"Live To Tell" & "Against All Odds"

Today you get a twofer. "Live To Tell" by Madonna & "Against All Odds" by Phil Collins are two records that I played to death as a kid. They are both from that era of the 80's where movie soundtracks had that big over-the-top ballad on the soundtrack. Both of these songs belie their failings of their film counterparts and went on to become #1 hits on the Billboard Chart and perennial radio favorites.

Both songs gave chills as a kid. "Live To Tell" always struck me with a certain resonance of emptiness. I think it is the sparse production and one Madonna's most understated vocals that make this song so haunting.

On the other hand "Against All Odds" was one the first melodies and piano parts I became obsessed with as a kid. The production is also quite striking in retrospect. The piano and vocals are pretty much left all alone in the mix... no real production tricks other than a little reverb. But the the drums have all kinds of effects all over them. They sound somewhat claustrophobic compared to everything else... almost at "odds",if you will. Plus the song is just damn sad and sometimes there is nothing for comforting than shared sadness.