'80s Movie Soundtracks

Jarrah McCleary — of Sydney buzz band Panama — picks his five favourite obscure '80s movie soundtracks.

#1 The Wraith

Starring a very young Charlie Sheen, I was lucky enough to discover this little gem a few years back. The Wraith — a vengeful spirit played by a boyish Sheen — is decked out in a motorcycle helmet and full leathers. How very Daft Punk! Michael Hoenig, who scored the music for the film, also performed in Tangerine Dream.

#2 Fright Night

Fright Night is one of my favourite '80s vampire flicks of all time ! I don’t think the film is obscure but it is very, very sexy. Brad Fiedel’s song ‘Dream Window’ is a knockout. Back in the day Brad tinkled the ivories for Hall & Oates AND he wrote the soundtrack to Terminator 2. Wow!
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#3 Nankyoko Monogatari (released in the US as Antarctica)

I was lucky enough to stumble across this classic thanks to a buddy I met at film school. If I could describe this soundtrack in one word it would be E-P-I-C. Vangelis (the composer) had just finished scoring Blade Runner when he wrote this. It makes me want to drop 15k on a vintage Yamaha CS 80 synth.
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#4 The Lost Boys

Definitely not obscure but an absolute classic. I was very surprised when my girlfriend said she hadn’t seen it. There is a very, very funny saxophone scene early in the movie equipped with pelvic thrusts I totally recommend you check out if you haven’t already.
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#5 Big Trouble In Little China

I just HAD to include a John Carpenter movie — come on, it’s the '80s, after all! I loved this film as a child. It’s just so damn impressive how Carpenter would direct and then score the same movie.

Panama's It's Not Over EP is out now through Future Classic. Recorded in Los Angeles with super producer Eric Broucek (DFA Records), it's steeped in splashes of yacht rock, hopeful house music and an avid appreciation of the '80s.