[A new entry in an occasional series in which I confess a few of my past pop-culture sins.]

The other day, I pulled out a few selections from my collection of 12-inch singles from the ’80s. One of the songs given a spin on the turntable was “Body Rock” by Maria Vidal.

Boy, did I love “Body Rock” when it came out in the fall of 1984. I bought the 45, complete with picture sleeve, during one of my many Musicland binges. A good decade or so later, I picked up the 12-inch single, recalling how much I’d liked the song.

But clearly I hadn’t heard “Body Rock” in those intervening years, because any sane person would have reconsidered the purchase. Listening to it now, “Body Rock” sounds every bit the soundtrack song it was, a lightweight theme to a forgettable breakdancing film of the same name. When the needle hit the groove, I was almost instantly embarrassed for my stereo speakers (not to mention my 11-year-old self).

Do you know which actor got top billing in Body Rock? This masterpiece from the streets starred none other than that infamous B-boy, Lorenzo Lamas. Yep. Lorenzo. Lamas. His performance as Chilly D nabbed him a Razzie Award nomination. “It’s a live ride,” yo:

“Body Rock” wormed its way to #48 on the Billboard Hot 100, spending two weeks there in October 1984. The track fared better on the dance chart, where the remixes reached #8.

Five years later, Vidal was involved in two songs much more deserving of my money and attention. She sang backup on The Smithereens’ “A Girl LIke You,” a #2 rock hit in 1989, and co-wrote one of my favorite Belinda Carlisle tunes, “Summer Rain” (produced by Vidal’s husband, Rick Nowels). In 2008, Vidal revisited her theme song days, writing and recording “Green” for the International Festival at the American School in London.

If you must, you can easily relive the cinematic classic that is Body Rock on DVD, but “Body Rock” (the song) is a bit tougher to find. To turn the beat electric again, you’ll have to turn to import compilations like the massive More Complete Eighties, available via Amazon.