Roller Boogie - Soundtrack

Soundtrack

The soundtrack of the film largely draws on the disco sound that was popular in the late 1970s. A double-LP soundtrack was issued by Casablanca Records in 1979.

Almost all of the tracks were written directly for the movie by Bob Esty and Michelle Aller. Esty/Aller had at the time recently scored a sizable hit, writing Cher's disco-single "Take Me Home". Incidentally, they produced Cher's accompanying LP of the same name, as well as the ill-fated follow-up Prisoner. Cher would contribute one song to the Roller Boogie soundtrack - the Esty produced "Hell on Wheels", used in the opening sequence. The track originally featured on the Prisoner album, and a rare accompanying video clip featuring Cher roller-skating also appeared around the same time as the release of the movie.

Interestingly, the "Hell on Wheels" Japanese single includes another Prisoner album track, the 12" version of "Git Down (Guitar Groupie)", which is advertised as "Theme from Roller Boogie". However, the song does not appear in the movie. This single features a still of Linda Blair and Jim Bray on the cover.

The song "Lord is it Mine", performed by Bob Esty, was originally written by Supertramp's Roger Hodgson for their Breakfast in America LP. He also performed the tracks "Summer Love", "Rollin' Up a Storm", and "Roller Boogie". The segued opening tracks of side two of the double LP, "Electronix (Roller Dancin')", and the Latin-disco instrumental "Cunga", are credited to Bob Esty and Cheeks. Craig Safan composed cues for the film's original score, however, the film tends to rely on actual songs as opposed to instrumental pieces.

Along with "Hell on Wheels", the other song on the soundtrack that was previously available prior to the soundtrack release is Earth, Wind & Fire's well-known disco single, "Boogie Wonderland". Only one song featured in the film does not feature on the soundtrack, Jean Shy's "Night Dancer", which appears in the movie when Terry first visits the roller-disco rink.

Side A:

1. "Hell on Wheels" - Cher (5:32)
2. "Good Girls" - Johnnie Coolrock (3:38)
3. "All for One, One for All" - Mavis Vegas Davis (4:20)
4. "Boogie Wonderland" - Earth Wind & Fire (4:48)

Side B:

1. "We've Got the Power" - Ron Green (5:15)
2. "Top Jammer" - Cheecks (4:12)
3. "Summer Love" - Bob Esty (3:53)
4. "Takin' My Life in My Own Hands" - Ron Green (5:25)

Side C:

1. "Electronix (Roller Dancin')" - Bob Esty & Cheeks (5:00)
2. "Cunga" - Bob Esty (4:54)
3. "Evil Man" - Mavis Vegas Davis (4:17)
4. "Lord is it Mine" - Bob Esty (4:26)

Side D:

1. "Rollin' up a Storm (The Eye of the Hurricane)" - Bob Esty (6:30)
2. "The Roller Boogie" - Bob Esty (6:09)
3. "Love Fire" - Bob Esty & Michelle Aller (4:54)