Mike's Murder (soundtrack)

Mike's Murder is the 1983 motion picture soundtrack album from the film of the same name starring Debra Winger and written and directed by James Bridges.^[1] The album features original music by Joe Jackson.^[1][3] It is his sixth album.

Mike's Murder
1983 cover
Soundtrack album by Joe Jackson
Released	September 1983[1]
Recorded	1983
Studio	A & R (New York City)
Length	38:50
Label	A&M
Producer	Joe Jackson
Joe Jackson chronology
Night and Day (1982) Mike's Murder (1983) Body and Soul (1984)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[2]

Description

When Jackson was asked to compose a song for the film, he composed several pieces that were released as an album in September 1983. The film was eventually scored by John Barry, with little of Jackson's music retained.^[3] The album reached the Top 100 in the United States, and the songs "Memphis" and "Cosmopolitan" were released as singles. "Breakdown", another song from the album, was nominated for a Grammy in the Best Pop Instrumental Performance category.^[3]

The Mike's Murder soundtrack was first released on CD, in its entirety, as part of the three-disc The Ultimate Collection ^[4] in 2003, and separately released on CD in 2006 on the Lilith label. The album's first five tracks were also included on the 2003 deluxe edition reissue of Jackson's Night and Day album.

In June 2009, Prometheus Records released a CD of John Barry's replacement soundtrack, containing the entire score.

Track listing

Written, arranged and produced by Joe Jackson.^[1]

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Cosmopolitan"	4:36
2.	"1-2-3 Go! (This Town's a Fairground)"	3:00
3.	"Laundromat Monday"	3:31
4.	"Memphis"	4:44
5.	"Moonlight"	4:21
6.	"Zémio" (instrumental)	11:05
7.	"Breakdown" (instrumental)	3:59
8.	"Moonlight Theme" (instrumental)	3:25
Total length:		38:50

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1983) Peak position Australia Albums (Kent Music Report)[5] 91 Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[6] 10 New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[7] 28 US Billboard 200[8] 64

Year-end charts Chart (1983) Position Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[9] 97

Personnel

Musicians

• Joe Jackson – vocals, keyboards, vibraphone, xylophone, percussion, alto saxophone
• Joy Askew – Prophet-5 synthesizer programming
• Graham Maby – bass
• Larry Tolfree – drums
• Sue Hadjopoulos – congas, bongos, percussion

Production

• Jeff Gold – executive producer
• Becky Shargo – executive producer
• Joe Jackson – producer, arrangements
• David Kershenbaum – producer (4)
• Bradshaw Leigh – engineer
• Larry Franke – assistant engineer
• Phil Jamtaas – remixing
• David Bianco – remix assistant
• John LaSalandra – film music editing
• Chuck Beeson – art direction
• Melanie Nissen – design
• Peter Sorel – front cover photography
• Greg Gorman – photography of Joe Jackson

References

1. Strong, Martin C. (2000). The Great Rock Discography (5th ed.). Edinburgh: Mojo Books. pp. 485–486. ISBN 1-84195-017-3.
2. AllMusic review
3. "Biography by William Ruhlmann". Allmusic.com. Retrieved 4 May 2009.
4. The Ultimate Collection - Joe Jackson @AllMusic.com Retrieved July 18, 2020.
5. 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.
6. "Dutchcharts.nl – Soundtrack / Joe Jackson – Mike's Murder" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
7. "Charts.nz – Soundtrack / Joe Jackson – Mike's Murder". Hung Medien. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
8. "Joe Jackson Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
9. "Jaaroverzichten – Album 1983". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 26 March 2021.

External links

• Mike's Murder album information at The Joe Jackson Archive