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Grand Theft Auto: Vice City OST

The seven-disc Vice City OST is a picture-perfect snapshot of the ‘80s.  You may have a Time-Life compilation or an extensive collection of re-released albums, but you probably won’t come across a disc set that so embodies the ‘80s.

Each disc is themed from one of Vice City’s radio stations and there’s something for every taste and mood.  Most of Radio Espantoso and V-Rock were totally new to me.  Only the very popular ones on V-Rock had I heard before ("I Wanna Rock" by Twisted Sister and "Bark at the Moon" by Ozzy Osbourne) and Espantoso was totally alien to me, but damned if I didn’t enjoy them!  The other five discs – Fever 105, Wildstyle Pirate Radio, Emotion 98.3 (hosted by Fernando), Flash FM – contain much more recognizable tunes (for me at any rate).

Every disc has a host that pipes in to introduce the album and offer comments midway through, followed by a one-sided argument with the recording crew at the end of each disc.  For Emotion 98.3, that Man of Love, Fernando turns in a good performance.  As an added bonus, there are a few commercials thrown in after the last music track – most hilarious and some sidesplitting.

Emotion 98.3 lists such classics as “Africa” by Toto and “(I Just) Died in Your Arms” by Cutting Crew.

Wave 103 features a few tunes I haven’t heard in years (and it surprises/frightens me that I still know the words) including Corey Hart’s “Sunglasses at Night”, Blondie’s “Atomic”, and Kim Wilde’s “Kids in America”.

If you’re looking for slower (and more suggestive) songs, tune into Fever 105, hosted by Oliver “Ladykiller” Biscuit.  The first track is Michael Jackson’s “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’” which really shows him at his prime – or at least shows him before he went completely nuts.  Other tunes include, “All Night Long” by Mary Jane Girls, “Behind the Groove” by Teena Marie, and “And the Beat Goes On” by Whispers.

My favorite track on Wildstyle Pirate Radio, has to be the opening track: Herbie Hancock’s “Rockit.”  If “Rockit” doesn't make you want to attempt break dancing (again) then nothing will.  Wildstyle also features artists such as Run DMC, Man Parrish, Cybotron, and Mantronix.

My most favorite disc has to be Flash FM, hosted by Toni, which features more Pop than anything.  Such popular tunes as “Owner of a Lonely Heart” by Yes, “Run to You” by Bryan Adams, “Kiss the Dirt (Falling Down the Mountain)” by INXS, “Dance Hall Days” by Wang Chung, and a song I’ve not heard in a dog’s age, “Four Little Diamonds” by Electric Light Orchestra.

In terms of sound quality and value for your money – probably the deciding factor of any purchase – Vice City OST hits the high marks.  Whether in your car or pumping the tunes at home or work, the sound quality is very good – no pop, hiss, or skipping like those nasty vinyl record things.  Is it worth your money?  I’d say, yes.  At $50US for a CD collection of 84 songs and over 300 minutes of music, with the additional commercials (and secret codes for Vice City accessed through each disc) this isn’t just a good videogame-related purchase, it’s a good way to round out your CD collection and remember the ‘80s.

- Omni

(December 11, 2002)