Bobby Caldwell - Film Soundtracks

Film Soundtracks

Caldwell has contributed music to a number of movies. He has both written and performed original songs for 1986's Back to School ("Educated Girl"), 1988's Mac & Me ("Take Me, I'll Follow You"), 1988's Salsa ("Puerto Rico") and its sequel ("Every Teardrop").

Songs penned by Caldwell but performed by others have appeared in films such as 1989's Ghostbusters 2 ("The Promised Land," performed by James "J.T." Taylor, the lead singer of Kool & the Gang) and 1987's Princess from the Moon ("Stay With Me," performed by Peter Cetera).

Due to what Caldwell has cited in interviews a lower cost of use than the original recordings, his versions of big band standards have appeared in several films. Examples include 2002's LakeBoat and 2001's S1m0ne.

Caldwell also composed and performed "Don't Quit," the theme song for Body by Jake's workout video of the same name. He also appears in the associated music video, musically urging an actor portraying a weak young man to engage in weight training in order to defeat the bully of a local beach.

A clip from "What You Won't Do For Love" is heard in the movie Donnie Brasco, playing from the car radio as Donnie and Lefty drive home from the house where they had just slaughtered rival gangster Sonny Red and some of his crew. The song blends with the sight of the late '70s Cadillac to create a brief, but distinct, moment of fine nostalgia. The euphoria is quickly diminished by the tense and weighted conversation that follows, and the viewer is able to feel a complex array of emotions stemming from these sensory contradictions.