THUNDER ROAD: When it comes to hard...

THUNDER ROAD: When it comes to hard schlock (whoops--of course we meant rock ), the soundtrack champ of the summer figures to be “Days of Thunder,” due June 26 from DGC Records. Anchored by David Coverdale’s “Last Note of Freedom,” which serves as the film’s theme, the soundtrack boasts 11 new rugged-but-trim songs, including “Break Through the Barrier” by Tina Turner, a newly recorded version of “Knocking on Heaven’s Door” by Guns ‘N Roses, “You Gotta Love Someone” by Elton John, “Trail of Broken Tears” by Cher (written and produced by her pop paramour Richie Sambora) and “Long Live the Night” by Joan Jett, as well as new tunes by Chicago, Maria McKee and John Waite. . . . And “Air America,” the Mel Gibson film about the CIA’s secret early-’70s war in Laos (and long shot summer box-office contender), will finally surface Aug. 10, accompanied by a period-pop soundtrack from MCA Records that could be a treat for out-of-the-closet ‘70s rock fanciers. The album’s tentative lineup includes Aerosmith, who beats Oliver Stone to the punch by doing the Doors’ “Love Me Two Times,” B.B. King and Bonnie Raitt doing Dr. John’s “Right Place Wrong Time” and Charlie Sexton doing the Hollies’ “Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress.”