In 1978,"Grease" really was the word! The movie,starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton John,is one of the greatest musicals of all time...a fun,spirited film that takes place in 1959,and is based on the highly successful stage production.One of the reasons why the movie works so well is because of the songs.The soundtrack is filled with so many gems....there's the hit theme song by Frankie Valli (written by Barry Gibb),the infectious "Summer Nights",with it's irresistible "tell me more,tell me more" hook,the gorgeous ballad "Hopelessly Devoted To You" by Olivia,and the super-catchy "You're The One That I Want" by John and Olivia.

But it doesn't stop there.The rest of the soundtrack is made up of some truly outstanding tracks.There's the powerful Stockard Channing ballad "There Are Worse Things I Could Do" buried near the end of the album (and the film).There are also several great Sha-Na-Na songs,especially their remakes of the 50s classics "Those Magic Changes" and "Tears On My Pillow".I love the somber instrumental "Alone At The Drive-In Movie".Then there are the guilty pleasure-type tracks,such as the raunchy "Greased Lightning" and the big finale number "We Go Together".Back in '78,I think I saw this movie in theatres at least ten times,and it makes me smile when I hear these songs today.I got the soundtrack as a gift for my 10th birthday.I recently bought the 2-CD 25th Anniversary Deluxe Edition.It contains the original CD (remastered) and a second disc containing remixes and bonus tracks,including two previously instrumentals that are heard in the movie.


what are your memories of this soundtrack? What are your favorite songs?
[Edited 3/22/05 2:23am]

"Grease"

by Frankie Valli
written by Barry Gibb


I solve my problems and I'll see the light
we got a lovin' thing,we gotta feed it right
There ain't no danger we can go too far
we start believing now that we can be who we are
Grease is the word

They think our love is just a growin' pain
why don't they understand,it's just a cryin' shame
Their lips are lyin',only real is real
we stop the fight right now,we got to be what we feel
Grease is the word

(chorus)
Grease is the word,is the word that you heard
it's got groove,it's got meaning
Greease is the time,is the place,is the motion
Grease is the way we are feeling

We take the pressure and we throw away conventionality
belongs to yesterday
there is a chance that we can make it so far
we start believin' now that we can be who we are
Grease is the word

(chorus)
Grease is the word,is the word that you heard
it's got groove,it's got meaning
Grease is the time,is the place,is the motion
Grease is the way we are feeling

This is a life of illusion
wrapped up in troubles,laced in confusion
what are we doin' here?

We take the pressure and we throw away conventionality
belongs to yesterday
There is a chance that we can make it so far
we start believin' now that we can be who we are
Grease is the word

(repeat chorus 2x)

Grease is the word,is the word,is the word,is the word,is the word,is the word

This was the very first album I ever had. I used to wear it out on a record player that looked like this:



Mine was a Snoopy record player and it scratched the hell out of the "Grease" album once the needle wore out. I was too young to know that you could buy a new needle so I placed a penny over the arm with a rubberband to keep the needle from skipping. It just grinded the hell out the record.

Anyway, I recently bought Olivia Newton's John's Greatest Hits which included "You're The One That I Want", "Hopelessly Devoted To You", "Summer Nights" and her other hits like "Physical", "Xanadu", "Magic", "Heart Attack", "Have You Ever Been Mellow", "Let Me Be There", and "I Honestly Love You".

I still want to replace my Grease soundtrack because I love "Grease Is The Word" and "Born To Hand Jive".

vainandy said:

lol...I used to have a little record player like that,but it had disco lights on it.The lights would flash as the record played.Those things were so cheap and silly (lol),I bet they would cost a fortune on Ebay,huh?

vainandy said:

I think you have the same compilation that I have.It's cool,but it's missing one song that I really love: "Make A Move On Me".Is that song included on the set that you have?

DavidEye said:

I have it
In fact I own almost everything ONJ ever released
Yes, I was a Grease victim too

Physical the album is a must have.
There I said it

DavidEye said:

That's the best song on there.

Cloudbuster said:

That's your Gibb-philia.

PANDURITO said:

"there's nothing left to talk about unless it's horizontally"


she raised a few eyebrows with that song

Cloudbuster said:

Top 5 songs on the album,imo...

"Grease" by Frankie Valli
"There Are Worse Things I Could Do" by Stockard Channing
"Summer Nights" by John Travolta and Olivia Newton John & Cast
"Hopelessly Devoted To You" by Olivia Newton John
"Alone At The Drive-In Movie (instrumental)"

I've never understood what the big deal was about this film or the album. Never got into either one. Way too corny for my taste. I'd rather watch Willy Wonka.

Nope. I don't like it.

Movie is alright though.

OdysseyMiles said:

I think most musicals are extremely corny and rarely work.But 'Grease' is the one musical that really shines.Sure,the songs are silly,but alot of fun.

"Grease 2",on the other hand,is absolutely dreadful

some trivia about the soundtrack and film...


***the song "Hopelessly Devoted To You" was actually written and recorded after shooting had already finished.The producers and/or Olivia felt that she needed a great,new ballad to sing in the movie,so her songwriters quickly came up "Hopelessly...".The sequence in the film where she is singing the song was then inserted into the (otherwise completed) film.

***Originally,during the drive-in sequence,John Travolta was gonna sing a song called "Alone At The Drive In Movie".But he demanded that the producers come up with a great new song,and thus "Sandy" was created.But for some reason,they decided to keep an instrumental version of "Alone At The Drive-In Movie" on the soundtrack.

***when the producers were composing "You're The One That I Want",they wanted the song to have a slight "70s feel" to it,even though the film takes place in 1959.It's clear that they wanted a hit song that wouldn't sound terribly out of place on modern radio stations.I guess the "ooh ooh ooh!" part is supposed to represent the disco era,lol.

Sorry David - I usually agree with your choices - but I can't stand Grease! Well, apart from the title track, that is - amazing tune.

Maybe it stems back to the time I was dragged to see it when the film was re-released in '98. My mate was working in Toronto and it was my first time across the Atlantic. I was sitting there all when - all of a sudden - 'We Get Together' comes on and the place went frickin' crazy. Trying to look restrained amongst 150 people doo-wopping - weird!

I still haven't been to another film which had that type of reaction, though, so maybe it's just me.

onenitealone said:

Ah,don't lie.I know you were singing along

I may have tapped my foot. Once.

Hate the film, hate the soundtrack with the exception of "Hopelessly Devoted To You" and "You're The One That I Want".

I seriously hated the message that she had to compromise herself and morph into some sort of leather slut to please him. WTF was that all about?
[Edited 3/22/05 7:24am]

Love the film, love the soundtrack. This might have been the first album I ever owned back in the 70s. I even used to have the photonovel and all the trading cards! For me this movie was 'Purple Rain' before 'Purple Rain'.

OK
The oldest among the haters was 3 when the movie was released

I guess that says it all




















David. WE'RE OLD!

PANDURITO said:

Yeah, I guess you 'had to be there' to truly enjoy it.

Cloudbuster said:

It's definitely one of my top 3 soundtracks, and I love the song as well. Everytime it's on tv, I have to sit and watch it. Corny fun, there's nothing wrong with that. There were a few 50's themed tv shows and musicals that came out in the 70's.

Other faves:
Summer Nights
You're the One That I Want
Tears on My Pillow
We Go Together

funkyslsistah said:

The success of 'Grease' (and 'American Graffiti' and 'Happy Days') in the 70s was typical of the 20-year turnaround it takes for people in the entertainment industry to start marketing what was popular when they were growing up. That's why 80s culture has been so hot the last few years.

Great song by Barry Gibb. The strongest cut on the album, which I have. Another great movie from a great year, 1978. Great film, great soundtrack. Hey David, u know the high school scenes were shot out here in L.A. Venice, actually. Venice High School.

I guess I'm "old" too. I have always loved the movie and the album. Favorite songs are Grease, Summer Nights, Greased Lightning and Your the one that I want.
We used to forever play that album on our parents old console stereo. I actually still have it.

Yeah, it's on there. This is the one I have:



1. Let Me Be There
2. If You Love Me (Let Me Know)
3. I Honestly Love You
4. Have You Ever Been Mellow
5. Please Mr. Please
6. Come On Over
7. Don't Stop Believin'
8. Sam
9. You're The One That I Want - with John Travolta
10. Hopelessly Devoted To You
11. Summer Nights - with John Travolta
12. A Little More Love
13. Deeper Than The Night
14. Magic
15. Xanadu - with Electric Light Orchestra
16. Suddenly - with Cliff Richard
17. Physical
18. Make A Move On Me
19. Heart Attack
20. Twist Of Fate
21. The Grease Megamix - with John Travolta

vainandy said:

I have this CD also. I bought it a few months ago after I had a dream that I was sleeping with Olivia Newton John while "I Honestly Love You" was playing in the background. I have no idea what that dream meant, but I had to get the greatest hits CD after that.