Playlist: Brat Pack
As I promised / threatened in a Playlist recently, I am doing one completely devoted to the genre of films defined by the actors that starred in them - the Brat Pack!
The Brat Pack is the label given to a handful of films made over a relatively short period of time (roughly 1982 - 1989), defined by the actors that appeared in them, and which tended to centre on young person / teenage themes, with many of them being written and directed by John Hughes.
The term had been coined in 1985 by the journalist David Blum, trying to define the actors involved as a bunch of somewhat spoiled, entitled and hedonistic youngsters. Those involved, understandably, did not like the label - and there was actually quite a gulf in ages and backgrounds between them all, and many did not even really know each prior to appearing in the films - many also felt that the label held their careers back in the aftermath.
Anyway, the main point for me is that I became a teenager right in the heart of this period, and despite some of the storylines being a little outlandish for a young lad from southern England, many of the themes still resonated. And so I thank those eight actors generally given the label - Emilio Estevez, Judd Nelson, Rob Lowe, Andrew McCarthy, Molly Ringwald, Ally Sheedy, Anthony Michael Hall and Demi Moore (with good support from others like Jon Cryer and James Spader).
The films also tended to celebrate the great new wave music of the time (along with plenty of the classics) - and hence, we bring you another great playlist.
1. Nik Kershaw: Wouldn't It Be Good
The film was elevated even further than normal for Brat Pack films, by the presence of Harry Dean Stanton, as the quiet, understated (and underemployed) father of Mollie Ringwald's lead character, Andie Walsh. Ringwald's love of the Psychedelic Furs is said to have led to John Hughes writing the screenplay inspired by their song. But the re-recorded version of that is too produced and brassy for this playlist - so instead we start with that classic bit of 80s pop, Wouldn't It Be Good, courtesy of Nik Kershaw.
(official music video)
2. John Parr: St Elmo's Fire
This coming of age film crammed pretty much all of the Brat Pack actors in. The soundtrack was largely pulled together by multi-Grammy winning Canadian composer, David Foster. He co-wrote the title track with English singer John Parr. Parr had been offered another song for the movie, but turned it down, saying it sounded too much like earlier film songs like Fame or Flashdance.
(official music video - includes clips from the movie)
3. Tim Finn: Growing Pains
Another coming of age comedy (notice a theme here) with Molly Ringwald and Anthony Michael Hall - helping launch their careers. It centres on Sam Baker's (Ringwald) family forgetting her 16th birthday as they obsessively prepare for her older sister's wedding the following day. A bit of a corny concept, but a highly amusing film and one of my favourites as a teenager. Only a five song mini-album was ever released as an official soundtrack, but there were more than 30 songs in total. We'll skip over Spandau Ballet, Wham and Kajagoogoo contributions, and go with legendary Kiwi Tim Finn, whose song Growing Pains appears during the high school dance.
(audio only)
4. ZZ Top: Blue Jeans Blue
Fresh Horses was not one of the Brat Pack films that lived long in my memory, although Molly Ringwald was in it, so it had that going for it (or perhaps I need to revisit it after 35 years). As well as pairing her with Andrew McCarthy again, it also gives early roles for Ben Stiller and Viggo Mortenson. No official soundtrack was ever put out, but the movie did again feature songs by David Foster. There is a generous sprinkling of classical music, including some Tchaikovsky and Waldteufel. But there was also stuff by Dwight Yoakam, Starship, Aretha and this by blues-rock giants ZZ Top. Blue Jean Blues originally featured on their 1975 album, Fandango.
(live version recorded in Texas)
5. Simple Minds: Don't You Forget About Me
This is perhaps the best known of all the Brat Pack movies. While some of the content can be viewed slightly negatively in a 2026 light, it remains a classic (and probably in my Top 5 all time films) - if nothing else because it keeps you involved despite only having five main actors (plus two support actors - the teacher and the janitor) and is set in just one location. The theme song was famous for being one of the first times Simple Minds took on a track written by someone else (Keith Forsey). They were more than a little skeptical of it at first, but eventually recorded it, added the "la-la-la's" to make it their own - and it gave them their US breakthrough, reaching number one there. While I have loved Simple Minds for four decades, this has never been a particular favourite - but that said, when you are in a big crowd hearing it played live, you can't help but enjoy it.
(live at the 2015 Billboard Music Awards - I've included this one because Molly Ringwald is actually in the crowd [with Taylor Swift]))
6. Stevie Wonder: Stay Gold
Firstly, I've not seen The Outsiders, so cannot comment on its movie merits much - but it is seen by some as the first of the Brat Pack films. It was actually a Francis Ford Coppola movie, and based on a book by S.E. Hinton. It gets in because its cast includes core Brat Packers, Matt Dillon, Rob Lowe and Emilio Estevez.The main score was composed by Coppola's father, Carmine Coppola - but the end credits features a little bit of Stevie Wonder. This tune is one he co-wrote with Carmine especially for the movie.
(audio that someone has put over clips from the movie)
7. Van Morrison: Moondance
Another one that is borderline whether it should be included. Betsy's Wedding was totally an Alan Alda project, which he wrote, directed and starred in - but there is Ally Sheedy and Molly Ringwald as his two daughters, so it's in. There are a few interesting tracks to choose from - Chapel of Love by The Dixie Cups, Frankie Avalon's take on Come Fly With Me - but how could we resist a bit of classic Van the Man?
(live on Midnight Special with a backing band that includes George Benson, Carlos Santana, Etta James and Dr John)
8. Oingo Boingo: Home Again
Another of the movies I am not familiar with, but Wisdom marked Emilio Estevez's directorial debut, about a car thief who tried to become a modern day Robin Hood. It was not well received, and reading up on it doesn't leave me itching to try and watch it, but it does include Estevez, Demi Moore and Charlie Sheen. And, as a plus point, it has a score by Danny Elfman - and that means an opportunity for his old band to crop up. Yes, we get a bit of classic, slightly offbeat, Oingo Boingo in Home Again, which would crop up on their Boi-ngo album, released the year after the movie (1987).
(audio only)
9. Altered Images: Happy Birthday
We go back to Sixteen Candles, one of two soundtracks that really epitomised that 80s new wave sound. There is so much music to choose from around this movie - I went a little bit deep with my first choice from it, so let's go a bit more mainstream this time. Anyone who doesn't feel at least a little bit of joy when they hear this song must be permanently sad. Clare Grogan and Altered Images will always have a happy place in my young life. From that rolling drum intro and driving bass line, to the classic jangle guitar and Grogan's famous chirpy vocals - this is one of the pop gems of the early 80s.
(official music video)
10. Otis Redding: Try A LIttle Tenderness
We return to Pretty in Pink for our final choice. This song is key to one of the highlights of the film, yet wasn't included on the official soundtrack release. It is the wonderful, soulful version of Try A Little Tenderness sung so incredibly by Otis Redding - and provides the backdrop to Duckie's (Jon Cryer) gloriously goofy, forlorn attempt to woo Andie as she works in the local record shop.
(the classic scene from the film - perfection)
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