Still awesome Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 soundtrack

The line-up of songs tapped for the soundtrack of the motion picture Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, was one of the most awaited in film and music history. In fact, the unveiling of the track list last April made the news and generated a lot of commentary from industry figures, fans of the latest entry from the Marvel Cinematic Universe and from those merely curious if the music of the franchise can do a take two.

This is because the songs used in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 1 spawned a phenomenally successful soundtrack album when it was released three years ago. The music literally shook up the hit charts and is acknowledged as a major factor in the film’s success at the box-office. It was the first soundtrack made up entirely of old recordings to make the hit lists where it stayed for a long period of 16 weeks, 11 of which were consecutive No. 1s. By the end of 2014, Mix Tape Vol. 1 was named the second biggest selling album of the year. In the No. 1 slot was another movie soundtrack, Frozen. The two albums made movie soundtracks hot again.

 The songs in Vol. 1 were an integral part of the story. They were the contents of a cassette tape that lead character Peter Quill’s mother Meredith put together before she died. Having the tape with him sort of connected Quill to his mother. This sentimental touch, plus the fact that the ’70s songs compiled in the tape were really excellent choices worked greatly in the film’s favor. With those facts in the can, it was no wonder that a lot was at stake in the songs that director James Gunn would pick out for Vol. 2.

The choices do not disappoint. Taken into consideration is the fact that while Quill’s mother made the Mix Tape Vol. 1 for the quirky taste of a young man, Vol. 2 is intended for an older guy. Hence the songs chosen, from the ’60s and ’70s periods, are musically and lyrically sophisticated. Also I do not know if it was because Gunn had a bigger budget for his soundtrack this time around but most of the recordings are by bigger stars than in the first one.

There are now unknown one-hit-wonders, Sweet, Silver, Looking Glass but also George Harrison! Fleetwood Mac! Glen Campbell! Wow! Happy to note though that Gunn did not fall in the star rut. Despite this, I am happy to say that the sounds of Vol. 2 also work very well in the movie. Best of all these have the same sense of fun that made Vol. 1 such a treat to listen to. Baby Groot can dance to these songs. Why it can even quiet down the obnoxious Rockett because he will not be able to resist bobbing his head to the rhythm.

 Included in Guardians of The Galaxy: Awesome Mix Tape Vol. 2 soundtrack album are Mr. Blue Sky by the Electric Light Orchestra; Fox on The Run by Sweet; Lake Shore Drive by Aliotta Haynes Jeremiah; The Chain by Fleetwood Mac; Bring It All Home To Me by Sam Cooke; Southern Nights by Glen Campbell; My Sweet Lord by George Harrison; Brandy (You’re Fine Girl) by Looking Glass; Come A Little Bit Closer by Jay and the Americans; Wham Bam Shang-A-Lang by Silver; Surrender by Cheap Trick; Father and Sons by Cat Stevens; and Flash Light by Parliament.

The final cut is Guardians Inferno by The Sneepers featuring David Hasselhoff. It is the only new original track in the album. It comes across like some soaring space theme by John Williams on one of his lazy days but it serves its purpose very well. What can now be considered the Guardian theme was composed by director Gunn himself with Tyler Bates who did the film’s music score.

I do not think The Sneepers exist but the vocals are by, would you believe David Hasselhoff. Yep. Hasselhoff of Knight Rider and Baywatch. Although he did have a pop idol period and did release some albums, he even recorded with our songbird, Regine Velasquez, his singing here is not much. But hey, it is still Hasselhoff, who like the music in the soundtrack was an icon of the ’70s era.