It’s hard to believe that the legendary ‘Dirty Dancing’ could have hit screens without its iconic songs on the soundtrack. When the movie was in its early stages, finding vocalists was a monumental challenge. Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey were then mere whispers in Hollywood; the film studio was fresh on the scene, and the budget strings were tightly knotted.
Despite these hurdles, executive producer Jimmy Ienner and music supervisor Michael Lloyd were determined to make the music happen. Their perseverance paid off magnificently. ‘Dirty Dancing’ twirled its way into the hearts of millions, earning more than $200 million at the box office. The soundtrack, against all odds, became a phenomenon unto itself. A staggering 11 million copies were sold, dominating the number-one spot on the Billboard album chart for an impressive four months. Nowadays, those figures seem like a fantasy, but ‘Dirty Dancing’ proved that with the right moves, anything is possible.
The soundtrack of ‘Dirty Dancing’ stands out as much as the movie itself. It’s a simple yet irresistible mix of songs. You’ve got some golden oldies from the 1960s that everyone loves, a sprinkle of lively Latin tunes, and a few new songs from familiar voices like Bill Medley, Eric Carmen, and Tom Johnston from the Doobie Brothers. This blend of tracks is like flipping through a record collection that has a little bit of everything. It feels comfortable and exciting at the same time, and it’s easy to see why people have kept listening to it all these years.
The Ultimate Guide to the ‘Dirty Dancing’ Soundtrack: Hits & Legacy
- “(I’ve Had) The Time Of My Life” by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes
- “Be My Baby” by The Ronettes
- “She’s Like The Wind” by Patrick Swayze
- “Hungry Eyes” by Eric Carmen
- “Stay” by Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs
- “Yes” by Merry Clayton
- “You Don’t Own Me” by The Blow Monkeys
- “Hey! Baby” by Bruce Channel
- “Overload” by Alfie Zappacosta
- “Love Is Strange” by Mickey & Sylvia
- “Where Are You Tonight” by Tom Johnston
- “In The Still Of The Night” by The Five Satins
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Here’s every song added to the 20th Anniversary Edition of the Dirty Dancing soundtrack, in order:
- “Big Girls Don’t Cry” by The Four Seasons
- “Do You Love Me” by The Contours
- “Love Man” by Otis Redding
- “Wipe Out” by The Surfaris
- “Some Kind Of Wonderful” by The Drifters
- “These Arms Of Mine” by Otis Redding
- “Cry To Me” by Solomon Burke
- “Will You Love Me Tomorrow” by The Shirelles
Where To Listen To The Dirty Dancing Soundtrack
You can listen to both the original soundtrack and the Anniversary Edition on popular streaming services like Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube Music.
