Pretty in Pink: A Watershed Album

OK, let's rewind 20 years to when John Hughes movies were about the coolest thing going. Hot off the success of The Breakfast Club, Hughes launched the latest Molly Ringwald vehicle Pretty in Pink in the spring of 1986. I saw the film; it was pleasant enough (and I loved me some Miss Molly) but I don't remember much of it, honestly--although Jon Cryer and Annie Potts stole the show, kind of like the Jack and Karen of Pretty in Pink.

What did stick with me was the music. OMD's number-one hit "If You Leave" was only one of some really really good songs on the soundtrack. Just by listening to this album, I discovered the following artists who would go on to...well, change the way I felt about music. And how many albums have done that?

Here's a list of the artists I discovered just from listening to Pretty in Pink:

The Smiths
New Order
Suzanne Vega
Echo and the Bunnymen

Now I had heard the Psychedelic Furs (I'd only heard "The Ghost in You" at that point), but their title track really hooked me.

So if you're looking for a soundtrack to everything that was cool about 1986, I suggest you pick up this album (and the Pet Shop Boys' Please). That should school you in all you need to know about what was hip 20 years ago.