‘MOONLIGHTING’ ON THE TRAIL OF AN LP

David: Ya know, Maddie, I gotta think of something new to say to all these fans who keep complaining about our show being in reruns all the time. It’s so aggravating!

Maddie: Aggravating enough to sock a cop?

David: Hey, that’s a cheap shot.

Maddie: I’ll drink to that.

David: Listen, you’re getting me off the track here. What about this rerun nonsense?

Maddie: You’re saying we need to buy some time?

David: Obviously.

Maddie: So what about the ultimate rerun?

David: Which is ...

Maddie: A sound - track album. All the hits from our shows. You sing. I sing. Who needs writers?

That’s right. Move over, “Miami Vice.” Make room for the debut sound-track album from “Moonlighting.” In true Blue Moon Detective Agency fashion, the record will be out in early July, long before any new “Moonlighting” episodes hit the airwaves.

The record will feature a host of tunes, all of which appeared in original episodes of the critically lauded show. Highlights include “The Moonlighting Theme” by Al Jarreau (the first single), “Stormy Weather” by Billie Holiday, “Someone to Watch Over Me” by Linda Ronstadt and “This Old Heart of Mine” by the Isley Brothers. The show’s stars will also be represented--Cybill Shepherd with “Blue Moon” and “I Told Ya I Love Ya, Now Get Out,” Bruce Willis with his rendition of the Young Rascals’ “Good Lovin’.”

To make matters even more complicated, the album (co-produced by “Moonlighting” creator Glenn Caron and crack record producer Phil Ramone) will be released on MCA/Full Moon Records as a joint financial venture by MCA and Warner Bros. Records. (MCA will distribute the album here, Warners will handle it overseas.)

Why the unusual combination? “I think it was (Warners Records chief) Mo Ostin’s idea,” said MCA Records chairman Irving Azoff. “It’s strictly a 50-50 deal. We did ‘The Color of Money’ sound track together and that worked out well, so we thought we’d try it again.”

Could the “Moonlighting” sound track equal the unprecedented success of MCA’s “Miami Vice” sound track, which roared to the top of the charts at the end of 1985?

“Let’s just say that this is one of those superstar media events that we think will spawn a hit sound track,” Azoff replied. “ ‘Moonlighting’ has had such a phenomenal success that we think it has a large and loyal audience who’ll go to the stores and seek out the album.”

However, one key song will be missing from the album: Billy Joel’s “Big Man on Mulberry Street,” which appeared during an extraordinary Stanley Donen-directed music-video sequence that aired last November. Joel is signed to CBS Records, a label that rarely grants permission for its artists to appear on outside-label sound tracks.

“I’ve been told that CBS has a policy of not loaning out its artists to other label sound tracks anymore,” Azoff explained. “There were some crossed signals on this. We first requested permission to use the song through CBS’ business affairs department, who turned us down. Then we heard that CBS might let us have the track at Phil Ramone’s request (he produces Joel’s albums). But when we asked again for permission, they still said no.”

CBS refused to comment, though a CBS artist, George Michael, does have a song on MCA’s “Beverly Hills Cop II” sound track. Azoff also downplayed reports that CBS had refused to cooperate because of a running feud between Azoff and CBS Records chief Walter Yetnikoff. “Not so,” Azoff said. “It’s nothing personal between us. We just had dinner together the other night. CBS treats us the same way they do everyone else in the industry--they’re just difficult with everybody.”