The 1987 movie Dirty Dancing has one of the most iconic and memorable music soundtracks in cinema history. Now, this soundtrack is about to be released on vinyl to celebrate the 35th anniversary of this legendary dancing rom-com.
The 1987 classic starred Jennifer Grey and the late Patrick Swayze as lovers Frances ‘Baby’ Houseman and Johnny Castle. A love story that started during a summer holiday when Baby would discover her passion for dancing as she falls for professional dancer Johnny Castle.
Jimmy Ienner, the music producer of the movie, created a soundtrack so spectacular that it would receive two multi-platinum albums and multiple singles.
‘(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life’, performed by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes, won the Academy Award for Best Original Song, the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song, and the Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.
For its 35th anniversary, a special collectible watermelon color vinyl edition of ‘Dirty Dancing (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)’ will arrive on October 14th.
The full Side A/Side B playing order of the original soundtrack album includes twelve tracks as they were intended to be heard. As a personal touch, the record comes with a scented watermelon sticker, referring to the scene where the character of Baby is seen carrying a watermelon into a party where she would meet Johnny Castle.
The blockbuster raked in $214 million worldwide and became the first film to sell more than a million copies in the home video market. The movie’s popularity led to a 2004 prequel, ‘Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights’, starring Diego Luna and Romola Garai, which also included Swayze’s guest appearance as the legendary Johnny Castle. The flick has also seen a stage adaptation and a TV remake in 2017.
There is a new sequel on the way, set to be released in 2024. It will be directed by Jonathan Levine, who recently teased that Swayze—who died of pancreatic cancer in 2009, when he was 59 years old—“is a part” of the plot.
The director said: “Johnny is a part of Baby’s journey in the story.
This film exists in a dialogue with the original. We want to introduce this story to a whole new generation. That said, Johnny’s absence looms large over the story, so it’s a coming-of-age story but also a coming-of-age for Baby’s character in a way.”
Erin Westerman, the president of production at Lionsgate also said: “Dirty Dancing is more than a movie – it’s a cultural touchstone that continues to be a rite of passage. As we approach the next chapter, we knew we had to honor the depth, the relevance, and the heat of the original. We’ve been lucky to have Jennifer as our guide and are thrilled to have Jonathan by her side at the helm because everything he makes is textured and romantic – he always gives us goosebumps.”
The new vinyl is available to pre-order now via dirtydancing1.lnk.to/WatermelonDisc, and it will contain the following tracks.
Dirty Dancing (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) track-list:
Side A
1. “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life” (from “Dirty Dancing” Soundtrack)—Bill Medley, Jennifer Warnes
2. “Be My Baby”—The Ronettes
3. “She’s Like the Wind” (from “Dirty Dancing” Soundtrack)—Patrick Swayze
4. “Hungry Eyes” (from “Dirty Dancing” Soundtrack)—Eric Carmen
5. “Stay”—Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs
6. “Yes” (from “Dirty Dancing” Soundtrack)—Merry Clayton
Side B
1. “You Don’t Own Me”—The Blow Monkeys
2. “Hey! Baby”—Bruce Channel
3. “Overload” (from “Dirty Dancing” Soundtrack)—Alfie Zappacosta
4. “Love Is Strange”—Mickey Sylvia
5. “Where Are You Tonight?” (from “Dirty Dancing” Soundtrack)—Tom Johnston
6. “(I’ll Remember) In The Still of the Night”—The Five Satins
