THEME = movie tunes: ‘You Light Up My Life’ & ‘Young Guns 2’

This week’s entry features songs from Debby Boone & Jon Bon Jovi….

#1 ‘You Light Up My Life’
Written by Joseph Brooks, “You Light Up My Life” was originally recorded by Kasey Cisyk for the movie soundtrack & lip-synched by the film’s lead actress, Didi Conn. It won the Best Original Song Academy Award & Song Of The Year Grammy Award, but Cisyk’s version didn’t fair well on the charts. It was Boone’s recording, released 08/16/1977 from her album of the same name, that launched the song. Her version soared, claiming #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for a then-record 10 straight weeks. It also claimed #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart, while reaching #4 on the country charts.

FYI: this movie, directed by Brooks, was released in theaters 08/31/1977 to not-so-good reviews. Most noted Conn’s portrayal & the title song to be the best features of the film. Stephen Nathan & Michael Zaslow also star.

#2 ‘Young Guns 2’
Originally, Emilio Estevez asked Jon Bon Jovi for permission to use “Wanted Dead Or Alive” on this movie’s soundtrack. But, Bon Jovi didn’t think the song fit, so he was inspired to write “Blaze Of Glory” specifically for the film. Released 07/21/1990 from the album of the same name, this single became his only chart topper away from his band, reaching that mark on both the Billboard Hot 100 & Mainstream Rock Tracks charts that year. Internationally, it claimed #1 in Austraila (6 weeks) & reached #13 in England.

FYI: arriving in theaters 08/01/1990, it received mixed reviews but was a success at the box office. The sequel to 1988’s ‘Young Guns’, it was written & produced by John Fusco & directed by Geoff Murphy; it takes some creative license, but shows main events that led up to Billy The Kid’s documented death. The cast includes Estevez, Kiefer Sutherland, Lou Diamond Phillips, Christian Slater, William Petersen, Alan Ruck, James Coburn, Balthazar Getty, Jenny Wright, Jack Kehoe, Robert Knepper, Viggo Mortensen, Tracey Walter, Bradley Whitford, Scott Wilson & Howie Young.