Fame
Soundtrack album by
Michael Gore
ReleasedMay 1980
Recorded1979–1980
GenreDisco, pop, gospel, singer/songwriter, choral, instrumental, orchestral
Length35:08
LabelRSO
ProducerMichael Gore
Singles from Fame
  1. "Fame"
    Released: May 1980
  2. "Out Here on My Own"
    Released: August 1980
  3. "Red Light"
    Released: August 1980

Fame: The Original Soundtrack from the Motion Picture is the soundtrack from the film of the same name, released in 1980 by RSO Records. In 2003, it was reissued on CD with three bonus tracks, which was then reissued again in 2009 and 2012.

Release and singles

The motion picture soundtrack album for Fame was released in the U.S. on May 16, 1980, by RSO Records.[1] It features nine songs, all of which appear in various scenes in the film. In his later review for AllMusic, Stephen Thomas Erlewine awarded the album five stars out of five and wrote, "Yes, the production techniques often do sound dated ... but the music by Michael Gore is dynamic, varied, and alive, sung with real passion and vigor, and it still retains its essential spark 23 years after it was a pop culture phenomenon."[2]

In the US, the title song "Fame" was released as a single in May 1980, and reached number 4 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart while the album reached number 7 on the Billboard 200 chart.[3] A second single, "Out Here on My Own", was released in August and reached number 19 on the Hot 100 chart, while the third single "Red Light" by Linda Clifford was number 41.

"Fame" was released in the UK at the end of June, however, it failed to chart.[4] The album was released in the following month, peaking at number 21 on the UK Albums Chart.[5] "Out Here on My Own" was also released in the UK and it too failed to chart. However, in June 1982, after the success of the Fame TV series, "Fame" was re-released, topping the Singles Chart for three weeks, spending a total of 16 weeks on the chart and it became the second biggest selling single in the United Kingdom of 1982. After its success, the Fame album was also re-released and also topped the Album Charts.[6] In August, "Out Here on My Own" was re-released, peaking at number 58.[7][8]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Original artistLength
1."Fame"Michael Gore, Dean PitchfordIrene Cara5:14
2."Out Here on My Own"Michael Gore, Lesley GoreIrene Cara3:11
3."Hot Lunch Jam"Michael Gore, Lesley Gore,
Robert F. Colesberry		Irene Cara4:10
4."Dogs in the Yard"Dominic Bugatti, Frank MuskerPaul McCrane3:13
5."Red Light"Michael Gore, Dean PitchfordLinda Clifford6:10
6."Is It Okay If I Call You Mine?"Paul McCranePaul McCrane2:40
7."Never Alone"Anthony EvansContemporary Gospel Chorus of the High School of Music and Art3:23
8."Ralph and Monty (Dressing Room Piano)"Michael GoreMichael Gore1:49
9."I Sing the Body Electric"Michael Gore, Dean PitchfordLaura Dean, Irene Cara, Paul McCrane, Traci Parnell, Eric Brockington4:59
Total length:35:08
2003 Reissue bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Original artistLength
10."Miles From Here" (previously unissued)Michael Gore; Dean PitchfordPaul McCrane3:01
11."Out Here On My Own (Instrumental)"Michael Gore; Lesley GoreMichael Gore3:12
12."Fame (Instrumental)"Michael Gore; Dean PitchfordMichael Gore5:21
Total length:46:44

Personnel

Musicians

Vocalists[9]

String and keyboard musicians

Brass and wind musicians

Drum and percussion musicians

Technical

Charts

Sales and certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[23] Platinum 50,000^
Canada (Music Canada)[24] Platinum 100,000^
France (SNEP)[25]
certified in 1981 		Gold 100,000*
France (SNEP)[25]
certified in 1983 		2× Gold 200,000*
Hong Kong (IFPI Hong Kong)[26] Gold 10,000*
Netherlands (NVPI)[27] Gold 50,000^
Portugal (AFP)[28] Gold 30,000[28]
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[29] Gold 50,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[30] Gold 100,000^
United States (RIAA)[31] Platinum 1,000,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ "Download Fame: The Original Soundtrack from the Motion Picture by Various Artists". eMusic. Archived from the original on August 8, 2016. Retrieved August 8, 2016.
  2. ^ "Fame (Original Soundtrack)". AllMusic. Retrieved August 8, 2016.
  3. ^ Trust, Gary (March 9, 2010). "Oscar Winners On The Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  4. ^ Irene Cara - Fame, retrieved 2021-02-03
  5. ^ a b "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  6. ^ a b "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  7. ^ Irene Cara - Out Here On My Own, retrieved 2021-02-03
  8. ^ "IRENE CARA | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 2021-02-03.
  9. ^ "Fame / Original Soundtrack From The Motion Picture (1980, Pitman Pressing, Gatefold, Vinyl)". Discogs. Retrieved 2021-02-03.
  10. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 283. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  11. ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 0254a". RPM. Library and Archives Canada.
  12. ^ "Les Albums (CD) de 1980 par InfoDisc". InfoDisc. Archived from the original on 9 January 2016.
  13. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Soundtrack – Fame". Hung Medien.
  14. ^ a b Salaverri, Fernando (2015). Sólo éxitos 1959–2012 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 978-84-8048-866-2.
  15. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Soundtrack – Fame". Hung Medien.
  16. ^ "Billboard 200 Chart". Billboard. Retrieved 2021-02-03.
  17. ^ "Charts.nz – Soundtrack – Fame". Hung Medien.
  18. ^ Timo (13 August 2015). "Sisältää hitin: Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1960: Soundtrack, eri esittäjiä". Sisältää hitin. Retrieved 2021-02-03.
  19. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Soundtrack – Fame" (in Dutch). Hung Medien.
  20. ^ "Top Selling Albums of 1982 — The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Recorded Music New Zealand. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  21. ^ Rees; Lazell; Jones (1983). "The Top 100 UK Albums". pp. 82–83.
  22. ^ "Jaaroverzichten - Album 1983". www.dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  23. ^ "Kent Music Report No 341 – 5 January 1981 > Platinum and Gold Albums 1980". Kent Music Report. Retrieved December 26, 2022 – via Imgur.com.
  24. ^ "Canadian album certifications – Various Artists – Fame - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack". Music Canada. Retrieved January 9, 2020.
  25. ^ a b "Les Certifications depuis 1973: Albums". Infodisc.fr. Retrieved January 9, 2021. (select "B.O.F." from drop-down list)
  26. ^ "IFPIHK Gold Disc Award − 1983". IFPI Hong Kong. Retrieved January 9, 2020.
  27. ^ "Dutch album certifications – Diverse artiesten – The Original Soundtrack From The Motion Picture FAME" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Retrieved January 9, 2020. Enter The Original Soundtrack From The Motion Picture FAME in the "Artiest of titel" box. Select 1982 in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen".
  28. ^ a b Tenente, Fernando (March 17, 1984). "'83 Figures Show Dip In Portuguese Record Sales" (PDF). Billboard. p. 54. Retrieved January 9, 2020 – via World Radio History.
  29. ^ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. p. 917. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  30. ^ "British album certifications – Original Soundtrack – Fame - Ost". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved January 9, 2020.
  31. ^ "American album certifications – Soundtrack – Fame". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved January 9, 2020.
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