Jonathan Richman: Roadrunner - All 3 versions on Vinyl

Roadrunner ONCE, TWICE and thrice for good measure.
Celebrating 100 vinyl rips on my channel with this!

[@danielmarsden2934]

They're all genius. Number two rocks hardest, so really does it for me. JR's vocal delivery is perfect and the Modern Lovers may as well be playing with machetes - blazing a trail for so many others to follow. Hard to believe this song is over 50 now! Still sounds as vibrant and youthful as the day it was born, like all great pioneering works of art! Legendary compile WeeklyRations!

[@billnyc6658]

What's cool about early versions of any Modern Lovers songs (from before the album & slit-up) is (1) alot are from live shows, so they are playing faster, (2) the band is so tight playing live together & (3) when Jonathan R. sings Road Runner in older recordings, he adlibs more about staples of Mass & New England back then.

[@ElwoodPDowd1970]

And there's still a Stop & Shop at the intersection of Rtes 9 and 27 in Natick, MA. They should put a plaque up or something. Heck, a statue. 😎

[@billnyc6658]

A statue of Pilgrims or New England Puritans or American Revolution patriots listing to..... THE RADIO ON!!!!!!!

[@LeahDyson-kq4bd]

Is there a Dunkin in it

[@ElwoodPDowd1970]

@@LeahDyson-kq4bd TBH I’m not sure. Haven’t been back to Natick in years. Will say that Stop & Shop is a bit small and cramped by modern supermarket standards.

[@pastortimchristensen9436]

Happy 70th birthday, Jojo. The man continues to be one of my musical heroes because "Roadrunner" changed my life the first time I heard it on KPFA ("what the heck was THAT?!"), because I still tear up for his cameos in (and esp when he sings in the tree) in 'Something About Mary,' because I will NEVER get to see enough live performances, and because he is so utterly and unabashedly HIMSELF. "I'm in love with the modern rock'n'roll... now you say it, Modern Lovers..." #RADIOON

[@charlenelinden8930]

Me too Pastor Tim Christensen! I was in college in Massachusetts in 1975 and the Modern Lovers and Jonathan were wildly popular at my university. I have had the opportunity to meet him, as has my son.

[@SuperChuckRaney]

We had KFRO 1490 AM ...... :) They had a call in request show for us kids from 7-9 twice aweek. You were live on the air reading your dedication. They let the church youth group come up there and do that show 4 times a year, as a fund raiser, we sold spots too. Good times. SO, they had 2 turntables, but the DJ didnt use them, even in 75-77 the station had the songs they played on tape, in this massive bank of tape players on the wall, it was all electronic like a juke box. SOOooo therefore all the records that came in that didnt meet the format would be on a table out front and kids could go buy and get free albums.We got huge amounts of albums and would play the first couple beats and maybe mid track to see if we liked t I found such stuff as The Runaways, Lakeside, Sex Pistols, etc. Sex Pistols had Roadrunners... I thought it was gonna be about a car...When some guy in Dallas named his stores Stop and Shop..... when we drove past the first time I couldnt stop laughing and singing.

[@Pwecko]

The second one is the best, I think. A superb pop single. One of my all time favourites.

[@JimmyBarnesTPA]

🎉kzbin.info/www/bejne/lavYZIlnqNNgfZI

[@RebelSpiritof77]

Massachusetts late at night, with the radio on!!

[@DavidCox-tc2rk]

They said when you bought a guitar 🎸 learn 3 chords to make a song, this is miles better with 2, still listening to this nearly 50 years later 🇬🇧, a work of art

[@kenlove9051]

I'm in San Francisco. 19 years and a few thousand miles away from Fall River, MA. However J.R. and crew just brought me back so fast I got whiplash. Thank you Weekly Rations you got this old hippie to tear up.

[@davidcarvalho9904]

ken its all burned down from what you remember nothing left but horseneck and the battleship....all the rest is crap..but when you come over the bragga and you see st annes its like you never left

[@jknrawle]

Although the song goes back to 1972, this was my introduction in the UK to "New Wave". After Gary Glitter, The Sweet, and Doctor Hook, this was so refreshing and exciting. Years later, I moved from UK to.......you guessed in, Massachusetts! I drive past the StopnShop on Route 128 practically every day and I am a Roadrunner! Going to see him live in Somerville in October. Can't wait!

[@rudikeegan]

Brilliant !!!

[@JimmyBarnesTPA]

Saw him in Atlanta Oct. Was great fun!

[@deanaustraw305]

Version 1 wakes my heart up everytime

[@eamonnclabby7067]

Me too...😊

[@davidnoakes1434]

Beautiful, I may be an old git but the 70s were a great time to be a teenager.

[@MartinJoyceUFOConspiracy]

I so relate to the way Jon loves driving around Massachusetts, I'm the same way, from the same area...and in his own way, he's the greatest New England poet since Kerouac...and that 1972 album is the first Alternative Rock album years before New Wave and Alternative came along. The black and white (mostly) videos for those Modern Lover songs are amazing works of art, too. Hats off to his later stuff, doing his own thing--brilliant artist...awesome guitarist (Tommy Larkin a great drummer besides)...special persona...there's something about Jonathan...

[@jimshelley8831]

Love being able to listen to these different versions.

[@mjj3132]

#2 is what makes this immortal. #1 is the demo, a cool idea for a song. #2 edits, upping the tempo, adding the John Cale drone, and making it something completely else.

[@anodyne57]

The first (Once) for me is a little masterpiece. So tight yet with feeling. Nice to hear the different versions and "Thrice" is nice too.

[@peteroverbaugh6650]

I completely concur. The slight absence (or until the end of #2 )of the (Radio on!) chorus takes a bit of the fun out of #2.

[@DavidPoindexter-k6o]

By far far far the best. Such perfection in timing.

[@neilmccormick2064]

Been in love with this since i first heard the 1977 version in 77 aged 15 . Still listening and still loving it aged 62 . ❤

[@ianthompson5589]

A modern genius, slept on Lou Reed's floor reportedly. You can hear his influence I think.

[@l.salisbury1253]

You know it's just like Sister Ray said- with the radio on!

[@charlenelinden8930]

That he did.

[@charlenelinden8930]

You can hear the Velvets in Pablo Picasso.

[@stevetaylor5290]

@@charlenelinden8930 I saw Jonathan Richman and John Cale on the same bill once. They were both brilliant and they both played "Pablo Picasso". At the end of the show they both came out and played Pablo Picasso together - sadly I didn't like it as they're just not both coming from the same musical place as each other :( Still, they're both awesome and more power to both of them.

[@MadderMel]

Fancy hanging out with the Velvet Underground ! How cool is that ?

[@southerncross3638]

I first heard this song in 76 or 77, I've spent 40+ years looking for it, Thnx

[@WeeklyRations]

Martin Dodds hahaha I bet it came to you at night in your dreams! Glad you finally heard it again

[@Sinsteel]

Should have just googled it!

[@andy7666]

The internet is your friend. KZbin, probably has that song thats in your head..

[@simonetedaldi5052]

I m in love with the radio on...🥳

[@trappedindixie1]

Love all the positive comments. I grew up listening to JR around the area. Truly the Boston anthem

[@felixd.4150]

I love this dude's attitude about this song. Clearly it was HIS song and he brought it with him everywhere he went.

[@MadderMel]

No dislikes !! Who can not love this ? !!

[@edenbrough5101]

Exactly ❤

[@jordimateubartroli951]

This song can save your life.

[@billnyc6658]

Not when you're driving on Rt. 28, hear this song, put your foot down & you drive dangerously fast! LOL

[@jimshannononsounds]

The guitar work on the 3rd selection is magic. Classic Johnathan Richaman

[@olgadarmakis8119]

I first heard this in 76. It was rockin in the bushes next to 77, what a ripper!

[@douglasgray6783]

This is just so good. I bought the single in 1976. Great to hear again.

[@WeeklyRations]

Fantastic Doug, I’d love to have been a JR fan from the start

[@BroonParker]

​​@@WeeklyRations don't fret about that, it just means you're not as old now as those who were. This was the single I played over and again in the year after I left school in 1976. It means a great deal to hear it again together with the third version. Which do I prefer? I'd just prefer to be 18 again. And listening to your upload, I am. Thanks buddy.

[@bobbyjuju7442]

All of these versions are so great. Thank you for sharing!

[@steevsmith2792]

What a Fabulous record....and compilation. Thankyou for this.

[@zeeman3684]

Yes, yes

[@dimitriosalexiadis2300]

Fantastic. Thank for posting. So rare that. Highway rock n roll show

[@susanoconnell1314]

Version two rocks off the socks !!

[@briteness]

Good to find this here. Thanks! Some years ago there was a campaign to have this made the official state song of Massachusetts.

[@bobmoxie5570]

Love iy. Grew up in Massachusetts, no idea wd end up in Texas, a comfort song for me!!!!

[@charlenelinden8930]

I know what you mean. Went to college in MA (Worcester) grew up in NY (Long Island) and this is a comfort song for me too.

[@eamonnclabby7067]

@@charlenelinden8930 it is good here on the banks of the Mersey too...peace and love from the music metropolis of Merseyside...E

[@20vtechnik]

Its like a timeless trifecta. So good. Thanks for sharing!

[@ahutchina]

amazing, never heard the third version before but wow so great...your rips are fantastic, thank you for posting them!

[@WeeklyRations]

slayer_cake thanks so much! I’ve got really behind in doing them but I love doing them and the comments from people so must get back into it! RADIO ON!

[@stevejackson3112]

Wow thanks for posting , I've never heard those second and third versions .The second one sounds like they were trying to rock it and make it more commercial. The third one I like that verbalizing at the end, true to his roots. I loved this song and getting turned on to JR on my college radio station, 1978. KUOI , Moscow Idaho.

[@PhilPankiewicz]

I am in love with my loneliness...genius!

[@Wulf425]

Just finished driving home on I 10 after dancing at a club, these 3 versions blasting all the way. All 3 have something to offer, my favorite is the keyboard driven Cale produced. Some really nice guitar and spoken inerludes in the live version.

[@stevewiles7132]

Bought this in the UK in 74, still have it.

[@Saaf62]

I love where he gets real quiet on the third version, and reminisces about how much he loves Boston.....

[@pillettadoinswartsh4974]

Amazing how much a simple organ can add to a song. (#2)

[@craigromano2362]

An anthem! Route 128 never looked so good!

[@glenn1you0]

The first time I heard punk music was when I found a local low power college station, WNKU, playing the Sex Pistols covering this song. ❤

[@jenssonsaul3695]

Dude had something to sing about... he hid it rather superbly. Cool for sharing, thanks!😊

[@incal2000]

The grandmother of all joy

[@FifeCelt_2020]

Brilliant! Thanks for sharing these. 🥳

[@swittle]

All versions enjoyed as they should be. :-) Thank you, W R.

[@russt3]

one of the most valuable youtube vids

[@WeeklyRations]

Very kind of you, I didn’t really know much about the versions when I did this video

[@koenigdp1978]

This is my new everything.

[@DLYChicago]

I remember hearing this song on WXRT back in the '70's. It's like it came and went and I was the only one who knew about it. Until this suddenly pops up on a tv show and I'm screaming, "that's it!". Then a cousin's girlfriend clued me it and I went out bought their CD--since I was now in my 30's and working and could afford whatever tunes I wanted. I later found out that this song was widely known but only by the cool people.

[@deannilvalli6579]

This is great! You can really hear how they worked through the song, improved it. The album cut is brilliant, and the first version, in my opinion, much less impressive, though the grain of genius is still perceptable. Of course the live version is just.... awesome.

[@aliasbard]

Wow. So great!

[@13shinythings]

Greatest R-n-R Song Ever Written. Period. End of story.

[@lulugraphics]

I love you, Jonathan!

[@greenblackification]

This is Fabulous!!!!

[@WilliamViets]

I did my driver’s test on Rte 128 at 4:30 on a weekday. No one died so I got my Massachusetts license.

[@yyy333]

First one is my favorite version hands down

[@hankthayer7425]

There is also a version that mentions FM radio. And there are probably many others. They are all so so good!

[@dixielandfarm]

Never heard this version - I've seen JR play live at least ten times... big fan. Very nice!

[@WeeklyRations]

Thrice is an odd and cool version, more space and higher vox (I had to increase the volume loads to match the other 2 rips) I think he only played Northern Ireland once in 1991. I've decided I'll goto London if he ever plays the uk again!

[@dixielandfarm]

+WeeklyRations I had just read a concert review... a fan said, "Wow, he is only playing new things" since he didn't recognize any songs... then about half way through the concert he realized Jonathan was improvising ALL the songs and just making them up right there and then - which JR confirmed later in the evening.

[@WeeklyRations]

+dixielandfarm yeah I don't think I'd go for the old classics, just the experience!

[@lulugraphics]

WeeklyRations I got Jonathan’s autograph once back in the late 80s in San Francisco. ❤️❤️❤️

[@eamonnclabby7067]

@@WeeklyRations soundtrack of my misspent youth training in our creaking but still functioning NHS, peace and love from the wirral peninsula..

[@georgejohnson3302]

Thank you, this is genius!!! Love all 3

[@hankthayer7425]

Let's go now...route 128! PURE GENIUS!

[@NYFMA]

Here are the lyrics for the 1st version: One-two-three-four-five-six! Roadrunner, roadrunner Going faster miles an hour Gonna drive past the Stop 'n' Shop With the radio on... I'm in love with the modern world Massachusetts when it's late at night And the neon when it's cold outside I got the radio on... Just like a roadrunner Goin around the highway I walked by a stop'n'shop Then I drove by the stop'n'shop I like that much better than walking by the stop'n'shop Cause I had the radio on.... I felt in touch with the modern world I felt in love with the modern world I felt in love with Mattapan and Roslindale Cause I had the radio on.... I felt like a Road Runner With the radio on.... Now I said hello to the spirit of old 1956 It was patient in the bushes next to '57 Well the highway was my only girlfriend 'cause I went by so quick And suburban trees were out there, and consequently it smelled like heaven And so I say roadrunner once, roadrunner twice... We're in love with this feeling now and we'll be out all night All right, now we can tell them about our love, you men (Radio On!) I got the AM... (Radio On!) I've got the power, I feel the feeling now... (Radio On!) I feel the feeling and it's feeling alright now... (Radio On!) And I feel in touch with the modern world OK let's go down route 128 Oh Yeah Can't you feel it out in Needham now? Out in Route 128 by the power lines It's so exciting there at night With the pine trees in the dark It's so cold here in the dark With 50,000 watts of power We go by faster miles an hour With the radio on... Road Runner, Road Runner (Radio On!) Goin faster miles an hour I'm gonna drive by the stop'n'shop With the radio on... See I'm in love with the modern world Massachusetts when it's late at night And the neon when it's cold outside You see I have the radio on... Like a Road Runner Now what do you think about that you guys? (Radio On!) Good! we got the AM... (Radio On!) I think we got the power, got the magic now... (Radio On!) We got the feeling of the modern world... (Radio On!) We got the feeling of the modern sound... (Radio On!) The sound of the modern radio feeling when it's late at night... (Radio on!) Got the sound of the modern loneliness when it's cold outside... (Radio on!) Got the sound of Massachusetts when it's blue and white... (Radio on!) We got on Route 128 on a dark and lonely (Radio on!) I feel alone and cold and lonely... (Radio on!) I feel a, I feel alone in the cold and neon... (Radio on!) I feel alive, I feel the love, I feel alive, I feel the rockin modern love (Radio on!) I feel the rockin' modern live (Radio on!) I feel the rockin' modern neon modern sound modern Boston town (Radio on!) Modern sound modern neon modern miles around (Radio on!) I say a Road Runner was a Rhode Island tristate roader hello very nice (Radio on!) Road Runner Gonna go home now, yes...Road Runner go home, (Radio on!) oh yes, Road Runner go home, here we go now... Were gonna drive 'em home you guys (NOTE: record skips a bit at the end so some of these last ones are missed) Here we go That's right Again! Bye-bye!

[@peteroverbaugh6650]

Thank you much for the lyrics.

[@somethingsomething4002]

Road runner Road runner

[@MadderMel]

Acme !!

[@itsmecamroy]

I love this video! Thank you so much!

[@davidforshaw4998]

👍Brill!"

[@fcamsterdam8941]

Good reminder. I also have them at 7 inch. Always liked the faster roadrunner twice better. Bought them at NO FUN in Amsterdam in the period 1977 / 1978 when it was not easy to get Punk/new wave in the other shops. Btw, wasn't thrice not a flipside from my little koogenhagen ??

[@markhall6058]

I really enjoyed that from start to finish. [Edit] I've now managed to source two 7'' singles with these three version on. Thanks for making me aware.

[@WeeklyRations]

Mark Hall gotta collect em all 🤣

[@andy7666]

Me want. Give please. Yeah, new to me too bro!

[@joewilson704]

Version 2 is still my fave, possibly John cales involvement, a very velvets vibe, but all of them great.

[@turnipsreturn716]

Magic all three

[@NeuwaveSynthpop]

Version 1 has the spontaneity, raw essence and cool sounding live leveled mix on the instruments. Roadrunner once, bye bye.

[@craignelson]

Love this , Greg Kihn did a great live version.

[@rrjr637]

SEW NICELY ALL DUNN. SO RRAADDAARR AATTORR

[@dynjarren7523]

Thanks for the upload! I like the second version best as it’s lean, fast and mean! The first one is okay but a little sloppy with the vocals so if I was the producer I would release only the Second fast and flowing version! Thanks!

[@WeeklyRations]

D Zodiac I think I agree with you! Great to hear the differences

[@dang2443]

"Twice" is the one from the first lp. That's the only version I knew for decades.

[@charlenelinden8930]

YES! And the first I heard. With that Farfisa organ. Can't beat it.

[@marchoffman4307]

@@charlenelinden8930 Played by Jerry Harrison who went on to be a co-founder of the Talking Heads.

[@eamonnclabby7067]

@@WeeklyRations enjoyed all of them..

[@creeb61]

First time I've came across this. Excellent.

[@eamonnclabby7067]

Brilliant...thank you for sharing this with us all,best wishes from the wirral...E

[@rohanquinby3188]

Oh my sweet lord almighty

[@guillermoortega4119]

AWESOME

[@jimconsmiter1958]

This is why the term "loop" was necessary.

[@darthmetatron]

Best thing ever!!!! Thanks!!!

[@somethingsomething4002]

awesom

[@MadderMel]

e !!

[@swthirteen]

fookin mad!

[@occamraiser]

Been listening to J.R. for basically forever. This along with his song 'Velvet Underground' are superb. My preference would be version 2.... but that's probably because it is (I assume) the album version.

[@dogobenz]

Saw them in 77 in SF at a venue on Polk st. The art institute perhaps. Love them, 2nd is my fav with the farfisa organ. The 3rd a little too polished. Don’t think it’s modern lovers except for Jonathan. Do like the extended rap though.

[@incal2000]

The granny of punk .

[@kevinmilner2072]

wow I thought I loved this song from the video version, but this is incredible.

[@krisscanlon4051]

You got give VU Sister Ray lil love too...JR knew his roots

[@jenssonsaul3695]

Track 2 is the mucho gusto retro vibe edition.

[@jonathanprovost7972]

NICE I'M IN LOVE WITH LOVE

[@MadderMel]

Didn't know about Thrice !!

[@davidconnor5136]

Number two for me very easy to brake the speed limit to great tune time less

[@JillDinardo-mb6ii]

I first heard this by the Sex Pistols.I love these versions too!!! Perfect song.

[@iggycrow]

S'all good but V.1 'one o'best 4mins of my life'..seemed last abt 3 yrs tho...gr8 3 yrs*

[@YakAlien]

❤❤❤❤

[@petermccaffrey806]

great song. two chords until the very end when the V chord comes in.

[@leorivers7759]

For some reason this song shares some aspects of being a young man with Black Betty by Ram Jam. What? Wait. did you spot those skinny chicks leaning the bikes sort of rocking and snapping their fingers in the Black betty video. Thems there are Home Girls, every home turf has 'em, Every time I hear Roadrunner I see the skinny girls in jeans and tee shirts or bands sort of rocking and snapping their fingers in a Garage as the Modern lovers are playing. Those girls are like the local angels grooven in the back ground of these songs that sort of hang out at the back of my mind with my thinking about how it was being young and as I walk in one peels off and comes grabbing me by the arm and smiling.

[@TValentine4ever]

POW!

[@lukeheywood7334]

Out exploring the modern world.. git the radio on.. well ok.. well allright...

[@rosetallon1162]

yup, it's #2.

[@rrjr637]

PS577 ben there & DUNN ALL DAYT

[@2002honda954]

How do i get the second version? I love the pace and synthesizers.

[@simplypodly]

That version is the first track on the Modern Lovers album. I believe on keys thats Jerry from before he the Talking Heads,

[@krisscanlon4051]

I think it's just a regular organ possibly Hammond Lowrey or Farfisa

[@joerigger2330]

Roadrunner (Once) is missing and that s the best version

[@lesakramer8369]

Thx Pal:) Used to live by the Stop n Shop in Cambridge, MA. Also had pleasure of JR? Let's just say...He's in love with self:) I still dig? Don't lend your equipment to him? xoxo