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THE COLOR PINK: Remember the Psychedelic Furs...

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THE COLOR PINK: Remember the Psychedelic Furs song, “Pretty in Pink,” which somehow escaped being a hit several years ago? It may have a second chance, thanks to “Pretty in Pink,” a new movie written and executive-produced by John Hughes that takes its name from the song. The movie will be released on Valentine’s Day.

The film’s sound track, due out in early February on A&M; Records, offers a veritable Who’s Who of young English artists, including new songs from the Smiths, OMD, New Order and Belouis Some, as well as “Bring on the Dancing Horses,” an Echo & the Bunnymen track only available on the group’s hits collection and a re-recorded version of the Furs tune. (The record also offers a new Suzanne Vega song, “Left of Center,” an INXS track, “Do Whot You Do” and a Jesse Johnson tune, “Get To Know Ya.”)

In a classic example of the headaches that accompany the release of an ambitious sound-track project, the label’s biggest dilemma is deciding which song to release as the debut single. According to David Anderle, A&M;’s director of film music, the label is particularly enthusiastic about the OMD track, “If You Leave.” Unfortunately, the group already has a new single on the charts (“Secret”) and the label is concerned about having the two songs compete with each other for radio attention.

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“I think what we’d really like is to have different songs out which would appeal to different radio formats,” Anderle said. With that in mind, A&M; is working with several rival labels, who have the singles rights to other songs on the sound track. While A&M; ponders the release of one of its own singles, Anderle said Warner Bros. Records may release the Echo & the Bunnymen song as a single, while CBS Records is considering re-releasing the Psychedelic Furs title track as a single as well.

“The great thing about this sound track is that it really sounds like a legitimate album, not a compilation,” Anderle said. “It holds together so well that you almost get the feeling that it could be all songs by one band, just with a lot of different lead singers.”

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