Fame More Music from the Motion Picture is very much like a mix tape: it has songs from the film not released on the original soundtrack and intersperses them with snippets of dialog.  It’s a decent album, but slightly misleading in that there are really only eleven songs on it, not the twenty-one you would assume from a glance at the track listing.

There are two versions of “Fame,” one a hip-hop remix by Naturi Naughton that is over-produced and one a karaoke instrumental version that has some interesting percussion.  I much prefer Naughton’s acoustic “Hold Your Dream” where her pure and lovely voice is allowed to shine.  This version of the song more than makes up for the overly slick one that appeared on the first soundtrack.  Asher Book has another singer that deserves the spotlight.  He sounds terrific on “Gravity” with its beautiful piano and the radio mix of “Try,” and while I don’t love the song “Fly Me to the Moon,” it does highlight his smooth vocals.

The “I Want Candy” cover by Anna Maria Parez de Tagle is the most fun track on the disc with its infectious beat (there is terrific drum work on this CD) and “What a Mighty God We Serve” by the Pasadena Community College Gospel Choir is gorgeous though it seems oddly out of place.  You really can’t miss with “All that Jazz,” and Patrick Censoplano’s version is excellent.  My favorite song is James Grundler’s “Dust” with its simple melody, gorgeous piano, and hoarse, emotional vocals.  The karaoke instrumental version of “Out Here on My Own” is my least favorite track because it sounds like Muzak.  

The film clips didn’t add much for me, but I didn’t see the film, so those who did will probably appreciate them.  They do seem to lead well into the songs.  Overall, I like Fame More Music from the Motion Picture better than the original soundtrack.  Though there is less actual music, I think the overall quality is better, it flows better, and it’s simply a fun album to listen to.

Track Listing:
1. This year (dialog)—Debbie Allen
2. Fame (T Blade Hip-Hop Remix)--Naturi Naughton
3. Why Do You Keep Trying (Dialog)—Asher Book and Kay Panabaker
4. I Try (Radio Mix)—Asher Book
5. Boyz-N-the-Hood (Dialog)—Anna Maria Parez de Tagle & Paul Iocano
6. I Want Candy—Anna Maria Parez de Tagle
7. That’s Your Power (Dialog)—Charles S. Dutton
8. Hold Your Dream —Naturi Naughton
9. Drum Beat Dance (movie snippet)—Raney Shockne Feat. J.T. Horenstein & Kristy Flores
10. Fly Me to the Moon—Asher Book
11. I Have an Idea (Dialog)—Paul Iocano
12. What a Mighty God We Serve—Pasadena Community College Gospel Choir
13. Success Is Not (Dialog)—Kay Panabaker
14. Gravity—Asher Book
15. Habanera—Hailey Villaire
16. You Might Make a Wonderful Teacher (Dialog)—Bebe Neuwirth
17. Dust—James Grundler
18. Everything I Ever Hoped For (Dialog)—Paul Iocano
19. Fame (Karaoke Instrumental Version)--Fame
20. Out Here on My Own (Karaoke Instrumental Version)—Fame
21. All That Jazz—Patrick Censoplano