41 Original Hits from the Soundtrack of American Graffiti

41 ORIGINAL HITS FROM THE SOUNDTRACK OF AMERICAN GRAFFITI
 
 
41 Original Hits from the Soundtrack of American Graffiti  is the official 1973 soundtrack album of the film American Graffiti.  It has been certified triple platinum in the U.S., where it peaked at #10 on the Billboard 200 album chart.  Included in the film, but not on the soundtrack, are “Gee” by The Crows, “Louie Louie” by Flash Cadillac & the Continental Kids, and Harrison Ford’s in-character a cappella rendition of “Some Enchanted Evening”.  A second compilation, titled More American Graffiti (and not to be confused with the 1979 film sequel of that name) was issued by MCA in early 1975, with George Lucas’s approval.  It features more rock and doo-wop hits from the late ’50s and early ’60s (only one of which, the Crows’ “Gee”, was featured in the film), along with additional Wolfman Jack dialogue.  A third and final oldies compilation, titled American Graffiti Vol. III was also issued by MCA in early 1976.  (More from Wikipedia)
 
 

As reported in Wikipedia:  “In 1973[Kim] Fowley produced three recordings by Flash Cadillac & the Continental Kids for the film American Graffiti (1973).  These songs were ‘At the Hop’, ‘Louie Louie’ and ‘She’s So Fine’.”  Flash Cadillac & the Continental Kids (now known as Flash Cadillac) is a retro-rock band who appeared in the film under the name Herbie and the Heartbeats.  They formed in Boulder, Colorado in 1969 and are still active more than 40 years later. 

 

At the Hop” and “She’s So Fine” (but not “Louie Louie”) are included on the official 1973 soundtrack album, entitled 41 Original Hits from the Soundtrack of American Graffiti, where the songs are presented in the same order that they appeared in the film.  The other 39 songs on the soundtrack album are the original hits by the original artists, having been recorded between 1954 and 1964

 

(January 2015/1)

 

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At the Hop was also featured in the nostalgic 1973 hit movie American Graffiti, an early film among the credits for both George Lucas (director) and Francis Ford Coppola (producer). Unlike the other rock and roll hits featured in the film (which were by the original artists and were found only in the soundtrack), three songs were performed in the film by another rock and roll revival band, Flash Cadillac & the Continental Kids. “At the Hop, “Louie Louie and an original composition by the band called “She’s So Fine” were performed “live” by Flash Cadillac & the Continental Kids (under the name of Herbie and the Heartbeats) in the dance party sequence in the film.  “Louie Louie did not appear on the double-LP soundtrack album, 41 Original Hits from the Soundtrack of American Graffiti, though “At the Hop and “She’s So Fine did.
 
Flash Cadillac & the Continental Kids (now known as Flash Cadillac) are still around, having released five albums; three singles by the group made the Billboard Hot 100.
 
(August 2015)
Last edited: March 22, 2021