Beverly Hills Cop (soundtrack)
Soundtrack to the 1984 action comedy film.
The *Beverly Hills Cop: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack* album arrived in December 1984 on MCA Records, with mastering by Greg Fulginiti. It gathers songs from the movie alongside other electronic-style tracks not heard in the film. Harold Faltermeyer’s instrumental “Axel F” became an international hit and has been covered many times since.
Billboard reviewed the soundtrack in its December 15, 1984 issue. It entered the US Billboard 200 at number 177 for the week ending January 12, 1985, and reached number one on June 22, 1985. At the 1986 Grammy Awards, it won Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media, with the award going to Marc Benno, Harold Faltermeyer, Keith Forsey, Micki Free, John Gilutin, David “Hawk” Wolinski, Howard Hewett, Bunny Hull, Howie Rice, Sharon Robinson, Danny Sembello, Sue Sheridan, Russell Powell, Richard Theisen, and Allee Willis.
Notably, the strip club robbery scene features “Nasty Girl” by Vanity 6, but that song does not appear on the soundtrack. Also omitted are Faltermeyer’s “Shoot Out” and “The Discovery,” which were later released as B-sides to singles.
The first pressing (catalog number MCA-5547) included “BHC (I Can’t Stop)” by Rick James. In December 1984, shortly after release, Motown Records sued Paramount Pictures in federal court, claiming the label never secured proper permission for the track and calling its use “record piracy.” The song was subsequently removed and replaced with Rockie Robbins’ “Emergency” on later pressings.
In 2016, La-La Land Records issued a limited-edition album of Harold Faltermeyer’s complete film score plus several songs. Originally planned as a two-disc set with the expanded *Beverly Hills Cop II* soundtrack, the label released them separately due to contractual obligations. A 35th Anniversary Limited Edition with the same tracks followed in 2019.
Quick Facts
- Artist
- Various artists
- Genre
- Pop rock · dance-pop · synth-pop · R&B
- Label
- MCA
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The soundtrack debuted on the US Billboard 200 the week ending January 12, 1985 at number 177 and hit number one on June 22, 1985. It won a Grammy Award for Best Album of Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or a Television Special in 1986, awarded jointly to Marc Benno, Harold Faltermeyer, Keith Forsey, and Micki Free.
A key song in the movie, "Nasty Girl" by Vanity 6, played during the strip club robbery scene, is not included in the soundtrack. Harold Faltermeyer's "Shoot Out" and "The Discovery" were also omitted from the original soundtrack album, but released as B-sides to the singles. The first pressing of the soundtrack album (MCA-5547) included the song "BHC (I Can't Stop)" by Rick James. However, in December 1984, shortly after the album's release, Motown Records filed a lawsuit in federal court against Paramount Pictures, alleging that Paramount never secured proper authorization or legal permission to use the song, calling its inclusion "record piracy". Following the dispute, the track was pulled from the album and replaced with Rockie Robbins' "Emergency" on future pressings.
Reader's Guide
The Beverly Hills Cop soundtrack is significant for its commercial success, reaching number one on the US Billboard 200, and for its Grammy win for Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media in 1986. The instrumental "Axel F" by Harold Faltermeyer became a worldwide hit and has been widely covered. The soundtrack also reflects a notable legal dispute: the first pressing included Rick James' "BHC (I Can't Stop)", but Motown Records sued Paramount Pictures for unauthorized use, leading to the track's removal and replacement with Rockie Robbins' "Emergency" on later pressings. In 2016 and 2019, La-La Land Records issued limited edition albums featuring the complete film score by Harold Faltermeyer and several songs used in the film.
Did You Know?
- The first pressing included Rick James' 'BHC (I Can't Stop)', which was later removed after a lawsuit by Motown Records.
- Key songs 'Nasty Girl' by Vanity 6, 'Shoot Out', and 'The Discovery' were omitted from the original soundtrack album.
- La-La Land Records issued limited edition score albums in 2016 and 2019.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who composed the Beverly Hills Cop soundtrack?
Harold Faltermeyer wrote the score, and his instrumental track "Axel F" became the album's signature hit. The record was issued by MCA Records in December 1984.
Did the Beverly Hills Cop soundtrack reach number one on the Billboard 200?
It first charted at number 177 in January 1985, then climbed all the way to the top spot by June 22, 1985.
Who mastered the Beverly Hills Cop soundtrack album?
Greg Fulginiti handled the mastering for the album before its December 1984 release on MCA Records.
Are all the tracks on the Beverly Hills Cop soundtrack actually in the movie?
Not entirely; the album also includes additional electronic-style songs that were never heard in the film itself.
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