SPOOKYSONGS

Lost in the Shadows – Lou Gramm

The “Lost Boys” soundtrack is a treasure trove of horror-movie goodness, full of perfect late-80s semi-goth cheese. You have Gerard McMann, Tim Capello, Echo and the Bunnymen covering the Doors with a member of the Doors… and Lou Gramm!

Lou Gramm is best known as the lead singer of Foreigner, with massive 80s hits “Urgent”, “Say You Will”, and of course, “Jukebox Hero”. They also had massive ballads in “Waiting for a Girl Like You” and “I Want to Know What Love is”. Foreigner split up after Gramm and Mick Jones differed on the direction the band wanted to go in. Jones wanted more soupy synth ballads. Gramm wanted rock and/or roll. Don’t worry, they get back together later.

Pictured: The 6 hair phases every white male goes through

Before the official breakup, Lou released a couple solo albums, and had a big hit with “Midnight Blue” in 1987. And that’s when Hollywood came calling. Besides the above songs, the “Lost Boys” features “Good Times” by INXS, which reached #2 on the Australian charts… though I think all INXS songs were contractually obligated to reach at least Top 3 in Australia.

Lou’s song “Lost in the Shadows” features a hard-rocking beat with synths instead of guitars, but that’s okay, it fits the mood. The beat is awesome and drives the song forward constantly. What’s great is the song was written for the film, so it’s about vampires.

I can’t wait, I can’t wait, no

When I see little lights in the shadows

One must hide when the sun gets higher

I don’t know what this madness means

The video is a precursor to Nine Inch Nails’ “Head Like a Hole” video, and many other early 90s “Concert in a cage” videos. It seems everyone is trapped in a warehouse while Gramm performs, and while the Lost Boys are out vampin’ around town. As the show goes on, bodies start piling up and things take a darker bloodier turn. Interspersed are clips from the movie. The editing is pretty great, though it does give away pretty much the whole plot of the movie. (Spoiler: Vampires).

I don’t think this song charted anywhere, but who cares. As the title track for The Lost Boys, it’s a great addition to any Spooky Songs playlist.

More on this fantabulous soundtrack:

The INXS/Jimmy Barnes song “Good Times” is a cover of a 1968 song by the Easybeats… Jimmy Barnes became an internet meme in 2017 when he appeared in the video for “Big Enough” by Kirin J. Callinan. I love when things collide like this!

The Echo and the Bunnymen cover of The Doors’ “People are Strange” features Ray Manzarek from the Doors playing piano! I won’t say it’s better than the original, but it does what a cover should do – honor the original and add something new. The middle breakdown is fantastic.

Roger Daltrey singing “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me” is a bit on the nose for a vampire movie.

Plus, as required by internet law, here is Tim Capello, ready to enter our dreams again: