Over the Top is a 1987 American sport drama film starring Sylvester Stallone. It was produced and directed by Menahem Golan, and its screenplay was written by Stirling Silliphant and Stallone. The original music score was composed by Giorgio Moroder. The main character, played by Stallone, is a long-haul truck driver who tries to win back his alienated son while becoming a champion arm wrestler.
The soundtrack album was released in 1987 to coincide with the release of the movie. It contains music from Frank Stallone, Kenny Loggins (who performs the film’s central theme, “Meet Me Half Way”), Eddie Money, and Sammy Hagar. John Wetton, lead singer of the rock group Asia, sang “Winner Takes It All” for the movie, but after performing the song, it was felt that his voice wasn’t “mean” enough, so the song was offered to Hagar, whose version, featuring a bass guitar solo from Hagar’s then-bandmate Edward Van Halen, ended up being the one on the soundtrack. Asia is credited for the track “Gypsy Soul”, but Wetton is the only Asia member who actually contributed to the song.
Tracks
1 | Winner Takes It All (Tom Whitlock, Giorgio Moroder) | 4:00 |
2 | In This Country (Tom Whitlock, Giorgio Moroder) | 4:23 |
3 | Take It Higher (Tom Whitlock, Giorgio Moroder) | 3:54 |
4 | All I Need Is You (Tom Whitlock, Giorgio Moroder) | 3:58 |
5 | Bad Nite (Peter Schless, Frank Stallone) | 3:06 |
6 | Meet Me Half Way (Tom Whitlock, Giorgio Moroder) | 3:41 |
7 | Gypsy Soul (Tom Whitlock, Giorgio Moroder) | 3:32 |
8 | The Fight (Instrumental) (Giorgio Moroder) | 3:57 |
9 | Mind Over Matter (Tom Whitlock, Giorgio Moroder) | 3:12 |
10 | I Will Be Strong (Tom Whitlock, Giorgio Moroder) | 3:18 |
Musicians
Guitar | Dann Huff |
Guitar | Richie Zito |
Guitar | David Darling |
Guitar | Terry Wilson |
Sax | David Woodford |
Piano | Greg Phillinganes |
Piano | Robbie Buchanan |
Synthesizer | Anthony Marinelli |
Synthesizer | Brian Banks |
Synthesizer | Giorgio Moroder |
Synthesizer | Peter Schless |
Synthesizer | Stu Goldberg |
Synthesizer | Terry Wilson |
Background Vocals | Bobbie Eakes |
Background Vocals | Gary Falcone |
Background Vocals | Joe Pizzulo |
Other Musicians
1 Winner Takes It All
Bass | Eddie van Halen |
Drums | Denny Carmassi |
Guitar | Eddie van Halen |
Guitar | Sammy Hagar |
Vocals | Sammy Hagar |
2 In This Country
3 Take It Higher
4 All I Need Is You
5 Bad Nite
Sax | Edgar Winter |
Background Vocals | Edgar Winter |
Background Vocals | Margie Nelson |
Vocals | Frank Stallone |
6 Meet Me Half Way
7 Gypsy Soul
8 The Fight (Instrumental)
Synthesizer | Giorgio Moroder |
9 Mind Over Matter
10 I Will Be Strong
Liner Notes
Producer – Giorgio Moroder
Producer – Eddie Van Halen, Sammy Hagar (Track 1)
Producer – Frank Stallone, Peter Schless (Track 5)
Producer – Richie Zito (Track 10)
Executive-Producer (Soundtrack Album) – Michael Dilbeck
Coordinator (Music Coordinator) – Robin Garb
Coordinator (Musical Legal Coordinator) – Robert Tauro
Engineer – Brian Reeves, Scott Litt
Engineer (Additional) – Chris Brosius, Phil Kaffel, Ross Hogarth
Engineer (Assistant) – David Eaton, Lori Fumar
Engineer (Assistant), Guitar, Synthesizer – Terry Wilson
Mastered By – Brian Gardner
Mixed By – Brian Reeves
Supervised By (Music Supervisor) – Paula Erickson