Guardians Of The Galaxy Deluxe

Ooh-oo child, Santa left some very sexy vinyl under my tree this year!

Actually, it was my son who picked out this amazing compilation which proves once again, I must have done something right when I raised that boy.

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Mmmm, the smell of fresh vinyl.

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With the horror show of 2020 in the rear view, I really needed something super cool under the tree with my name on it and this was it. Filled with Marvel’s knack for mind blowing fusion of super heroes and music, this super duper double vinyl provides plenty of visuals to jump start your imagination once you drop the needle and close your eyes and begin reliving all the great moments from the film that are forever tied to the songs held within the grooves.

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Since I just opened this baby up and my man cave is full of that new vinyl smell, I guess you guys can experience this first listen with me. So, I’m going to step into the studio and do that now, back soon.

Back.

As tempted as I was to just throw on the first record and jam out to “Awesome Mix One”, I also felt the need to relive the film through the original score so, I went for vinyl number two and slipped that baby on the platter. Then I dropped the needle and may I just say, WOW!

Track List – Album Two

NOTE: Track number has been reduced due to the space limitations of vinyl. Digital release contains 29 tracks.

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I have always believed that a film score is a very personal experience for every individual because everyone relives the film in a different way, just as they experience watching the film in a different way. It’s not often you get invited to a soundtrack party right? “Dude, come on over, we got a kegger and at least 20 soundtracks yo!”

So, I’m not going to breakdown every track and describe my feelings about each one. You need to do that for yourself but, I will say, this score has an overall heroic feeling to it in every sense of the word. It creates tension and danger using a lot of what I call “the violins of anxiety” and then resolves it by washing over the tension with the complex and dynamic main theme which is said to have been mixed with over 500 tracks of audio. Epic!

Some of my favorites on this one would have to include “The Final Battle Begins”, “The New Meat”, “The Kyln Escape” and “Black Tears”.

The film’s director, James Gunn wanted something very thematic and asked the composer, Tyler Bates, to put together parts of the score early in production. That way it could be played on the set while filming so the cast and crew could be in harmony with the music. That is frickin’ awesome man!

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All of the songs on the first record were big time radio hits for me when I was a youngling, sitting in my room and listening to the radio (when that was a thing). A simpler time that was simply the best.

The DJ (when that was a thing), would come on and start talking about the last track played while it faded out and then effortlessly segue into the next song as it faded up – Ooga-Chaka, Ooga-Ooga-Ooga-Chaka and BAM, that was it, all those things causing confusion and silly stuff that seemed like huge problems back then, just drifted away.

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The big outer space adventure opens up with the classic scene showing our hero Star-Lord skipping through an alien swamp listening to the classic tune “Come and Get Your Love” by Redbone on his Sony Walkman creating one of the coolest movie openings ever!

However, when it comes to the vinyl, this is not the first tune on the record. As a matter of fact, none of the songs are actually in chronological order which to be honest, kind of bums me out. Not sure why this was done other than maybe the fact that the soundtrack was released a couple of days before the release of the film on July 29th, 2014. The film was released in the U.S. on August 1st, 2014 so possibly, the studio did not want Marvel fans knowing which song to expect next when viewing the film. Makes sense, but it’s kind of annoying when kicking out the jams.

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Track List – Album One

NOTE: Track 3 on Side One, “Spirit In The Sky” was used for the trailer only and is not featured in the film.

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And now a message from Groot.

Yes, that is so true. This collection of songs IS awesome. Thank you for pointing that out Groot!

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Side One

Famous for it’s Ooga-Chaka opening, “Hooked On A Feeling” was written by song writer Mark James and originally performed by B.J. Thomas. Yes, THAT B.J. Thomas – famous for singing the classic Burt Bacharach song “Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head” and the Grammy award winning country hit “Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song“, among others.

Blue Swede covered the track in 1974 with a little Ooga-Chaka thrown in and “Hooked On A Feeling” went straight to number 1 on the U.S. Charts.

Next up is the classic American single “Go All The Way” by the Raspberries. Known for it’s hard core power chord opening, this song was written by the Raspberries’ band leader Eric Carmen. Yes, THAT Eric Carmen. Famous for stuff like “Hungry Eyes“, “Never Gonna Fall In Love Again” and “All By Myself“.

It makes for a great scene in the film when Peter is cruising in his space ship the “Milano” while “Go All The Way” is playing on his tape deck and we get to meet his pink girlfriend “Bereet”.

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“Spirit In The Sky” by Norman Greenbaum, has always been a favorite of mine and the track certainly gives a real classic feel to the film’s trailer, but unfortunately, it didn’t make it into the film. The song is a true “one hit wonder” and went gold by selling 2 million copies in a one year span between 1969 and 1970.

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Well, why not? Let’s get Bowie into the mix with “Moonage Daydream“. Originally released as a single in 1971, David re-recorded the song with his band “The Spiders From Mars” with Mick Ronson on guitar, Trevor Bolder on bass and Mick Woodmansey on drums.

The version that appears on “The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars” is one of my most space-tastic favorites because of how much the vocal and guitar sound takes me all the way back to that time and that early 1970’s sound. Damn good times.

The song feels right at home in outer space and is playing in the background when the Guardians arrive at “Knowhere”.

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Something all of us have probably done at one time or another, “Fooled Around And Fell In Love” comes in at track number five on side one and is a classic 1975 song by legendary blues guitarist Elvin Bishop. Elvin stepped aside on vocals and let Mickey Thomas take this one. Oh and by the way – yes, THAT Mickey Thomas. An outstanding vocalist well known for all his amazing work with the band “Jefferson Starship“.

“Fooled Around And Fell In Love” is well remembered for a tender “Guardians” moment when Peter Quill and Gamora get to share a little alone time. That is, until Gamora becomes aware of Peter’s “pelvic sorcery”.

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As our group of galactic heroes fly off into the sunset and live happily ever after, we get one of the most good feeling tracks of all time. That’s right, the most good time, positive outlook, Snoopy dance, everything is going to be all right, track. “I Want You Back” by the Jackson Five was released by Mowtown in 1969 and was the first of four number one releases in a row for the band including “ABC“, “The Love You Save” and “I’ll Be There“.

There’s just nothing cooler than tiny Michael Jackson taking the microphone and making magic. And Marvel provides us with a double bonus by letting us watch Baby Groot dance to the most good time, positive outlook, Snoopy dance, everything is going to be all right, track! Get down baby!

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Side Two

Sitting out in the hospital hallway while his mother is struggling with cancer, a tiny Peter Quill is deeply immersed in a moody little number by the band 10cc. “I’m Not In Love” was a song that almost didn’t even happen. In fact, the band disliked it so much they just abandoned it. Fortunately for us, the studio crew kept the melody alive by singing it while they were working. Willing to give the track another chance, the band radically changed the basic structure of the song from guitars to voices and history was made.

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At long last we reach the opening track of the film, “Come And Get Your Love” originally released as a promo track called “Hail”, by Native American band “Redbone”. It’s an awe inspiring classic that was forgotten for a time, but has since seen an amazing resurgence in popularity because well, 70’s music was better. Oops, did I say that out loud? Also known for “The Witch Queen Of New Orleans“, Redbone’s original line up consisted of Lolly Vegas on lead guitar, electric sitar and vocals; Pat Vegas on bass and vocals; Tony Bellamy on rhythm guitar and vocals and Butch Rillera on drums and vocals.

There have been many cover versions of “Come And Get Your Love” but IMHO nothing comes close to the original. Here is one of my favorite performances of the song from Burt Sugarman’s “The Midnight Special“, a musical showcase where bands actually played their songs live! I used to watch it every Friday night back in the day after The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. Check out “Redbone“.

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So what’s not to like about an all girl rock-n-roll band? This is not a rhetorical question people. There really was a time when all girl rock bands did not exist. And then, there was “The Runaways”. Five hot chicks, one hot band. And just like that, the door was open. This line up didn’t last very long and many so called “girl bands” would follow, but these girls together, could really play and seriously rocked the house!

At one time, I truly believed that Joan Jett was the coolest female that ever existed.

“What the hell, I ain’t got that long of a life span anyway. Now I’m standing, you all happy? We’re all standing up now. Bunch of jackasses standing in a circle.”

– Rocket Raccoon

“Cherry Bomb” provides just the right momentum for The Guardians of the Galaxy “preparing for battle” montage and really sets the scene for a dynamic spaceship swarming attack.

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Switching gears, we pop the clutch and cruise right into the next track that takes us back to 1979. You see, there’s this guy and he’s bored with his relationship, so he checks out the personal ads in the newspaper (old timey thing people used to read) and he sees an ad placed by a woman who’s looking for a guy, but the catch is, he must like pina coladas. He’s like “Hey, I like pina coladas!”. So he answers the ad and they agree to meet at a local bar. Well, the guy shows up only to find out the girl is his current girlfriend.

“Escape (The Pina Colada Song)” by Rupert Holmes is a very upbeat, happy go lucky tune that reminds us that sometimes you don’t have to look any further than what’s right in front of you.

And, it’s a great tune for the mean old blue prison guard to be listening to when Peter knocks him over the head to get his Walkman back.

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In the face of complete and utter defeat, with the survival of the entire universe at stake, Star-Lord challenges Ronan to a dance off. Now, we all know that Ronan the Accuser may be good at accusing, but he has absolutely no clue how to dance, so Peter’s strategy distracts Ronan just long enough for The Guardians to save the universe. Yay!

This is a great scene and The Five Stairsteps provide the inspiration with their 1970 soul smashing hit “O-o-h Child“, #402 on Rolling Stone’s 500 greatest songs of all time.

“Ooh-oo child

Things are gonna get easier

Ooh-oo child

Things’ll get brighter”

– The Five Stairsteps

A Chicago based soul group also known as “The First Family Of Soul”.

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What should we do now? Something good? Something Bad? Bit of both?

– Peter Quill

The perfect lead in to “I Want You Back”, “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” is an amazing track to play for the final resolve of the film. Peter finally unwraps the present from his mom while he reads her last words to him. It’s a very sad and happy and heartwarming moment that once again binds music and film together into an epic masterpiece.

“Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” was actually written by the dynamic soul duo of Ashford and Simpson back in 1966. This original version was recorded by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell in 1967 and it was an instant hit. In 1999, it was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame and is since thought to be one of the most important records ever released by Motown Records.

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Wow, what an epic journey! We’ve relived an epic film, listened to some seriously groovy music and learned a bit of history! I must say that’s time well spent! Thanks for joining me on this very vinyl adventure and if you just have to get your hands on this deluxe double album, check out this super sexy Limited Edition Red and Yellow Vinyl Swirl Extravaganza available now on Amazon.

Guardians of the Galaxy Deluxe

May the wax be with you!