Beat Street (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) – Volume 1 and Beat Street (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) – Volume 2 are soundtrack albums for the 1984 drama film of the same name. It was released in 1984 by Atlantic Records. Both albums were produced by Harry Belafonte, a calypso artist best known for his 1956 hit "Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)", and prolific freestyle music producer and remixer Arthur Baker, who collaborated with music artists including Freeez, Afrika Bambaataa, and New Order.[2][3]
| Beat Street (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) – Volumes 1 & 2 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Soundtrack album by various artists | |
| Released | 1984 (U.S.) 1984 (Canada, Germany, Italy) |
| Studio | Unique Recording Studios, New York City[1] |
| Genre | Old school rap, boogie, electro, breakdance music |
| Length | 79.28 (total) 40:55, 38:73 |
| Label | Atlantic 80154 (Volume I.) Atlantic 80158 (Volume II.) |
| Producer | Arthur Baker, Harry Belafonte |
Both albums even entered the Billboard 200 and R&B Albums charts and stayed there in the same year.[4][5]
Description
editThe soundtrack contains music mainly from old-school hip-hop artists including Grandmaster Melle Mel and the Furious Five, Jazzy Jay, Afrika Bambaataa & The Soul Sonic and Treacherous Three featuring beatbox pioneer Doug E. Fresh but also various electro/boogie musicians such as Freeez, and the System and Juicy.[6]
The album was certified gold in the same year.[7][8]
A third volume was planned, but it was never released. The second volume was never released on CD.
Track listing
editVolume 1 (80154)
edit- A-side
| # | Title | Artist(s) | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A1 | "Beat Street Breakdown" | Grandmaster Melle Mel & The Furious 5 | Melvin Glover, Reggie Griffin | Melle Mel, Sylvia Robinson | 6:48 |
| A2 | "Baptise the Beat" | The System | David Frank, Mic Murphy | David Frank, Michael Murphy | 4:25 |
| A3 | "Strangers in a Strange World" (Love Theme From Beat Street) |
Jenny Burton & Patrick Jude | Jake Holmes | Jake Holmes | 4:25 |
| A4 | "Frantic Situation" | Afrika Bambaataa The Soul Sonic Force, Shango |
Arthur Baker, Leroi Evans, Ray Serrano, Afrika Bambaataa Aasim, William Henderson, Ellis Williams, John Miller, Robert Allen, Wilfred Fowler | Arthur Baker | 5:04 |
- B-side
| # | Title | Artist(s) | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B1 | "Beat Street Strut" | Juicy | Milton G. Barnes, Katreese Barnes | Eumir Deodato | 5:00 |
| B2 | "Us Girls" | Sharon Green, Lisa Counts & Debbie D | Debora Hooper, Lisa Counts, Ross Levinson, Sharon Green | Harry Belafonte | 3:52 |
| B3 | "This Could Be the Night" | Cindy Mizelle | Arthur Baker, Carl Sturken, Chris Lord-Alge, Evan Rogers, Tina Baker | Arthur Baker | 4:53 |
| B4 | "Breaker's Revenge" | Arthur Baker | Arthur Baker | Arthur Baker | 4:42 |
| B5 | "Tu Cariño / Carmen's Theme" | Ruben Blades | Carlos Franzetti, Ruben Blades | Harry Belafonte | 3:06 |
Volume 2 (80158)
edit- A-side
| # | Title | Artist(s) | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A1 | "Son of Beat Street" | Jazzy Jay | John Byas, Lenny Underwood | David Belafonte | 4:05 |
| A2 | "Give Me All" | Juicy | Milton G. Barnes, Katreese Barnes | Arthur Baker, Harry Belafonte | 4:25 |
| A3 | "Nothin's Gonna Come Easy" | Tina B | Arthur Baker, Tina Baker | Arthur Baker, Harry Belafonte | 4:19 |
| A4 | "Santa's Rap" | The Treacherous Three | Kevin Keaton, LaMar Hill, Mohandas Dewese | David Belafonte | 6:10 |
- B-side
| # | Title | Artist(s) | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B1 | "It's All Right By Me" | Jenny Burton | Peter Link | Peter Link, Webster Lewis | 5:00 |
| B2 | "Battle Cry" | Rockers Revenge | Arthur Baker, Donald Calvin Hawkes, Vincent Dwight Fuller | Arthur Baker | 4:52 |
| B3 | Phony Four MC's – "Wappin' (Bubblehead)" | Ralph Rolle | Earl Deas, Eric Real, Ralph Rolle | Arthur Baker, Harry Belafonte | 6:11 |
| B4 | "Into The Night" | La La | LaForest Cope, Lenny Underwood, Webster Lewis | Webster Lewis | 4:42 |
Credits and personnel
edit
|
|
Charts
editVolume 1
edit| Chart (1984) | Position |
|---|---|
| Australia (Kent Music Report)[9] | 33 |
| US Billboard R&B Albums | 10 |
| US Billboard 200 | 14 |
Volume 2
edit| Chart (1984) | Position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard R&B Albums | 47 |
| US Billboard 200 | 137 |
Album certifications
edit| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United States (RIAA)[10] | Gold | 500,000^ |
|
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
References
edit- ^ "Photographic image" (JPG). Deejay.de. Retrieved June 1, 2023.
- ^ "Beat Street Vol. 1 (Original Soundtrack) credits". Allmusic. Retrieved August 9, 2011.
- ^ "Beat Street Vol. 2 (Original Soundtrack) credits". Allmusic. Retrieved August 9, 2011.
- ^ Beat Street Volume 1 - chart positions. Billboard & Allmusic. Retrieved 2011-August-09
- ^ Beat Street Volume 2 - Chart positions. Billboard & Allmusic. Retrieved 2011-August-09
- ^ "Beat Street Vol. 1 (Original Soundtrack) credits". Discogs. Retrieved August 9, 2011.
- ^ "Vitae of Carl Maultsby - composer". Carl MaultsBy. Retrieved August 21, 2011.
- ^ Ira A. Robbins (1985). The Rolling Stone Review — 1985. Edited by Ira A. Robbins. Rolling Stone Press. ISBN 978-0-684-18333-6. Retrieved August 21, 2011.
Although second to arrive, the Beat Street soundtrack went gold, and Beat Street, Vol. II was released later in the year.
- ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 283. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ "American album certifications – Soundtrack – Beat Street". Recording Industry Association of America.