"Love Theme from St. Elmo's Fire" by David Foster

Song#:  2430
Date:  08/24/1985
Debut:  92
Peak:  15
Weeks:  22
Genre:  Pop, Instrumental, Soundtrack, Adult Contemporary



Pop Bits:  Hit songwriter/producer Foster took his skills over to the film world and supplied the songs and score for the 1985 coming-of-age flick St. Elmo's Fire. The soundtrack was a good seller (#21) thanks mainly to John Parr's #1 hit "St. Elmo's Fire (Man in Motion)," which Foster co-wrote. As a follow-up single, this instrumental love theme written and performed by Foster was selected. It was a slow starter, but the track began to catch on and soon it was residing in the Pop Top 20. It did even better at AC reaching #3. The single would be Foster's only solo effort to reach the Pop Top 40. The song would also earn Foster two Grammy nominations; one for Best Instrumental Composition and one for Best Pop Instrumental Performance.

ReduxReview:  This is a lovely little movie theme that ended up being a pretty good single. AC-leaning instrumentals like this typically don't do well on the Pop chart, but it seemed to connect with folks most likely due to the film and the soundtrack's first big hit. Plus, an MTV video that featured scenes from the movie probably boosted it as well. It's not an awesome song, but it's a pleasant theme that still sounds good if it happens to get played in the grocery store or your dentist's office.

ReduxRating:  6/10

Trivia:  Double Shot!  1) The soundtrack album also contained a vocal version of this song. It was sung as a duet by Amy Holland and Donny Gerrard. The lyrics for the song were written by Cynthia Weil.  2) Years prior to this, Foster reached the Pop chart as a member of two bands. He first got on the chart in 1973 with the Canadian band Skylark. They scored a #9 hit with "Wildflower." After a second album failed to do anything, the band broke up.  Next, Foster was in the L.A. band called Attitudes. Made up of session musicians, they were able to briefly reach #94 on the Pop chart with "Sweet Summer Music" in 1976. The band also folded after two albums. He gave it one more go in 1980 with his band Airplay, but no singles charted from their lone album. However, Foster would recycle an Airplay song called "Stressed Out (Close to the Edge)" for the St. Elmo's soundtrack.

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