Dream a Little Dream Original Soundtrack
1989
Buy the album on Amazon
This one popped into my head because of a conversation Chris and I just had about Meredith Salenger. I don’t even remember what the conversation was, but good lord, did I have a crush on her in high school. In fact, this stupid little movie (and it is dumb, no doubt) is maybe one of my favorite films of all time. Let it be known, I have a crush on this movie. It might feature the Coreys and the main single from the soundtrack might be a cover done by a soap opera star, but dang it, this movie has a hold on me.
Sometimes a movie, or an album will come into your life at an odd, but pivotal moment such as Dream a Little Dream did for me. At the time, I was with my high school sweetheart and desperately in love (or possibly just lust), but at the same time I felt kind of stagnant. This was my first girlfriend and we were hot n’ heavy for months but eventually my eyes started wandering, and they landed on Meredith Salenger, or more specifically the character she played, Lainie Diamond. Now, the spandex definitely had something to do with it and her cute lisp also played a part. But there was something more, this idea of destiny and soul mates and being with the one you’re supposed to be with. All these things conspired together at a time when I was wondering if I was in the relationship and then presented itself on HBO late one night. And then again. And again (because this was HBO in the 90s). Eventually it ended up on VHS and got played so many times the tape disintegrated. Somehow this movie got it hooks in my head and caused me to second-guess a relationship I was in, made me swoon for a fictional character and just in general become a chucklehead. Enough of that, what about the soundtrack?
As with a lot of 80s/90s soundtracks, this one is full of almost-stars — bands that would never quite make it big, but were good enough to contribute incidental music to the film. So mostly filler, but there were some bigger names in the mix. Such as…
REM’s “It’s the End of the World as We Know It” – a well-documented Chrance classic. I never really think of the movie when I hear the song now, because it’s so engrained as a karaoke song but it’s easily the best song on the album.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0DJ8hWgNes
“Into The Mystic” was my introduction to Van Morrison. And honestly probably the only song of his that I know with any real familiarity besides “Brown Eyed Girl.” It’s also a similar story with “I’ve Got Dreams to Remember” by Otis Redding. I’m not a huge fan, but mostly just due to lack of exposure. This song though, is a total heartbreaker.
The last bit of A-level talent that made up the soundtrack was a mix-up of of Mel Torme and Mickey Thomas (of Starship-fame) doing versions of “Dream a Little Dream.” The Mickey Thomas one, is dare I say rockin’? There’s basically a music video in the middle of the film with Feldman doing his best Michael Jackson. Well, technically I guess it’s Jason Robards in the body of Corey Feldman doing his best MJ.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THgaBDFel70
The closing credits version of the song is a duet between Thomas and Mel Torme.
The other highlight for me is “Time Runs Wild” by Danny Wilde. I feel like he missed an opportunity to brand the song as “Time Runs Wilde” but that’s his problem. I had no idea this song got turned into a single. Maybe it was big before the movie came out? I’m too lazy to look it up. But man, check out this very standard, late-80s video. Acoustic guitar? Check! Electric guitar player adding needless flourishes? Check! In the film this track is used as backing for a montage of scenes during a date-night sequence. I’m a sucker for montages.
Then you’ve got this priceless gem. This late-80s music video written all over it. It’s fucking hilarious. Michael Damian was a soap opera star, turned pop artist for about a hot minute. you gotta watch this thing. It’s amazing.
And that my friends, is the Dream a Little Dream soundtrack. Not the best. Not the worst. But very typical for the time.
- “Dream a Little Dream of Me” by Mickey Thomas – 2:52 – ♥♥♥♥
- “Time Runs Wild” by Danny Wilde – 4:44 – – ♥♥♥♥♥
- “Whenever There’s a Night” by Mike Reno – 3:34 – ♥♥♥
- “Dreams Come True (Stand Up and Take It)” by Lone Justice – 4:05 – ♥♥♥♥
- “Into the Mystic” by Van Morrison – 3:30 – ♥♥♥♥♥
- “It’s the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)” by R.E.M. – 4:00 – ♥♥♥♥♥
- “Rock On” by Michael Damian – 3:21 – ♥♥♥
- “You’d Better Wait” by Fee Waybill – 3:21 – ♥♥♥♥
- “Never Turn Away” by Chris Thompson – 3:07 – ♥♥♥♥
- “I’ve Got Dreams to Remember” by Otis Redding – 3:12 – ♥♥♥♥♥
- “Dream a Little Dream of Me” by Mel Tormé – 2:51 – ♥♥♥
I don’t actually remember much about this movie, other than that I don’t remember liking it as much as I wanted to (am I wrong about this being the Coreys follow-up to the Lost Boys? If it was, that was my baseline to compare against, so it’s no wonder this paled). As you know, though, I am absolutely in agreement with you about Meredith Salenger. Well, maybe not the personal connection, but I certainly had a crush on her (and the spandex). But I also have always thought she was awesome because of Natty Gann.
Also, I’m glad you posted this movie, because I have considered posting “Rock On” in the one-hit wonder category, and totally didn’t remember it was from this movie. I used to really love that song (and have considered it at karaoke). Hearing it again now, I see it’s kind of even worse than I remember, but still catchy. “James Dean”.