More, Wikipedia, - Critic Greil Marcus described it as "the most obvious song in the world, and the strangest".[1] Rolling Stone ranked it No. 269 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time in 2004 and No. 77 in 2021. It charted at no.11 on the UK chart in 1977.[2] Origins of the song edit As a teenager Richman saw the Velvet Underground perform many times, and the format of "Roadrunner" is derived directly from the Velvets' song "Sister Ray". "Roadrunner" mainly uses two chords (D and A, and only two brief uses of E) rather than "Sister Ray"'s three (which are G, F, and C), but they share the same persistent throbbing rhythm, and lyrics which in performance were largely improvised around a central theme. Richman wrote the song by 1970, when he began performing it in public, aged 19. Former bandmate John Felice recalled that as teenagers he and Richman "used to get in the car and just drive up and down Route 128 and the Turnpike. We'd come up over a hill and he’d see the radio towers, the beacons flashing, and he would get almost teary-eyed. He'd see all this beauty in things where other people just wouldn’t see it."[3]
I come back to listen to this every so often. It is wonderful. There are very few songs that have an effect on me the way this one does. It's hypnotic, repetitive but constantly changing. I love it. I'm now pondering whether to have it played at my funeral.
Brings back a lot of memories of my youth riding 128 listening to the AM radio in my cousin Donny s road runner or his brother 55 Chevy. Actually the RR belonged to my aunt who I'm convinced was the og little ole lady from Pasadena. She would roll up to you at a red light looking to race
I will NEVER forget the first time I heard this song - in my mates bedroom in a council house in Burton on Trent (England) It FILLED THE ROOM - AWESOME!!
@@strexusagreed. I like modern lovers but sister Ray and the Velvet Underground are just the best. VU is honestly under appreciated. Their influence is everywhere, they influenced Sonic Youth, most alternative bands, Nirvana, etc… meanwhile “musicians” like Taylor Swift Bieber, Bieber, Katy Perry have made millions. I know it’s not the same genre… but The VU never made as much money even though they can actually make music, and so creative, it saddens me really. But at least people like us know about them! Most people I have spoken to have no clue who they are.
this music video is like something out of a museum -- can't believe how much boston has changed since, but to see that someone captured the city in all of its former glory is a beautiful thing.
This song is a celebration of suburban development as seen through cruising to your favorite tunes. New innocence and excitement that doesn’t exist today!
You know your from Boston when you recognize almost all of those streets they drove around on. : ) Loved this song growing up along with WRKO then WBCN growing up in Dorchester!
I'm from California, and hell, I recognized a lot of those streets! My visit to Boston was one of the most memorable trips of my life so now it's probably my favorite city in America
Not all of it is Boston. Opening shot has a sign marking the exit ramp to I-91 South, which follows the Connecticut river and is nowhere near Boston. In fact, it looks like that shot has got to be in Connecticut! Where the 84 and 91 cross. Map of exit 54 on the 84: www.google.com/maps/place/I-84/@41.7665395,-72.6537664,17.58z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x89dd154b4d9fdcbb:0x9f09d539fcda2e1a!8m2!3d41.5478839!4d-73.7436049
@kelechi_77 I'm from Boston and worked at the Rat, knew Jonathan very well, he made 3 versions in "72" I was lucky enough to get a copy of the rock version, he had about 20 of them, the recording before the final release, I should have explained more I guess.
Awesome!, We used to cruise 128 in our 68 and 70 roadrunners jammin to this song , Menino was drooling at the dinner table thats why he never heard it, STATE SONG!! Hell YES!
Huge hit in the UK during the Punk explosion in the UK it peaked at No11 in July 77 on UK singles chart, the follow up single Egyptian Reggae was a bigger hit in the UK reaching No5, my brother had both 7” singles at the time, I preferred Roadrunner at the age of 6 and still do now! 👍🏻
I'm in love with Rt. 128 when the radio's on!!!!! LOVE THIS! Moved to Texas, 12 years now, still visit family i Massachusett!!!! Radio on! "i s! and Recognize all places, Farrelly Brothers have my friends, tatty. Mone and DR. G, DR. R in parts. love yall from misplaced Texans. 'Roadrunner, Roadrunner, going by the Stop and Shop'. RADIO ON '
Classic Tune! Thank God I was in my in my late teens living in Boston starting in 1979 when it was affordable and there was a thriving music scene then. WBCN played this song frequently as did the college stations!
I moved to Boston in January 1980 at 19 years old. I lived there for 5 years right by Fenway Pahk on Peterborough St. I had never heard this song before . This was the theme song of Boston , on the radio daily , complete with the "Stawp An' Shawp" . This tune IS Boston. I miss this tune and Boston.
Crazy to think all that John has done. Velvet underground, producing this, the first stooges album, the first Patti smith album, made the music to America Psycho etc
BoredinNewYork Seriously. Just discovered the song by accident myself. First of the song covered by Sex Pistols at the Brixton live show (the video I meant :P)
Have a family friend, who used to have a '68 Hemi/4spd Roadrunner, who used to tear up the South Shore (Rte 3 mostly), for top end/racing, who always listened to this while driving it. Thanks for the memories!
I saw these guys many times. One memorable show at Uncle Sam's, Nantasket Beach. Kids nowadays have no idea what they missed. Boston was on the cutting edge of rock in those days.Great memories!
Beginning of the film was taken in 1965 - at 0:23 you can see 6 Bowdoin Square (New England Telephone Building) with the JFK Building under construction behind it. It was completed and occupied in 1966.
What is the official rock song of Massachusetts? Roadrunner On February 13, 2013, then State Representative Marty Walsh introduced a bill to have "Roadrunner" named official rock song of Massachusetts.
Here thanks to Anthony bourdain ! RIP to somes great theacher of Thrill seeking and the joy,pleasure,adventure and openess towards of life . something that he left but didn't lack on teaching us on how to pursue with our own sensibility
One of the greatest rock songs of all time. I've seen all four members live, including Jonathan Richman solo at a TINY club. He did not play any ML songs, of course. When someone in the crowd shouted "Roadrunner" he just looked down and mumbled. "no, I don't think so". Not long after, Jerry Harrison rolled into town with a band that included Alex Weir and Bernie Worrel from the expanded Talking Heads live line-up ...and Ernie fucking Brooks. They DID play "Roadrunner" , and it was glorious!
"Bernie Worrell" doing the organ for Roadrunner sounds like a fucking trip. I presume he was using a moog? But Jonathan has always struck me as someone I probably wouldn't want to have a beer with. I feel like he's either incredibly deep and intelligent or the opposite, just dumb as rocks. And every time I read more about his bio, I lean towards the latter.
Growing up in Mass I was aware of the Modern Lovers, but I was always under the impression that the Modern Lovers were just Jonathan Richman's back up band. I was in my 50's before I Googled Modern Lovers and discovered they were not a simple garage band but a Supergroup containing future superstars Jerry Harrison of Talking Heads and David Robinson of the Cars.
Apparently during my time in Boston (late 70's, early 80's) Jonathan Richmond was playing as "Jonathan Richmond and the Modern Lovers" - a different entity from the early 70's "Modern Lovers" except that Jonathan was the frontman for both...
This track and band were WAY ahead of their time. This song could have come out yesterday by some garage band in Cambridge. Also, the film is great, lots of great Boston/Cambridge landmarks.
The Modern Lovers were an American rock band led by Jonathan Richman in the 1970s and 1980s. The original band existed from 1970 to 1974 but their recordings were not released until 1976 or later. It featured Richman and bassist Ernie Brooks with drummer David Robinson (later of The Cars) and keyboardist Jerry Harrison (later of Talking Heads). The sound of the band owed a great deal to the influence of the Velvet Underground, and is now sometimes classified as "proto-punk".
I might remark that a demo tape was obtained by WBCN and the song became familiar - tho not commercially available well ahead of 1976. But thanks for the outline and details.
@@thebrazilianatlantis165 Hmmm , Roadrunner's more like 60's garage rock, like the Nuggets ' collection which by coincidence (or _not_ ..) came out in the same year. In the beginning, that stuff was coined garage-punk
I was Jerry Harrison's next door neighbor in 1975, right after Jonathan fired him & the other Modern Lovers. He took me to the Garage in Harvard Square to buy my first electric guitar ('67 Telecaster, $265)
The 2008 song "Paper Planes" by M.I.A. pays homage to this song by including lyrics from Roadrunner. Then again, Paper Planes also uses a sample from "Straight to Hell" from the Clash. So the Modern Lovers are in good company.
I remember hearing this song for the first time while attending MIT engineering school in the 1970s..Although this song was about listening to a 50 kW AM (medium wave) radio station while driving alone at night, I heard it on WBCN FM.
modern lovers, stooges and velvet underground...three of the best bands ever. this kind of proto-punk sound of them is one of the things i most love in music. the simple structures, minimalistic drums and guitars, the different style of singing, the repetitiveness you feel through the songs. sure stooges is a little bit heavier, but i think we can put these bands together
marcelo This is that kind of song you can just close your eyes, sway side to side , and clap your hands in the air, just letting yourself go in tune to the beat :)
I've always said Jonathan Richman songs are very "Regional" songs that become "Universal". Yes, many people experience the thrill of driving down a highway - but it's us Bostonians/New Englanders that will pass a "Stop & Shop" ;)
This is the version form 76. This was being played on WBCN for a couple of years before at least, especially by Maxanne. The version they played mentioned passing the gas tank. THAT was the original as far as I'm concerned.
THIS is the song that should play at the end of every Boston sports franchise's home victory. Retire "Dirty Water" already. This is far more celebratory, more joyous, more Boston.
I had to get this mail order in '75 from Beserkeley Home of the Hits. It blew my mind. I knew Ernie Brooks. I drove everyone listening to this. It made absolute perfect sense.
The freedom of this song... When your young and running the roads you never wanted it to end...the sad part was you usually ended up where you started....
When I hear this songs it takes me to driving on 128 in 1960 and feeling the energy and the modern world. and all those tech start ups that changed the world.
I used to listen to this on WMMS back when it was THE premier rock station to listen to. Excellent! Kid Leo, Denny Sanders, Betty Corbin...ah, the good memories!
@@RandallFlaggNY ,Me Randall,i'm from the Charlestown section of Boston.Don't know about Massholes living there.A lot of criminals though.When i grew up there in the 50's & 60's the Chucktown Irish were at war with Whitey's South Boston Irish for control of the many illicit affairs.Me,got the heck out of there and joined the Navy.Good times had by all.Be good Randall.
I recognize a lot of those roads and the scenery, kind of reminding me of my youthful hopes and dreams. Talk about a divergent path! Although I did predict that in the future, everyone would have their own talk show.
Emilie's friend, Beth Harrington was a back=up singer with Ellie as the backup to the Modern Lovers. Beth has been trying for ages to convince the powers that be that they should make this MA's state song! Beth is a film maker now.
Remember listening to this on WBCN driving home on 128 from working at my family's restaurant on a hot summer night blasting it into the dark. Thanks for saving this!
![Sex Pistols - Road Runner (Bonus Track) [Live From Brixton Academy 2007] 17](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/9VGCDacCBxk/mqdefault.jpg)
More, Wikipedia, - Critic Greil Marcus described it as "the most obvious song in the world, and the strangest".[1] Rolling Stone ranked it No. 269 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time in 2004 and No. 77 in 2021. It charted at no.11 on the UK chart in 1977.[2]
Origins of the song
edit
As a teenager Richman saw the Velvet Underground perform many times, and the format of "Roadrunner" is derived directly from the Velvets' song "Sister Ray". "Roadrunner" mainly uses two chords (D and A, and only two brief uses of E) rather than "Sister Ray"'s three (which are G, F, and C), but they share the same persistent throbbing rhythm, and lyrics which in performance were largely improvised around a central theme.
Richman wrote the song by 1970, when he began performing it in public, aged 19. Former bandmate John Felice recalled that as teenagers he and Richman "used to get in the car and just drive up and down Route 128 and the Turnpike. We'd come up over a hill and he’d see the radio towers, the beacons flashing, and he would get almost teary-eyed. He'd see all this beauty in things where other people just wouldn’t see it."[3]
Thank you.
This video is amazing for anyone who grew up in or near Boston and actually drove these roads.
This video is amazing.
this is my dads favourite song and he passed away this sunday 23rd june - this song is the song he'd be if he was a song
Condolances to you and yours. Thinking of your Dad.
that’s a beautiful testament
Sorry to hear about your dad, it's one of my faves and takes me back to the summer of 76 when i was a kid, and it was re-released.
My condolences. May this song always bring a smile to your heart …
So sorry for your loss.
It's hard to describe how much happiness and good vibes this song gives me every time.
Its a mass thing. Kinda like hearing some old Stompers
The people in Boston are still trying to get home 45 years later.
Yeah, used to be the MTA back in the day. Now it’s Boston’s horrifically bad transit Service
Yes we are lol
Fahkkin lollll yes, stranded on the 495 bridge over the Merrimack
😂 😂 😂 so true, ya just can't go home.
I'd LOVE to be able to go home Boston!
I knew that this song was for me when my dad said "you can't even hear the words, it's just noise"
Back in the 70's!!!
I come back to listen to this every so often. It is wonderful. There are very few songs that have an effect on me the way this one does. It's hypnotic, repetitive but constantly changing. I love it. I'm now pondering whether to have it played at my funeral.
Definitely a good choice.
Brings back a lot of memories of my youth riding 128 listening to the AM radio in my cousin Donny s road runner or his brother 55 Chevy. Actually the RR belonged to my aunt who I'm convinced was the og little ole lady from Pasadena. She would roll up to you at a red light looking to race
Of course you will.
@@bibearfan I said I was pondering. I might go with Abide With Me instead.
Me too, exactly this. (Well, apart from the funeral)
I will NEVER forget the first time I heard this song - in my mates bedroom in a council house in Burton on Trent (England) It FILLED THE ROOM - AWESOME!!
Absolutely love this tune but my mates dont rate it. I get funny looks when i bang it on the jukebox.
I love the way it kicks right in.
Fuck all the haterz, blast the Modern Lovers at full ball brothers!
Yeah man
✌♥️🇬🇧
The Sex Pistols did a cover of it
I went to Trent Poly for a semester in the 70s...love the UK!
One of the greatest songs ever written 👍
It was done four years earlier by the Velvet Underground. 😉
@@strexusagreed. I like modern lovers but sister Ray and the Velvet Underground are just the best. VU is honestly under appreciated. Their influence is everywhere, they influenced Sonic Youth, most alternative bands, Nirvana, etc… meanwhile “musicians” like Taylor Swift Bieber, Bieber, Katy Perry have made millions. I know it’s not the same genre… but The VU never made as much money even though they can actually make music, and so creative, it saddens me really. But at least people like us know about them! Most people I have spoken to have no clue who they are.
this music video is like something out of a museum -- can't believe how much boston has changed since, but to see that someone captured the city in all of its former glory is a beautiful thing.
All its smelly glory.
This song is a celebration of suburban development as seen through cruising to your favorite tunes. New innocence and excitement that doesn’t exist today!
Gritty, real-place 1970's city!
There's been changes, but I still recognize most of route.@@NilezII
Former glory? No doubt the city is a much cleaner and more beautiful place today than back then.
I heard this song this evening, for the first time.
It won't be the last.
How can I just be seeing this in 2024?
I now live in New Mexico, and this song pops in my head when I see an actual ROADRUNNER!
HAHA!! Me, too!!
I wear a silver roadrunner pin from New Mexico on my jacket because it reminds me of this song
I know every curb and every swerve of all those salty roads. I love you, Bean Town!
You know your from Boston when you recognize almost all of those streets they drove around on. : )
Loved this song growing up along with WRKO then WBCN growing up in Dorchester!
How 'bout WMBR? I've put this over the air a time or two.
Dude. What are the odds I find here. Its Joe RN from work. Love this song!
WZLX!
I'm from California, and hell, I recognized a lot of those streets! My visit to Boston was one of the most memorable trips of my life so now it's probably my favorite city in America
Not all of it is Boston. Opening shot has a sign marking the exit ramp to I-91 South, which follows the Connecticut river and is nowhere near Boston.
In fact, it looks like that shot has got to be in Connecticut! Where the 84 and 91 cross.
Map of exit 54 on the 84: www.google.com/maps/place/I-84/@41.7665395,-72.6537664,17.58z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x89dd154b4d9fdcbb:0x9f09d539fcda2e1a!8m2!3d41.5478839!4d-73.7436049
This song was probably the godfather of slacker rock totally classic
The amount of not-giving-a-shit energy on this song is truly amazing.
Compared to the Sex Pistols cover it gives countless shits.
YEAH HE DIDN'T EVEN GIVE A SHIT IF IT WAS ANY GOOD.
Very true.
I have driven down every street in this Vidio in 1972, sometimes with this song on wmex am radio in Boston, now I listen on a phone.
This song was recorded in 1972 but did not come out till 1976
@kelechi_77 I'm from Boston and worked at the Rat, knew Jonathan very well, he made 3 versions in "72" I was lucky enough to get a copy of the rock version, he had about 20 of them, the recording before the final release, I should have explained more I guess.
Bud Ballou
The Citgo sign brought back wonderful memories watching the Sox at Fenway.
Awesome!, We used to cruise 128 in our 68 and 70 roadrunners jammin to this song , Menino was drooling at the dinner table thats why he never heard it, STATE SONG!! Hell YES!
Huge hit in the UK during the Punk explosion in the UK it peaked at No11 in July 77 on UK singles chart, the follow up single Egyptian Reggae was a bigger hit in the UK reaching No5, my brother had both 7” singles at the time, I preferred Roadrunner at the age of 6 and still do now! 👍🏻
Coz it's essential RnR.
I'm in love with Rt. 128 when the radio's on!!!!! LOVE THIS! Moved to Texas, 12 years now, still visit family i Massachusett!!!! Radio on! "i
s! and Recognize all places, Farrelly Brothers have my friends, tatty. Mone and DR. G, DR. R in parts. love yall from misplaced Texans. 'Roadrunner, Roadrunner, going by the Stop and Shop'. RADIO ON
'
Classic Tune! Thank God I was in my in my late teens living in Boston starting in 1979 when it was affordable and there was a thriving music scene then. WBCN played this song frequently as did the college stations!
What a fortunate person you were.
I moved to Boston in January 1980 at 19 years old. I lived there for 5 years right by Fenway Pahk on Peterborough St. I had never heard this song before . This was the theme song of Boston , on the radio daily , complete with the "Stawp An' Shawp" . This tune IS Boston. I miss this tune and Boston.
This song has so much of Sister Ray in it. Considering John Cale produced this, is it any wonder then. Stone Age New Wave. Sounds more 80's than 70's.
Sister Ray + Louie, Louie = Roadrunner
exactly my thoughts !
"Pablo Picasso" is the best VU song they never recorded.
Yes!
Crazy to think all that John has done. Velvet underground, producing this, the first stooges album, the first Patti smith album, made the music to America Psycho etc
Why did it take me until 2014, nearly 50 years of my life to finally hear this... Great track and Video,
BoredinNewYork
Seriously. Just discovered the song by accident myself. First of the song covered by Sex Pistols at the Brixton live show (the video I meant :P)
you know the Velvets then?
wow, how cool to have a discovery like this after 50! Maybe I'll be so lucky.
Roadrunner once...Roadrunner twice..! One of the most excellent rock 'n' roll songs ever!!!
I moved away from Boston years ago and watching this vid brings me back there briefly. I’ve driven all of those great streets.
Have a family friend, who used to have a '68 Hemi/4spd Roadrunner, who used to tear up the South Shore (Rte 3 mostly), for top end/racing, who always listened to this while driving it. Thanks for the memories!
Your friend is a legend
Yup, that's what I would do, if I had a Roadrunner.
I saw these guys many times. One memorable show at Uncle Sam's, Nantasket Beach. Kids nowadays have no idea what they missed. Boston was on the cutting edge of rock in those days.Great memories!
aint that the truth......no fucking clue.....
Aw
Wish I had seen them once. Only radio on
I used to work at vbf in the early seventies and we used to play this all the time I know what you mean
Ok.boomer
Beginning of the film was taken in 1965 - at 0:23 you can see 6 Bowdoin Square (New England Telephone Building) with the JFK Building under construction behind it. It was completed and occupied in 1966.
Thank you for this vital information.
I love new England
What is the official rock song of Massachusetts?
Roadrunner
On February 13, 2013, then State Representative Marty Walsh introduced a bill to have "Roadrunner" named official rock song of Massachusetts.
Don't feel so alone with the radio on.
Went to school in Boston, used to drive around for hours at night in my rusted Chevy Cavalier blasting this. Perfect.
Here thanks to Anthony bourdain ! RIP to somes great theacher of Thrill seeking and the joy,pleasure,adventure and openess towards of life . something that he left but didn't lack on teaching us on how to pursue with our own sensibility
Definitely mid ‘70’s & superb - loved it then & for sure, love it now.
Jane Russell, roadrunner twice
One of the greatest rock songs of all time. I've seen all four members live, including Jonathan Richman solo at a TINY club. He did not play any ML songs, of course. When someone in the crowd shouted "Roadrunner" he just looked down and mumbled. "no, I don't think so". Not long after, Jerry Harrison rolled into town with a band that included Alex Weir and Bernie Worrel from the expanded Talking Heads live line-up ...and Ernie fucking Brooks. They DID play "Roadrunner" , and it was glorious!
"Bernie Worrell" doing the organ for Roadrunner sounds like a fucking trip. I presume he was using a moog?
But Jonathan has always struck me as someone I probably wouldn't want to have a beer with. I feel like he's either incredibly deep and intelligent or the opposite, just dumb as rocks. And every time I read more about his bio, I lean towards the latter.
@@NewGrooveVinylClubSounds like a Farfisa to me
Always loved this song. It just makes me happy.
Play LOUD!!!! I'll be head bobbing to this even into my 80's. Thank you, Ice Cream Man....
The movie "School of Rock" brought me here. I'm glad it did, this song seems timeless. 👍🎸
Growing up in Mass I was aware of the Modern Lovers, but I was always under the impression that the Modern Lovers were just Jonathan Richman's back up band. I was in my 50's before I Googled Modern Lovers and discovered they were not a simple garage band but a Supergroup containing future superstars Jerry Harrison of Talking Heads and David Robinson of the Cars.
Apparently during my time in Boston (late 70's, early 80's) Jonathan Richmond was playing as "Jonathan Richmond and the Modern Lovers" - a different entity from the early 70's "Modern Lovers" except that Jonathan was the frontman for both...
People are saying this is the first Punk Rock song. I'll take it a step further and say this is one of the earliest New Wave songs.
+Darius Henry they copied him/ Talking Heads David Bryne querky slant plus one of the members went to talking heads and another to The Cars
not MC5 - Kick out the jams?
enough with the genre labels already
Music has always been put into classifications FH, and why not?
it just kicks ass ..... you'd love the velvet underground if you don't already
Lou Reed was with friends, shortly before he died. His friend Hal Willner was on DJ duty.
This song was on the playlist.............
This track and band were WAY ahead of their time. This song could have come out yesterday by some garage band in Cambridge. Also, the film is great, lots of great Boston/Cambridge landmarks.
The energy and simple riffs remind me of the punk bands that came later.
The Modern Lovers were an American rock band led by Jonathan Richman in the 1970s and 1980s. The original band existed from 1970 to 1974 but their recordings were not released until 1976 or later. It featured Richman and bassist Ernie Brooks with drummer David Robinson (later of The Cars) and keyboardist Jerry Harrison (later of Talking Heads). The sound of the band owed a great deal to the influence of the Velvet Underground, and is now sometimes classified as "proto-punk".
You have educated me thank you.
I might remark that a demo tape was obtained by WBCN and the song became familiar - tho not commercially available well ahead of 1976. But thanks for the outline and details.
"is now sometimes classified as 'proto-punk'" Or as punk.
Thank you.
@@thebrazilianatlantis165
Hmmm , Roadrunner's more like 60's garage rock, like the Nuggets ' collection which by coincidence (or _not_ ..) came out in the same year. In the beginning, that stuff was coined garage-punk
I almost became Jonathan Richman's downstairs neighbor in Cambridgeport in the later 70's. That would've been
fun.
I DONT THINK SO
Wow!How come!?By chance?!)
Until you need to sleep.
I was Jerry Harrison's next door neighbor in 1975, right after Jonathan fired him & the other Modern Lovers. He took me to the Garage in Harvard Square to buy my first electric guitar ('67 Telecaster, $265)
The 2008 song "Paper Planes" by M.I.A. pays homage to this song by including lyrics from Roadrunner. Then again, Paper Planes also uses a sample from "Straight to Hell" from the Clash. So the Modern Lovers are in good company.
I happen to love all 3 of these songs.
The Clash are in better company.
I remember hearing this song for the first time while attending MIT engineering school in the 1970s..Although this song was about listening to a 50 kW AM (medium wave) radio station while driving alone at night, I heard it on WBCN FM.
Hard to believe this is 50 years ago. The 60s and 70s produced the best music. Thank you Boomers, from a Gen Xer.
I work a postal route, and this song has been in my head ALL DAY!!!
Perhaps, THE best rock 'n' roll song of all time?
damn near gotta agree, and it's gotta be LOUD and OFTEN!
Except for Louie, Louie. Fab songs - both of 'em!
close enough to argue about. ;)
Johnny B Goode is my vote :)
well that's your opinion. what's up with your "?" be a little confident son
This is like the most amazing film I've ever seen. I remember the lyrics because I have it on vinyl Thanks
This was played at Bianca Jagger’s infamous birthday party at Studio 54 in 1977.
That was awesome seeing old Boston brought back a lot of memories
modern lovers, stooges and velvet underground...three of the best bands ever. this kind of proto-punk sound of them is one of the things i most love in music. the simple structures, minimalistic drums and guitars, the different style of singing, the repetitiveness you feel through the songs. sure stooges is a little bit heavier, but i think we can put these bands together
First two Velvets, first Modern Lovers and first Stooges made the way.
marcelo
This is that kind of song you can just close your eyes, sway side to side , and clap your hands in the air, just letting yourself go in tune to the beat :)
The Ramones and NY Dolls kinds of fit into this too.
And The Seeds
th-cam.com/video/texKJUVB7KY/w-d-xo.html
@@BrianSmith-vl7xu I don't understand why punks like NYD. Surely they fit under the glam rock category which punks despise
I've always said Jonathan Richman songs are very "Regional" songs that become "Universal". Yes, many people experience the thrill of driving down a highway - but it's us Bostonians/New Englanders that will pass a "Stop & Shop" ;)
This is the version form 76. This was being played on WBCN for a couple of years before at least, especially by Maxanne. The version they played mentioned passing the gas tank. THAT was the original as far as I'm concerned.
@@fiercefeline5096 Ha! Never knew that...but I know the gas tank and WBCN of course!
....with the radio on.
@@fiercefeline5096 I was introduced to this song by BCN' back then. They are missed.
I think that's what known as local color.
Spirit of '56 in '72. listening in 2015.
I'm in love with rock'n roll
Listen in 2020 covd19😥
@@billymallon1282 right? take me back to blasting this on the 292 to Kusatsu on a summer day...
@@billymallon1282 me too
Love this! One of those songs you can't get out of your head for a while. Which is ok.
THIS is the song that should play at the end of every Boston sports franchise's home victory. Retire "Dirty Water" already. This is far more celebratory, more joyous, more Boston.
Quite true.
Absolutely!
I can’t believe modern lovers didn’t include in rock n roll hall of fame
Hi aero
srtcrhal hai
Buzzcocks first!
As far as I know they were a one hit wonder.
The Hall's a joke anyway.
Jammin on two chords for four minutes and it still leaves you wanting more.
Live in NY, but grew up off Route 128 (where there was a Stop and Shop at one time) and I am definitely in love with Massachusetts.
A great song from the 70's and an accurate depiction of Massachusetts drivers too. :)
I had to get this mail order in '75 from Beserkeley Home of the Hits. It blew my mind. I knew Ernie Brooks. I drove everyone listening to this. It made absolute perfect sense.
Thanks to the film documentary. about a very great man. I became a fan him.
I could still hear his voice when his narration!
I don't know where this song has been all my life. How did i miss this band? Why didn't they go mainstream?
The Modern Lovers recorded this song in 1972 and broke up in 1974. The record company did not release the album & song until Fall 1976.
The freedom of this song... When your young and running the roads you never wanted it to end...the sad part was you usually ended up where you started....
I'd time travel back to Boston c. 1972 in a heartbeat. I was 16. The Spirit of '56.
@@detroitfunk313 title says 72
When I hear this songs it takes me to driving on 128 in 1960 and feeling the energy and the modern world. and all those tech start ups that changed the world.
I grew up near Boston, and I can't get enough of this!
me too James
Same. Should be State Song for those of us who grew up in the 70’s. I do love 128!
I used to listen to this on WMMS back when it was THE premier rock station to listen to. Excellent! Kid Leo, Denny Sanders, Betty Corbin...ah, the good memories!
Jerry lived next to me in a Cambridge duplex, him in 41 Walker St, us in 39, his keyboard playing sounded very good through the wall.
Greatest track, The Talking Heads, and The Cars ever laid down. 😎
A hugely influential band. This is easily the best version.
I left Massachusetts but when I see this I get home sick.... wicked home sick!
I'm in love with Massachusetts
Massachusetts when it's late at night
@@davidlowney634 What about Massholes?
@@RandallFlaggNY You mean me,Randy?
@@danieldugan886 Don't know...
@@RandallFlaggNY ,Me Randall,i'm from the Charlestown section of Boston.Don't know about Massholes living there.A lot of criminals though.When i grew up there in the 50's & 60's the Chucktown Irish were at war with Whitey's South Boston Irish for control of the many illicit affairs.Me,got the heck out of there and joined the Navy.Good times had by all.Be good Randall.
I recognize a lot of those roads and the scenery, kind of reminding me of my youthful hopes and dreams. Talk about a divergent path! Although I did predict that in the future, everyone would have their own talk show.
Really makes me miss Boston. I don't know why I ever let life drag me away. My body lives in Oregon but my heart will always be in Boston.
I move away Ca. Fl. etc. but keep coming back here.
CLASSIC! just purchased my Jonathan Richman ticket for February 14 2022 at The Opera House in Brooklyn for Valentines Day!
is this the most perfect song ever - i feel the same about it now as did hearing it as a 10 year old
Emilie's friend, Beth Harrington was a back=up singer with Ellie as the backup to the Modern Lovers. Beth has been trying for ages to convince the powers that be that they should make this MA's state song! Beth is a film maker now.
Produced by the great John Cale,who also produced Patti Smith's Horses album.
+irishmusicfan51 Cale also produced the Stooges first album.
Damn John Cale was badass.
I must have listened to Jonathan Sings and Rock'n'roll with the Modern Lovers a thousand times!
Late '70s British punk owe a debt to this!
+IThinkYouLookLarvely No shite. The Sex Pistols did a version of this on Who Killed Bambi.
Actually there's a version by Sex Pistols.
+IThinkYouLookLarvely The end of sex pistols song "EMI" sounds like they borrowed a part or 2 from this, for sure.
E and M gooodbye!
pretty sure Jonathan is the godfather of punk.
Thoroughly discombulated; loved that video!
47 yrs. around the Sun, just a wink in the eye of Human kind..." RADIO ON !".
Having grown up around Boston, this video brings back lots of great memories. Thanks for posting!
Wow, never knew this song was early as 72!!
I totally thought this was 77 CBGB punk rock. Turns out it’s 1972 rock n roll. Love it!
I was 11 when I first heard this, and kept playing it over and over lol
Surched so long for that fucking song , man...
Great
Remember listening to this on WBCN driving home on 128 from working at my family's restaurant on a hot summer night blasting it into the dark. Thanks for saving this!
If you ain't from Bawstin, you ain't..so be it..
This song sounds like something that could have been released yesterday, or tomorrow. Great video!
Thank you for sharing! That's the Boston I remember. The song is timeless too.
Love the video. So many shots of old Boston that are gone now. You know it's an old movie when they don't get stuck in traffic anywhere, haha.
Holy crap, put this on my mix thinking it was 2022 release. Crazy timeless.
Remember hearing this as a kid brilliant song
We didn't get this in the UK till '77 when it was a hit. If I'd heard it in '72, I think my tiny mind would've gone bazoom.
im 17 and love this song my dad showed me it
Roadrunner is listed by Rolling Stone Magazine in their newest, 2022Top 500 songs of the last 80 years as the #77 best and most influential song.