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29 Comments on “Roller Coaster by the Sea: Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers”
There are two versions surprisingly known as Roadrunner 1 and Roadrunner 2. Little Nicky Horne went bonkers and announced it as the best record ever made. I had a cassette in the car that played nothing but 1&2 for 90 minutes. There was no route 128, but I was hauling down the Kingston Bi Pass in the magnificent Triumph Herald 1961.
And Jonathan and I were rolling to this wonderful version
Hedley, how many Roadrunners did he write? I’m slightly confused. Neither 1 nor 2 is available over here, just Roadrunner “Thrice”. Whatever that is, it’s great. Are 1 and 2 even better?
Birgit, 1 and 2 were on a single, the blue cover above. Thrice was a very disappointing live version that didn’t do justice. Go back and look at some of the early Modern Lovers albums and you might find it.
Hope my friend in Bochum is listening to “random access memories”, rather super duper from Daft Punk
Birgit, both versions are on the 2003 expanded version of The Modern Lovers. That disc also includes Pablo Picasso, which Bowie covered on Reality. you will also recognize Jerry Harrison who went on to the Talking Heads.
Enough Iggy, tell me you are listening to the new Daft Punk
Hedley, Daft Punk??? Whenever I read “electronic music” I run away 😉 YouTube already blocked the new album, so I can’t reduce my prejudices right now.
MDH,
This was such a fun video to watch. It is of a Boston which doesn’t exist any more. We rode the old elevated expressway through Boston which was replaced by the Big Dig so you go under the city now. We went by Symphony Hall a few times in the South End. I recognized so much of Boston. That was great.
Kat, you opened a pandora s box by posting Jonathan….Here come the Martian Martians. Jonathan still tours, no Modern Lovers but worth rolling the Honda outta Dennis.
Someone must have read this post. Today a very early Richman tape popped up at BigO: http://bigozine2.com/roio/?p=1481
Just heard one song yet, audio quality is okay for such an old tape, but it’s too sunny over here now to stay indoors. I’ll listen later.
Love, love, love Santa Cruz. Haven’t been there in a while, but it was always hippie dippie to the max. Here’s a link to that roller coaster by the sea: http://beachboardwalk.com/giantdipper/
im6,
I love that old wooden roller coaster. No loops or crazy speeds, just the fun of an old coaster. That’s what I always remember from when I was a kid, and we went to Nantasket. Before that coaster was torn down,I rode it 5 or 6 times-I was in my 30’s or even maybe my 40’s then. It didn’t matter. I loved going down that first steep hill!
Seriously folks, its Jonathan Richman not Richmond …..im6 you should know better. Kat I put it down to Judy Collins influence. Right lets roll out the Jonathan’s Abominable Snowman in the Market
Its either the Snowman or we could drive Jon’s Dodge Vegomatic …It ain’t no Honda and doesn’t need new tires.
Hedley, thanks for the cool snowman! (Thanks, Youtube, this link surprisingly works.) Just what I need now, sunny hot 95 F over here and my attic room is like an abominable sauna.
June 17, 2013 at 10:56 am
https://www.box.com/s/0tnru849jm6hqtckcvfz
June 17, 2013 at 11:49 am
ROADRUNNER, ROADRUNNER
Going faster miles an hour
Gonna drive past the Stop & Shop
With the radio on
I’m in love with Massachusetts
And the neon when it’s cold outside
And the highway when it’s late at night
Got the radio on
I’m like the roadrunner
June 17, 2013 at 3:12 pm
MDH,
I did chuckle at the lyrics. Around here Stop and Shop is a shrine for most shoppers. He even mentions 128: Needham and the power lines.
I hadn’t ever heard this before-you do introduce me to interesting music.
June 17, 2013 at 1:17 pm
…or: Dum de dum de dumme dum deh, oh New England:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNh-IAXaB7I
Should be a local anthem?
June 17, 2013 at 3:26 pm
Birgit,
Maybe it has just a few lyrics, but I thought it was a fun song. I’m with you on the local anthem suggestion!
June 17, 2013 at 1:33 pm
There are two versions surprisingly known as Roadrunner 1 and Roadrunner 2. Little Nicky Horne went bonkers and announced it as the best record ever made. I had a cassette in the car that played nothing but 1&2 for 90 minutes. There was no route 128, but I was hauling down the Kingston Bi Pass in the magnificent Triumph Herald 1961.
And Jonathan and I were rolling to this wonderful version
June 17, 2013 at 3:27 pm
My Dear Hedley,
Thank you for the video. You know the most interesting musicians, ones I’ve never heard of before you.
June 17, 2013 at 5:31 pm
Kat the official video for Roadrunner 2 is below – radically different version but still tons of fun. I’ve got the am radio ON !
June 17, 2013 at 6:26 pm
Hedley, how many Roadrunners did he write? I’m slightly confused. Neither 1 nor 2 is available over here, just Roadrunner “Thrice”. Whatever that is, it’s great. Are 1 and 2 even better?
June 17, 2013 at 7:28 pm
Birgit, 1 and 2 were on a single, the blue cover above. Thrice was a very disappointing live version that didn’t do justice. Go back and look at some of the early Modern Lovers albums and you might find it.
Hope my friend in Bochum is listening to “random access memories”, rather super duper from Daft Punk
June 17, 2013 at 7:53 pm
Hedley, thanks, I’ll keep on searching. I better don’t tell you that I discovered Richman because Iggy covered his “Pablo Picasso”.
June 17, 2013 at 7:56 pm
Birgit, both versions are on the 2003 expanded version of The Modern Lovers. That disc also includes Pablo Picasso, which Bowie covered on Reality. you will also recognize Jerry Harrison who went on to the Talking Heads.
Enough Iggy, tell me you are listening to the new Daft Punk
June 17, 2013 at 8:10 pm
Hedley, Daft Punk??? Whenever I read “electronic music” I run away 😉 YouTube already blocked the new album, so I can’t reduce my prejudices right now.
June 17, 2013 at 8:12 pm
Birgit, it’s a wild range of styles, don’t think electronic. Huge reviews and sales…you have something to look forward to.
June 17, 2013 at 8:21 pm
Hedley, just found Daft Punk’s Lose Yourself To Dance. Torture!
June 17, 2013 at 6:16 pm
MDH,
This was such a fun video to watch. It is of a Boston which doesn’t exist any more. We rode the old elevated expressway through Boston which was replaced by the Big Dig so you go under the city now. We went by Symphony Hall a few times in the South End. I recognized so much of Boston. That was great.
June 17, 2013 at 7:59 pm
Kat, you opened a pandora s box by posting Jonathan….Here come the Martian Martians. Jonathan still tours, no Modern Lovers but worth rolling the Honda outta Dennis.
June 17, 2013 at 8:01 pm
MDH,
Little did I know that Jonathan would become such a point of discussion. I’m glad!
June 18, 2013 at 7:07 am
Someone must have read this post. Today a very early Richman tape popped up at BigO:
http://bigozine2.com/roio/?p=1481
Just heard one song yet, audio quality is okay for such an old tape, but it’s too sunny over here now to stay indoors. I’ll listen later.
June 18, 2013 at 9:40 am
Birgit,
That’s interesting that he’s popped up somewhere else. I think you’re right that this conversation may have prompted the posting.
June 17, 2013 at 10:48 pm
Love, love, love Santa Cruz. Haven’t been there in a while, but it was always hippie dippie to the max. Here’s a link to that roller coaster by the sea: http://beachboardwalk.com/giantdipper/
And then there’s the unofficial band from Santa Cruz, that you’ll notice sounds more than a little like Jonathan Richmond… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INnFvMgET1E&list=PLBBD1D4BC7D044ACD
June 18, 2013 at 9:48 am
im6,
I love that old wooden roller coaster. No loops or crazy speeds, just the fun of an old coaster. That’s what I always remember from when I was a kid, and we went to Nantasket. Before that coaster was torn down,I rode it 5 or 6 times-I was in my 30’s or even maybe my 40’s then. It didn’t matter. I loved going down that first steep hill!
June 18, 2013 at 12:11 pm
Seriously folks, its Jonathan Richman not Richmond …..im6 you should know better. Kat I put it down to Judy Collins influence. Right lets roll out the Jonathan’s Abominable Snowman in the Market
Its either the Snowman or we could drive Jon’s Dodge Vegomatic …It ain’t no Honda and doesn’t need new tires.
June 18, 2013 at 5:34 pm
MDH,
Correction made on his name. At least you didn’t put it down to Lennie’s influence!
June 18, 2013 at 6:58 pm
Katmah, Lennie, Joni, Judy, or the Stookenator, is there really a difference ?
June 18, 2013 at 8:40 pm
My Dear Hedley,
Never put Joni and Judy with Lennie with the Stookenator!!!
June 18, 2013 at 12:12 pm
June 18, 2013 at 12:38 pm
Hedley, thanks for the cool snowman! (Thanks, Youtube, this link surprisingly works.) Just what I need now, sunny hot 95 F over here and my attic room is like an abominable sauna.
June 18, 2013 at 2:18 pm
Birgit, lovely here and the FBI are digging up a field a mile from my house looking for Jimmy Hoffa.