Yep. Here's our latest attempt to list all the songs ever associated, in one way or another, with WCCW. It's been expanded to include some songs we previously overlooked, as well as the album on which each cut first appeared and the year of its release, with a tip of the hat to the All Music Guide for much of this info. ("Hit version" means there are multiple studio recordings of the tune by the same artist, and that the album listed contains the version that charted and was used in WCCW). Unfortunately, the list still isn't complete and probably never will be; we have no idea where you can obtain a copy of the entrance music used by Kamala (apparently a field recording consisting mostly of African percussion), nor have we been able to identify all the tunes used as bumpers -- the music played just before a commercial break -- on Championship Sports. And before anyone asks, the only way to get a high quality copy of the syndicated show's "kettle drum" theme is by purchasing the Heroes of World Class DVD set (if you're looking to create an audio file for your iPod, you're on your own).
If we've still managed to miss a well-known tune from the era (getting less likely all the time, but still possible!), by all means, shoot us an email and let us know about it.
If we've still managed to miss a well-known tune from the era (getting less likely all the time, but still possible!), by all means, shoot us an email and let us know about it.
TITLE/ARTIST
| USED BY/FOR |
ALBUM/YEAR
|
| Another One Bites the Dust Queen | Junkyard Dog | The Game, 1980 |
| Also Sprach Zarathustra Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra | Ric Flair | 2001: A Space Odyssey (original soundtrack), 1968 |
| Bad Michael Jackson | Iceman King Parsons [heel] | Bad, 1987 |
| Bad to the Bone George Thorogood and the Destroyers | The Dynamic Duo [entrance & music video] | Bad to the Bone, 1982 |
| Badstreet USA Michael Hayes and the Badstreet Band | The Fabulous Freebirds [entrance & music video] | Off the Streets, 1988 |
| Beat It Michael Jackson | Chris Adams [babyface], Iceman King Parsons [babyface] | Thriller, 1982 |
| Body to Body Miami Sound Machine | Kerry Von Erich [music video] | Primitive Love, 1985 |
| Born to Be Wild Steppenwolf | Wild Bill Irwin, Dingo Warrior | Steppenwolf, 1968 |
| Call Me Blondie | Kerry Von Erich | American Gigolo (original soundtrack), 1980 |
| Can't Stop Rockin' ZZ Top | Highlight video [1986] | Afterburner, 1985 |
| Celebration Kool and the Gang | Iceman King Parsons [babyface], Championship Sports commercial bumper | Celebrate!, 1980 |
| Chase Giorgio Moroder | The Midnight Express | Midnight Express (original soundtrack), 1978 |
| Don't Worry, Be Happy Bobby McFerrin | Samoan Swat Team | Don't Worry, Be Happy, 1988 |
| Eye of the Tiger Survivor | Kerry Von Erich [music video], Chris Adams [babyface], Eric Embry [babyface] | Eye of the Tiger, 1982 |
| Fire and Ice Pat Benatar | David Von Erich | Precious Time, 1981 |
| Forty Hour Week (For a Livin') Alabama | Spike Huber | 40 Hour Week, 1985 |
| Free Bird Lynyrd Skynyrd | The Fabulous Freebirds | Pronounced Leh-nerd Skin-nerd, 1973 |
| Georgia on My Mind Willie Nelson | The Fabulous Freebirds | Stardust, 1978 |
| Heaven Needed a Champion Glen Goza | David Von Erich [tribute video]; also performed live at various shows | 45 RPM single, 1984 |
| Here I Go Again Whitesnake | Al Perez | Whitesnake, 1987 [hit version] |
| Holding Out for a Hero Bonnie Tyler | Dingo Warrior | Footloose (original soundtrack), 1984 |
| Hurts So Good John Mellencamp | Lance Von Erich | American Fool, 1982 |
| I Am Woman Helen Reddy | Sunshine [7/4/85] | I Am Woman, 1971 [hit version] |
| I Love Rock 'n' Roll Joan Jett and the Blackhearts | The Fabulous Freebirds | I Love Rock 'n' Roll, 1981 |
| I Won't Back Down Tom Petty | Chris Adams [babyface] | Full Moon Fever, 1989 |
| I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide ZZ Top | Bruiser Brody [music video] | Deguello, 1979 |
| I'm the One Mama Warned You About Mickey Gilley | Scott Casey | Too Good to Stop Now, 1984 |
| It's Summertime (Throbbing Orange Pallbearers) The Flaming Lips | Heroes of World Class [original single-disc version only] | Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, 2002 |
| Jump Van Halen | Kevin Von Erich [music video] | 1984, 1984 |
| La Grange ZZ Top | David Von Erich | Tres Hombres, 1973 |
| Life by the Drop Stevie Ray Vaughan | Heroes of World Class | The Sky Is Crying, 1991 |
| Living in America James Brown | Tony Atlas | Rocky IV (original soundtrack), 1985 |
| Long Haired Country Boy Charlie Daniels Band | Jimmy Jack Funk | Fire on the Mountain, 1975 |
| Lovergirl Teena Marie | Championship Sports commercial bumper | Starchild, 1984 |
| Lovin' Every Minute of It Loverboy | Rock & Roll RPM's | Lovin' Every Minute of It, 1985 |
| Mamas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys Waylon Jennings & Willie Nelson | Kevin and Kerry Von Erich [as the "Cosmic Cowboys", 12/25/85] | Waylon & Willie, 1978 |
| Metal Health (a.k.a. Bang Your Head) Quiet Riot | The Missing Link [entrance & music video] | Metal Health, 1983 |
| Miami Vice Theme Jan Hammer | Samoan Swat Team | Miami Vice (original TV soundtrack), 1985 |
| My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys Willie Nelson | David Von Erich [vignette] | Blue Skies, 1981 |
| Na Na Hey Hey (Kiss Him Goodbye) Steam | Played after Kerry Von Erich defeated Michael Hayes in loser-leaves-Texas cage match, 11/24/83 | Steam, 1970 (reissued as Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye, 2003) |
| Old Time Rock & Roll Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band | Buck Zumhofe | Stranger in Town, 1978 |
| P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing) Michael Jackson | PYT Express (Koko Ware/Norvell Austin) | Thriller, 1982 |
| Rasslin' Glen Goza | Performed live at various shows | 45 RPM single (???), 1984 |
| Run for the Roses Dan Fogelberg | Kerry Von Erich [music video] | The Innocent Age, 1981 |
| Runnin' with the Devil Van Halen | Jeep Swenson | Van Halen, 1978 |
| Sharp Dressed Man ZZ Top | Jimmy Garvin, Fantastics | Eliminator, 1983 |
| She Works Hard for the Money Donna Summer | Sunshine [music video] | She Works Hard for the Money, 1983 |
| Shout Tears for Fears | Highlight video [1985] | Songs from the Big Chair, 1985 |
| Smooth Operator Sade | Rick Rude | Diamond Life, 1984 |
| Star Wars (Main Title Theme) London Symphony Orchestra conducted by John Williams | Opening fanfare for WCCW Star Wars shows | Star Wars (original soundtrack), 1977 |
| Still of the Night Whitesnake | John Tatum & Jack Victory | Whitesnake, 1987 |
| Stranglehold Ted Nugent | Kevin Von Erich | Ted Nugent, 1975 |
| Street Player Chicago | Championship Sports opening and closing theme [1983-86] | Chicago 13, 1979 |
| Tarzan Boy Baltimora | Steve Simpson | Living in the Background, 1985 |
| Texas (When I Die) Tanya Tucker | David Von Erich, Kerry Von Erich [5/6/84] | T.N.T., 1978 [hit version] |
| Tom Sawyer Rush | Kerry Von Erich | Moving Pictures, 1981 |
| Tuff Enuff The Fabulous Thunderbirds | Lance Von Erich | Tuff Enuff, 1986 |
| Two of Us The Beatles | Terry Gordy & Shaun Simpson [as babyface team, 1988] [music video] | Let It Be, 1970 |
| Turn Me Loose Loverboy | Eric Embry [babyface] | Loverboy, 1980 |
| Von Erich Victory Touch Control | The Von Erichs [used briefly in 1985] | Unknown, 1985 |
| Walking on Sunshine Katrina and the Waves | Jim Cornette [7/4/85] | Walking on Sunshine, 1983 |
| We Are Family Sister Sledge | Iceman King Parsons [babyface] | We Are Family, 1979 |
| We Are the Champions Queen | The Dynamic Duo | News of the World, 1977 |
| We Will Rock You Queen | Eric Embry (babyface) | News of the World, 1977 |
| What You Need INXS | Championship Sports commercial bumper | Listen Like Thieves, 1985 |
| You Might Think The Cars | Highlight video [1984] | Heartbeat City, 1984 |
Why is the entrance music for WCCW wrestlers being deleted from footage released by WWE on DVD and shown on WWE 24/7?
We realize this practice is upsetting to many World Class fans who want to relive the original viewing experience, and frankly, we aren't wild about it either. However, the deletion of entrance songs (with the sole exception of Michael Hayes' "Badstreet USA") is the unfortunate reality, as it's far less expensive for WWE to create their own music in-house, or simply not include the wrestlers' entrances, than to pay today's soaring music licensing fees. Fox Video's 2007 release of the popular late-70s sitcom WKRP in Cincinnati's first season provides a good illustration of the problem that companies releasing music-heavy DVDs are faced with. Because the DJ characters were seen playing the hits of the day in literally every episode, virtually all of the music used in the series had to be replaced for home video. As one blog commenter noted in a discussion of the set:
The average rights to license a song for DVD release by a major rock band (Foreigner, Fleetwood Mac) is upwards of $10,000 per song. [emphasis added] With the amount of songs that WKRP has, that is impossible. At $30 a set, they would never make it back (as only about $7 from each set is seen by the studios).
Our advice? Just enjoy the matches -- that's what you watched WCCW for in the first place, wasn't it?
Was WCCW the first promotion to use music for its wrestlers' entrances?
Strictly speaking, no. The use of entrance music in modern pro wrestling goes all the way back to the original Gorgeous George, who would toss his famed "Georgie pins" into the crowd to the tune of Sir Edward Elgar's "Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1". (WCM readers will also recall this melody from Randy "Macho Man" Savage's '80s and '90s ring entrances, as well as an occasion where many undoubtedly "walked that aisle" themselves: their graduation ceremony.) Later pioneers of this included Lonnie "Moondog" Mayne (who, as a babyface in D/FW during the mid-'70s, entered the ring to "The Ballad of Moondog Mayne"), the Fabulous Freebirds (who began using Lynyrd Skynyrd's classic rock anthem of the same name in Southern promotions in the late '70s) and Leroy Brown (Jim Croce's "Bad Bad Leroy Brown", of all things).
The use of popular songs for nearly every top wrestler's ring entrance, however, was indeed a World Class innovation. This approach was quickly copied by other 1980s promotions and was eventually taken to its logical extreme by WWE, where even midcard workers can now be seen entering to pounding, adrenaline-pumping music and dazzling TitanTron videos. (Of course, actual hit songs have fallen by the wayside in favor of in-house compositions, due to licensing fees that have spiraled to ridiculous heights in recent years.) So if your kids get all excited every time one of Vince's guys makes his way to the ring, do 'em a favor and tell 'em about the promotion where this practice (more or less) began. :)
What can you tell me about Glen Goza, the singer-songwriter who wrote "Heaven Needed a Champion"?
- The late '50s novelty rocker "Goshamody Whatabody", credited to Glen Goza and the Damangos, which is available on a couple of compilations of rare rockabilly singles.
- Another single probably from the same period, "The Box"/"Incredible Shrinking Man", issued on the Wand label.
- "Awful Lot to Learn about Truck Drivin'", recorded by country singer Red Simpson in the late '60s.
- The 1975 single "Were It Not So"/"Oh Daddy Oh", issued on the Macho Music label.
- "Miles Keogh's Horse", recorded by the late Barry Sadler (formerly Staff Sergeant Barry Sadler, best known for his 1966 chart-topper "Ballad of the Green Berets") for his last album, a collection of patriotic tunes entitled Of Thee I Sing.
But "Heaven Needed a Champion", Goza's moving eulogy-in-song for David Von Erich, and "Rasslin'", his celebration of pro graps (and, specifically, WCCW) as the sport of the working class, are undoubtedly his best-known songs.
In addition, Goza also wrote "My Dad Can Whip Your Dad" for Chris Von Erich; the tune was released as a 45 RPM single around 1984-85 but, to the best of our recollection, was never promoted or even mentioned on any WCCW telecast; copies of the record can occasionally be found on eBay. (But you, esteemed World Class Memories readers, need not search the Web in vain for the original vinyl disc; just click on the video below.)
As confirmed by Dr. Jeff Cunningham at Wrestling Classics, Glen Goza died on May 7, 2000 in Gladewater, TX at the age of 63.
Where can I find the lyrics to "Heaven Needed a Champion"?
Right here. (No copyright infringement is intended; lyrics will be gladly removed upon request of the rights holder.)
HEAVEN NEEDED A CHAMPION
Music and lyrics by Glen Goza
You wore the family name with pride
Boldly you went forward
Did the things a lesser man might not have ever done
A tornado from the Texas plains
You came and changed our lives
And now you're gone
With the Lone Star State emblazoned
On your battle togs proclaiming you
A native son with strength and love and pride
You're the morning star that shined
For one brief moment in eternity
And all too soon God called you to his side
Chorus:
Heaven needed a champion
That's why he took you
Heaven needed a champion
But God knows we need you too
(repeat)
Spoken:
Now the arena is dark and empty
One single blazing spotlight shining on the ring
Like the eternal light they speak of
That they use to preserve a memory
That light someday will lose its brilliance
And these songs we sing will all be forgotten too
But even then the memory of David Von Erich
Will be fresh and sweet and ever new
(Repeat chorus)
