Ray’s Vinyl Review- The Joysticks soundtrack!

Hey, Arcaders!

Welcome to the first in a series of reviews of something I loved growing up- record albums. It’s hard to describe what it was like going into a record shop 40+ years ago. It was magic.

So- I thought I would do a series of reviews about the albums themselves. Not just the music- but the cool stuff you got with them.

I started this review- nine years ago… so I’m going to let my younger self take over for a moment… Take it away me from 2016…

Thank you older me…

A Long Time Ago… In 1983…

A movie was released, that, well most people didn’t want to see. and that movie was JOYSTICKS!!!!

I was there at opening night, at the Dutchess Mall theater. And I loved it. I always thought this movie was something more than a PORKY’S ripoff- because of the true star of this movie- THE ARCADE!

It was…AMAZING! Unlike most movies of the 1980’s that needed an arcade setting (Go to the mall, film said arcade) They- BUILT THEIR OWN!!!! That’s right, they built their own arcade, from scratch, in a warehouse in L.A.! and it was awesome!

…But, that’s a story for another time.

We’re here to talk about the soundtrack!

It was never released. Why? Who knows why. Poor ticket sales, the director, producers, or distributors of the film not thinking it was necessary- the list goes on and on.

Flash ahead 33 years later-

Jon and the fine folks at ECZEMA RECORDS released the official movie soundtrack to this fine film!

You can get it two ways-

Buy the digital download for the sweet price of $9.99- you choose-

MP3 (320kbps)
iTunes Plus AAC (256kbps)
Apple Lossless (ALAC)
FLAC

Pre order the JOYSTICKS Vinyl LP + Immediate MP3 Download for $25.00!

Jon at Eczema sent the me a digital copy to review, and I can tell you- it’s amazing just to hear the music with nothing over it! The album must be from the masters because they are flawless! The late 70’s / early 80’s vibe is here in this music. The fun and optimism was there for me when I heard “Last Chance For Love” this time, just as it was when I heard it at the end of this movie back in ’83. This album will be playing in my arcade for years to come!!!

Now, as a side by side comparison, here’ the beginning of the film with the Joysticks theme song-

and here’s the soundtrack version-

Its flawless!

I’ll be doing a proper song by song review in the coming days, (also when I purchase the vinyl, we will be doing a video review!)

If that’s peaked you interest, head over to ECZEMA RECORDS and get you copy NOW!!!

Thanks to everybody over at ECZEMA RECORDS for the tunes!!!!!

Thank you…older me- for letting me repeat a older post.

… you’re welcome younger me.

Ok… now that you are up to speed- it’s 9 years later… time to do a proper album review.

I went to the Eczema website… and purchased the album… It didn’t disappoint. here’s my review- enjoy!

My final review-

The album is a definite must buy. If you have nostalgia for movies of the 70s and 80s that were fun… didn’t take themselves seriously… and had a decent soundtrack… this is a must buy. But with the extras you get- Eczema went above and beyond!

A great job for a movie that holds so many memories for me!

Bonus video-

Director Greydon Clark and actor Jim “McDorfus” Greenleaf gives Q&A for the 80’s B-movie teen flick comedy, JOYSTICKS. They did this Q&A after a screening of the movie at California Extreme in Santa Clara, CA.