Minds leader Jim Kerr was upset when Don't You from the film The Breakfast Club was a hit but he didn't write it. That's what you want to avoid. He refused to perform that song live. Loggins' biggest soundtrack hit was Footloose which topped the charts. But Danger Zone reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100. Peter Gabriel's Sledgehammer was #1 at the time. Georgio Moroder produced the Top Gun soundtrack and wrote several of the songs including Danger Zone and Oscar winner Take My Breath Away with Tom Whitlock. Moroder made his name with the 1978 film Midnight Express. Whitlock worked for Moroder as a recording engineer. Toto was supposed to record Danger Zone but they couldn't work out a deal with Top Gun producers Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer. Then it was offered to Jefferson Starship and Corey Hart. Hart didn't want to record a song that he didn't write. REO Speedwagon turned it down for the same reason. Columbia always wanted a Columbia artist to record Danger Zone. So needless to say, the decision to go with Loggins made them happy. Dann Huff played guitar and Tom Scott played sax. The Top Gun soundtrack was certified 9XPlatinum. You can get Danger Zone on this 2CD budget comp. In fact, every song Loggins ever recorded for a film is on this comp. Here's the video for Danger Zone by Kenny Loggins.
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