Great Soundtracks of 1982: Fast Times at Ridgemont High

Before I get started, let me be perfectly blunt here. I thought the movie "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" sucked. Not as much as my friend though because while I was willing to endure it to the end, he couldn't take it and suggested we leave. I didn't debate it. I know that it has been preserved on account of its apparent tackling of teen issues at the time. That may have been true but they could have made a better film to deliver the message. The only positive I found about the film was the stoner character played by Sean Penn, he was quite amusing.

[caption id="attachment_2739" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Sean Penn in the film[/caption]

Fortunately, a sucky film doesn't mean that the soundtrack is going to be as bad. Any soundtrack that has such artists as Billy Squier, Don Felder, Don Henley, Joe Walsh and Sammy Hagar has to be good. My hypothesis is that when deciding what songs to use on the soundtrack, someone suggested just how kick ass the soundtrack to "Heavy Metal" was so they brought in some of the same artists on "Fast Times." Again, Sammy Hagar does the title cut and it's good although I wouldn't put it at the same level as the other film I mentioned here. It's the same with Felder's track. It's good but it doesn't measure up to "Heavy Metal Takin' a Ride." Then again, that is a very tough song to measure up to. On the other hand, I do prefer the offering from Stevie Nicks on this soundtrack and I really liked her song on "Heavy Metal." Plus there are good contributions from the likes of Joe Walsh, Don Henley and Billy Squier as well.

[caption id="attachment_2462" align="aligncenter" width="164"] Billy Squier[/caption][caption id="attachment_1954" align="aligncenter" width="228"] Sammy Hagar[/caption][caption id="attachment_2252" align="aligncenter" width="203"] Stevie Nicks[/caption]

Another comparison with "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" and "Heavy Metal" is the fact that there are some good songs from unknown artists. The Rayvins "Raised on Radio" is a very pleasing hard rock track and it's made me curious to hear what else they might have to offer. The same can be said for the songs by Graham Nash and Gerrard McMahon. Both deliver some decent rock here. However, they're not the only ones. Jimmy Buffet and Poco both known more for their country rock sound go down a definite rockier route with the songs on this soundtrack. But the biggest surprise is from Donna Summer! The proclaimed Queen of Disco from the late 70s sings a blinder of a rock song on the soundtrack and all I can say is, "I'm impressed."

Track Listing:

1. Jackson Browne- Somebody's Baby

2. Joe Walsh- Waffle Stomp

3. Don Henley- Love Rules

4. Louise Goffin- Uptown Boys

5. Timothy B Schmit- So Much in Love

6. The Rayvins- Raised on Radio

7. Gerard McMahon- The Look In Your Eyes

8. The Go Go's- Speeding

9. Don't be Lonely- Quarterflash

10. Don Felder- Never Surrender

11. Billy Squier- Fast Times (The Best Years of Our Lives)

12. Sammy Hagar- Fast Times at Ridgemont High

13. Jimmy Buffet- I Don't Know (Spicoli's Theme)

14. Graham Nash- Love is the Reason

15. Poco- I'll Leave it Up to You

16. Donna Summer- Highway Runner

17. Steve Nicks- Sleeping Angel

18. Palmer/Joist- She's My Baby (And She's Out of Control)

19. Oingo Boingo- Goodbye Goodbye

What can't be faulted is that there is a great collection of songs here by some of the best artists who were around at the time. Many of whom are still going. What they did was come together to make a really cool soundtrack which leaves me thinking, "Shame about the movie."

Next post: Joan Jett and the Blackhearts- I Love Rock and Roll


To buy Rock and Roll Children, email me at: tobychainsaw@hotmail.com

Great Soundtracks of 1982: The Wall

For the life of me, I can't remember much about this film. I did see it once many years ago but I had to read the synopsis on Wikapedia to remind myself what it was about. The reason for my lapsed memory on this occasion is the fact that like so many who watched the film at the time, I became like one of the songs suggests, "Comfortably Numb." I can't even remember if I liked it or not but nevertheless, the one thing no one can fault is that the soundtrack to it kicks ass.

What is really cool about the soundtrack is that Roger Waters doesn't take the easy road here and just chuck in tracks from the album of the same name. It must have been very tempting to do that. There are some new songs introduced and many of the songs from the album had changes made to them with varying results in my view. A negative one and it is very minor is from the track "Goodbye Blue Sky." They omit the child at the very beginning saying, "Look mummy, there's an airplane in the sky." While it's a good song, that bit was always my favourite part of the song. "Mother" was remixed almost completely and I couldn't hear the acoustic guitar along with the lyrics although I'll admit that I have always loved the lyrics to the song and at least they left the guitar solo alone and that makes the song.

However, the most noticeable change for  me is with "Another Brick in the Wall Part 2." The teacher saying those amusing lines: "If you don't eat your meat how can you have any pudding?" comes in during the children's singing and is broken up. The following line of "How can you have any pudding if you don't eat your meat?" follows on a few lines later. Strangely, I find that this doesn't effect my appreciation for the song at all. Other changes include vocal contributions from Bob Geldolf who played the lead role in the film and the inclusion of a brass band in the final song. None of these change the song for me as I can appreciate that Pink Floyd are talented enough to pull anything like this off. The two new songs, "When the Tigers Broke Free 1" and "When the Tigers Broke Free 2" are decent enough to be included in the soundtrack. Actually they make little impact on the quality of this great soundtrack.

[caption id="attachment_2735" align="aligncenter" width="270"] A scene from The Wall[/caption]

Track Listing:

1. When The Tigers Broke Free 1

2. In the Flesh

3. The Thin Ice

4. Another Brick in the Wall Part 1

5. When the Tigers Broke Free 2

6. Goodbye Blue Sky

7. The Happiest Days of Our Lives

8. Another Brick in the Wall Part 2

9. Mother

10. What Shall We Do Now

11. Young Lust

12. One of My Turns

13. Don't Leave Me Now

14. Another Brick in the Wall Part 3

15. Goodbye Cruel World

16. Is There Anybody Out There

17. Nobody Home

18. Vera

19. Bring the Boys Back Home

20. Comfortably Numb

21. In the Flesh

22. Run Like Hell

23. Waiting for the Worms

24. 5:11 AM (The Moment of Clarity)

25. Stop

26. The Trial

27. Outside the Wall

I have heard this film rubbished by some people although I can't see what they were expecting to find when they went to view it. Maybe they weren't comfortably numb. Whether or not you like the film, you can't fault the soundtrack, it is simply classic Pink Floyd doing what they did best.

Next post: Fast Times at Ridgemont High

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Great Rock Hit Wonders of 1982 and Other Significant Songs

My limited exposure to commercial radio during 1982 could be considered either a blessing or a curse depending on how you look at it. While I didn't think commercial radio totally sucked back then, there were some things played on it that I wasn't totally impressed with. Sorry but "Tainted Love" only met with a lukewarm response from me and that was only because there was a dancer at the Driftwood who could work the song to her advantage. I suppose the best way to examine this is by looking at the one hit wonders from that year.

As soon as I returned to the US in June after my second and final deployment to the Mediterranean, I was aware that all the bars were playing "Jenny- 8675309" by Tommy Tutone on their jukeboxes. I can't say that I really rocked out to the song but the melody was very catchy and when the title was sung, it stuck in your mind. The melody is going through my mind right now. I once heard a live version of this song and it did sound a bit harder rock and if Tommy had recorded the song that way, I would have liked it even more.

[caption id="attachment_1759" align="aligncenter" width="243"] The Pretenders[/caption]

All right already, I know that The Pretenders were not one hit wonders nor did they release an album in 1982. However, they did release one song and it was a killer one. "Back on the Chain Gang" is most definitely my all time favourite Pretenders song. This is the song where lead guitarist James Honeyman Scott really shines. He just riffs through the entire song and of course I won't take anything away from Chrissie. Her vocals are as good as ever on this one. Maybe with a great song like this one, The Pretenders believed they didn't need to make an entire album. Who's to know?

[caption id="attachment_2730" align="aligncenter" width="275"] The McKenzie Brothers[/caption]

Okay, it's not really a rock song, more of a comedy parody. But the single "Take Off" by the Canadian Comedy duo Bob and Doug McKenzie did break the top 40 in the US and I believe it went to number one in Canada! Maybe one of my Canadian followers can verify that for me. That fact alone qualifies them as one hit wonders in my reckoning although their version of "The Twelve Days of Christmas" is fourth favourite Christmas song. Another reason this qualifies as a rock song is the fact that none other than Geddy Lee sings the backing vocals on "Take Off." That makes the single that much better. Saying that, the McKenzie Brothers do have me on the floor with laughter when I hear it, so take off you hoser!

[caption id="attachment_2731" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Hank Williams Jr[/caption]

Having spent the better part of four years in North Carolina, I could not help developing a little appreciation for country music. When asked who are my favourite country artists I answer that one is David Allen Coe and the other is Hank Williams Jr. While, I like a lot of Hank's material the song I like best came out in 1982. "A Country Boy Can Survive" is just brilliant! From the lyrics all the way to the small but noticeable hard rock vibe to it. In fact, Kid Rock puts his own metal spin on it but I still prefer the original.

There you have, four great singles from 1982, two from one hit wonders, one from an established great band and a country song that thrills this metal head. So, maybe commercial radio didn't suck then.

Next post: The Soundtrack to The Wall
To buy Rock And Roll Children, email me at: tobychainsaw@hotmail.com

Great Rock Albums of 1982: Jefferson Starship- Winds of Change

No, I haven't fallen down a hole nor was I kidnapped by a raging gang of Boy George fans on account of my April Fool's joke. The reason why I haven't been around for the past few weeks was down to technical difficulties. Having a computer under warranty has distinct advantages but one disadvantage is that I had to wait nearly two weeks to have my new keyboard delivered. My stepson was kind enough to lend me his laptop from time to time so I was able to follow many of you whose blogs I get directly through email but he wouldn't let me download photos or give me enough time to write a post. But that's all over and I'm back! What no fanfare?

One very annoying misconception about hard rock and heavy metal is that every album from such an artist sounds the same. Yes, I scream "Bullshit!" when I hear this and the same was said back in 1982 when Jefferson Starship released their album "Winds of Change." To the uneducated, it sounded just like their previous albums "Freedom at Point Zero" and "Modern Times." I bet if they actually listened to all three albums, they would realise that they couldn't have been more wrong.

First of all, when I listen to this album, I am reminded why Jefferson Starship was my favourite band from 1977-84. "Winds of Change" contains everything I liked about the band back then and it adds a few surprises. What I like most about the album is that Craig Chaquico is given free reign on the guitar. Every song has a killer solo or guitar break and in many cases, both. If you ever wondered just how good a lead guitarist he is, then listen to "Winds of Change" because it shows him at his best.

Let's not take anything away from the rest of the band. Pete Sears still lays down some of his keyboard magic in songs like "Be My Lady" and "Can't Find Love" as well as working well with Paul Kantner and Aynsley Dunbar to provide a cool rhythm section. Mickey Thomas is at his vocal best and this was the album that marked Grace Slick's complete return to the band. Her vocals make one believe that she never left the band in the first place. She also leads the band with a small departure from the norm with the punk like "Out of Control." Every time I hear that song, I just want to start pogo dancing.

While there's not a bad track to be found on the album, the ones that stick out for me are the title track, the previously mentioned one, "Black Widow" where Grace makes the mating ritual of the black widow spider sound almost erotic and Paul Kantner makes his usual fine contribution with "I Came Back From the Jaws of the Dragon." The song starts out about Kantner's brain hemorrhage that might have killed him and his near miraculous recovery but in the Kantner style, goes political on Central America and crime and punishment. For the Jefferson Starship fan, there is everything to like on this album.

Track Listing:

1. Winds of Change

2. Keep on Dreamin'

3. Be My Lady

4. I Will Stay

5. Out of Control

6. Can't Find Love

7. Black Widow

8. I Came Back From the Jaws of the Dragon

9. Quit Wasting Time

[caption id="attachment_2074" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Jefferson Starship[/caption]

Mickey Thomas- vocals

Grace Slick- vocals

Craig Chaquico- lead guitar, backing vocals

Paul Kantner- rhythm guitar, vocals

Pete Sears- keyboards, piano, synthesizer and bass on all tracks except "Be My Lady"

David Freiberg- vocals, keyboards, bass on "Be My Lady"

Aynsely Dunbar- drums, percussion

*Note: While Aynsely Dunbar played on the recording of the album, he would leave before the tour and was replaced by Donny Baldwin

A few years down the line, Mickey Thomas would use the observation I made earlier to justify the Starship's later change in sound. But that story's for another day. "Winds of Change" showed that Jefferson Starship could rock with the best of them.

Next post: Great Rock One Hit Wonders of 1982

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