80s Hit CONFUSED EVERYONE Cuz ACTORS Stood In for the REAL BAND in the Music Video-Professor Of Rock

[@ProfessorofRock]

Poll: What is your pick for the BEST MOVIE about ROCK (either biopic, original or documentary)?

[@peterd.9978]

Urgh... A Music War!

[@catherine6653]

La Bamba

[@eggsngritstn]

Spinal Tap! No other movie comes close.

[@killrmillr]

Heavy Metal Parking Lot

[@surlechapeau]

American Hot Wax 1978

[@inthenet99]

I took a first date to this movie over 40 years ago because she wanted to go. I didn't but it was awesome! Loved the music and I loved her. I Married her a year later and 40 years later and we're still together and I still have the vinyl.

[@Au60schild]

Awesome! I don't know anyone, friends and family, who got married only to end up getting divorced, A sad statement on our times. (Divorce lawyers, I'm looking at you!)

[@jillwklausen]

What a great story!

[@jasonmoquin]

That’s amazing, man! Love it!

[@jstnxprsn]

Congrats.

[@jstnxprsn]

@@Au60schild That's not a negative. People live longer these days and are unwilling to put up with relationships with a low compatibility energy. Not "settling"is a good thing.

[@bartbluemusic]

I love "On The Dark Side", and I personally liked the movie too. That piano intro is one of the most recognizable pieces of music ever. So good!

[@ProfessorofRock]

Couldn't agree more!

[@tinahs8269]

Yes...Tender Years had a good one also.

[@peterflynn2111]

@@ProfessorofRock Song failed to make the top 100 here in Australia or get any airplay

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

I love the way the song opens.

[@jimmyparris9892]

Great move and definitely great soundtrack. Tender Years is my favorite song on it, but I like the whole soundtrack a lot.

[@BigRed74One]

I know this story because I was one of those kids who watched Eddie and the Cruisers on cable and loved both the movie and the music. When I found out that the band was real, it blew me away.

[@lorrienantt2361]

Had the video tape and then the DVD. Watched it many times. Loved it.

[@roxannemoser]

Eddie and The Cruisers were fake, but I loved John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band. I did buy that album.

[@DrBrianSmithDC]

Saw John Cafferty & The Beaver Brown Band just a few months ago at The Stone Pony - they still kick ass!

[@tomharris5661]

I remember this as a kid. The song was a hit, it was everywhere, and the movie was just good, no messaging, just a good story.

[@MichaelMeade-d7b]

I liked the second hit from the soundtrack, Tender Years.

[@cahg3871]

When Hollywood was more concerned with telling a story than selling an agenda.Wish Hollywood would get back to that,stop the virtue signaling.

[@joedivald1051]

I was in 6th grade and a radio station did a live feed and gave away tickets to the movie. I won and saw it the theater of course. 😊

[@MarkMcKee1963]

I saw Eddie and the Cruisers at the theater only because my cousin said it was an awesome movie and the music was so good. I bought the soundtrack as soon as it was available, still listen to it! Great stuff, Professor!

[@ProfessorofRock]

SO cool! Thanks for sharing!

[@brucewayne2155]

I too listen to the soundtrack to both films to this day. I have MANY playlists on my phone with Eddie & The Cruisers music in them. Just yesterday I was at work listening to On The Dark Side, Tender Years, Boardwalk Angel, - which is my absolute favorite one - Seasons In Hell, Wild Summer Nights, Betty Lou Got A New Pair Of Shoes, Rock & Roll Shoes, Those Oldies But Goodies, Garden Of Eden, The NYC Song, - which is my favorite from part II - etc. My aunt was very close with John Cafferty, (never dated, just close) so I got to see John Cafferty & The Beaver Brown Band with my aunt in concert 15 times in my lifetime. They do such an AMAZING show live. And when I was like 8 years old, seeing them for the first time live and hearing On The Dark Side start being played, my 8 year old self just lost it. I can only describe it as what I imagine Swifties feels the moment they finally get to see Taylor Swift live for the first time, or Beatles fans back in the day finally seeing The Beatles for the first time. It was absolutely mind blowing. Just thinking at that time that I was seeing Eddie & The Cruisers live, not truly understanding that Eddie was a fictional character played by an actor and someone else did the singing. It's one of my absolute favorite live show memory. And I have MANY!

[@brucewayne2155]

​@@ProfessorofRockThank you you for this absolute GEM of an interview. These guys are such a HUGE part of my childhood and early introduction to rock and roll. Especially live rock & roll! Definitely one of my absolute favorite videos/interviews you've done so far. And I've watched pretty much every one you've ever done. With the Gin Blossoms being my second favorite that you've ever done. My wife was cousins with Doug Hopkins. So she definitely has a special connection with the band. And you did such an amazing interview with Robin and Jesse. Thank you again for all you do!

[@Bruin88]

​@@brucewayne2155You left out Down on my Knees and Maryia!

[@brucewayne2155]

@@Bruin88 yes, Down On My Knees, is a good one too. I'm down on, I'm down, I'm down on my NAYYyYYss... Lol

[@Dudeitsmeee]

John Cafferty deserved way more than just being "eddie and cruisers". They did some solid stuff. C-I-T-Y was a damn fav of mine

[@ProfessorofRock]

And Tough All Over!

[@samspurgeon4222]

I love the song he had that played during the end credits of Stallone's Cobra...Voice Of America's Son or however it was titled....it was a real banger...

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

I need to listen to more of their stuff!

[@PowerFromAbove]

Hearts on Fire

[@cjb2749]

​@@PowerFromAbove my washing machine plays the chorus (instrumental, of course) of that song when the load is finished 😂

[@groverhateselmo]

It is downright criminal that this movie isn’t on streaming here in the US

[@thesussexbunion]

Agreed! I keep looking for it!

[@leos7445]

Have you tried downloading the torrent from Pirate Bay

[@hmoore23]

Just gotta know where to look.. Also, several people on YT have posted it.

[@erinriwen]

I love both Eddie movies so much. I just broke down and bought them both on dvd for rewatching.

[@natsway]

I don't need streaming, im blessed enough to have a signed copy by all the band members. Tunes is a personal friend of mine and got'm all to sign it. ❤ I actually shared the same stage with them in Newport RI in 2014. Lemme tell ya, those guys KNOW how to put on a show!!

[@MichelleL1st]

Such a distinct opening. Always send chills and gets my attention. I remember seeing Eddie and the Cruisers in the theaters. The music was the star of that movie. Thank you John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band. True Rock and Roll sound and legends. Thanks Professor.

[@ProfessorofRock]

It's one of the best openings of the 80s!

[@Gregory_Laborde]

What a great guy! What a nice guy! I am so glad, Professor, that you chase down the stories of these great artists who were _not_ mainstream/superstars and bring them to life. They deserve it too. I hope your shows are preserved in a durable archive somewhere so these people can live on… forever!

[@chriscarlson3700]

“On The Dark Side” never failed to pack the dance floor when I was a kid. Great song that felt both retro and new.

[@ProfessorofRock]

Amen!

[@theonetruevoiceoftheonetrueGod]

It was good in the same way Men At Work aping the Police worked - - briefly

[@beenaplumber8379]

Both retro and new - I agree, and that song got me moving too. Any glimmer of rock in the era of synth pop and new wave got my attention. There was another movie soundtrack single out in 1984 that did really well too that was also retro and new, I Can Dream About You. That was more Motown, but with modern instrumentation. Still a catchy song.

[@chriscarlson3700]

@@beenaplumber8379 Streets Of Fire! Agree, I still love that song. RIP Dan Hartman.

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

It’s an old fashioned style of dance.

[@justiceforall3973]

“On the Darkside” is my favorite rock-n-roll song of all time. I got to meet John Cafferty at their concert in Beverly, Massachusetts and he allowed my to take a picture with him. He was more than flattered when I told him this is my favorite RnR song. What a gentleman he was and such a cool moment for me, as well.

[@CharlesSummers-d1v]

Being a guitar player since the 1970’s, I was always a big fan of Eddie & the Cruisers and Part II as well. The relationship of of musicians in a band is close to reality as well. There’s always the egos, addictions, no shows and simply dealing with different ideas from band members that are usually all so diverse in any band. The magic is when those diverse musicians meld together to make something unexpected. Great interview! Guitar player in Georgia.

[@beenaplumber8379]

Bassist from MN, and I totally get the bandmates thing. When you gel, you are family, closer than others can understand. Oddball ideas just become part of the flow, and no one's feelings are hurt when we reject an idea because we all know we still have a voice. (Okay, we had our moments...) When you don't gel, or as you say when addictions are involved. it's a constant struggle to rehearse, even to perform. I think club owners and patrons can usually sense it too. Later in my career I learned the joys of playing in a band with a proper bandleader. It was really wonderful! I loved the guy and his music, which is the only way that can work, but we never fought. Everything was his call, and his responsibility. End of discussion. We showed up and played our music, and we sounded fantastic! He died on 2007, and I really miss him.

[@DrewHall-un8sn]

Eddie lives!

[@isaacshaver6218]

True words fellow multiple instrument magician

[@jnateduff611]

Part 2 is definitely underrated! When he finally says “…and me. I’m Eddie Wilson.” I got chills!

[@kariqualters5908]

It always broke my heart a little every time I’d hear someone say “I love Eddie and the Cruisers” when “On The Dark Side” would come on the radio, John Cafferty never got the credit he deserved. Thank you for this!!! I only wish you would have talked about some of the other songs on the album, but I guess that’s what Patreon is for!! Going to go look this up over there now!!!! Thanks, as always, for the memories… 😊❤

[@wildbill7081]

Yes You said this much better then I could ever for sure............

[@cinmar720]

I’m guilty too. Many years ago, one of my kids asked me who sang this. I paused and said, Eddie and the Cruisers, I think. I kinda knew it wasn’t right but it was all I could think of. I shared the story about the movie but couldn’t remember who actually sang it.

[@flavellinator]

When I first heard this, I thought it was a Springsteen song. Saw them open for Foreigner back then and they did a great job!

[@briansnow9865]

Same... used to think it was Bruce.

[@FredGroenke55]

Me too. Eerily similar.

[@djplayskeys]

Same. Production and style very similar.

[@cheers0521]

Same

[@hughiegibson1716]

Oh it’s very reminiscent of Bruce Springsteen

[@jeffreypiek]

When this song came out, I was on my high school band. Groveport, Ohio. Our mascot is Cruisers (named after a local race horse) and the band director's first name was Ed. We had so much fun. One football game the PA announced us as Eddie and the Cruisers.

[@JeffreyGlover65]

Westerville, Ohio here. Great movie...great music...

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

Haha.

[@rebeccas8156]

O-H

[@JeffreyGlover65]

@@rebeccas8156 I-O!

[@jeffreypiek]

I O

[@SD9Driver]

I remember the song "Tender Years", it had a Southside Johnny sound to it. 🙂

[@ernee100]

I knew what song you were going to feature just by your cryptic title. So glad I lived through my 70s and 80s!

[@baileycormack2986]

Same lol

[@martineldritch]

Great movie and band. 1989's Eddie and the Cruisers ll was a lot of fun to watch. Sure, it's not exactly Citizen Cane but Eddie lives and some more great music from Cafferty

[@buddyvilla7393]

Citizen Kane!!!

[@TammyBeth1015]

I'm willing to argue that overall, that soundtrack is even better than the first one

[@brianerickson6775]

I agree. What made the First movie was it invoked the mystery of all of "Might of Beens". i.e. Buddy Holly Jim Croce, Elvis, Jimi Hendrix. "Eddie Lives" couldn't match "Eddie and the Cruisers", but a solid sequel. The music was great.

[@rustysjourney]

I grew up in southeast Massachusetts and us kids knew of Beaver Brown. When the movie was released we were pumped! We bought the soundtrack, we bought the Beaver Brown records. We thought it would last forever. The music however, is still there for us. This brought back many memories. Great interview.

[@MrJbassrw]

Me too. I was about 13 when Eddie and cruisers came on cable. Everyone watched it a million times and on the dark side was all over the radio. John seems like an incredibly cool guy. Cheers

[@MeltWithU]

I absolutely love seeing artists like this who don’t take their moment in history for granted. Who appreciate every second of where they were and what they’ve done. Too many attitudes and too much narcissism in a business that is based off of that lightning in a bottle. It goes just as fast as it comes, and if you don’t appreciate it and the people who listen to your music in order to get you to where you are, then you lose the forest through the trees. Would love to have my own conversation with him and just talk about music in general. Would also love to sit down and just write something with him. Great interview, as always. Hope all is well.

[@peteallen8420]

"Eddie And The Cruisers" is an amazing soundtrack, I remember seeing the movie in theaters, loving the movie and music, I went and bought both vinyl and cassette copies. I later bought it on C.D. and more recently as an mp3. My point being that 41 years later and I still think it is one of the greatest soundtracks ever made.

[@Haue74]

I saw the movie in the early '90s and I was crazy about the music, and I still am 30 years later. It's just soooo good. :-)

[@ProfessorofRock]

I have to agree!

[@bobbcarpenter7031]

My dad had been heavily involved in radio from 1953-1977. He'd gone from DJ for WALE in Fall River, MA to general manager of WNBH in New Bedford, MA. Apparently, he and Michael Antunes went waaay back! Because when the movie came out, we were then living near Dallas, TX and my dad caught wind of it at KDFW Channel 4. He found out the band was touring to promote the movie. After the movie/concert was over, Tunes came to stay with us in Red Oak, about 12 miles south of Dallas. While i was sharing some of my original tunes with Tunes, we both heard cowbells outside of the house. We both went out the front door to see at least a dozen cows mooing and walking as a small herd down our street. He just shook his head in amazement at what he was seeing at 4 in the morning in Texas! It was a memorable time for all of us. Thanks, Professor, for bringing this story to light!

[@garyjackson3531]

Professor... I really can't put in words how much I appreciate what you do. This was a great interview. You do a really great job.

[@davidkaplan5507]

I went to Monmouth College, West Long Branch, NJ… Remember Beaver Brown Band being a local bar band. In the movie , they so captured being down the shore( only Jersey residents know that term). Great film, great band .

[@bmore778]

SOAP Music (Sounds of Asbury Park). Remember the Fast Lane, 4th and Kingsley, between the Bowling Alley and the Baronette. Wild Summer Nights

[@BigTimeRushFan2112]

Eddie! Eddie! Eddie! Remember watching it in the early 80's when my parents rented the VHS. Great stuff!

[@ProfessorofRock]

What a time!

[@BigTimeRushFan2112]

@@ProfessorofRock the 80's were simply the best.

[@NotBenCoultry]

This song and that movie are two of the most prominent ingredients that made me become a musician. That, growing up with MTV (and VH - Dreams, PF Learning to fly, etc) and my father's 1960s-70s LP collection... Well now it's the 2020s and I'm making classic prog. What a strange and wonderful freaking path, and I still feel like I barely started. Thank you for this song man, it really was formative for this 5 year old.

[@coachhumph5524]

As cool as The Dark Side is, the song I really love is Tender Years. The instrumental outro culminating with the piano solo is just incredible.

[@amagickalmeliss]

Season in Hell is 🔥🔥🔥

[@donwarrington4916]

Summer of 83 was a big year for movies ... Return of The Jedi , Flashdance , E.T. , Octopussy , Tootsie and Vacation all released that summer

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

It was! Well no Tootsie was released in December 1982

[@muziktrkr]

@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980Movies ran for MONTHS back then though! It all becomes a blur.

[@adotintheshark4848]

and nearly all of those blew chunks

[@brianerickson6775]

@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 You are 100% correct Dr. Strange.😁😁😁 (Dr. Strange had similar line in the movie)

[@vandalorianvandalorian4769]

The year I graduated from high school!

[@wildbill7081]

No Body did this song better then John cafferty and this is one of my favorite interviews you have done Thank You

[@joefromravenna]

The thing that makes 80s music so great is that it was musically interesting. It’s not just 4 chords, and there were songs like that. But there were rock songs with instruments like the sax or piano. Years later there are dimensions to songs that i love to rediscover.

[@seereadnhear]

Boy I've been waiting to watch this episode. Had a procedure done this week so I couldn't do it when it debuted. I'm so glad that you talked about this song and that great movie and awesome soundtrack.

[@rogertemple7193]

I heard this song and the video for it on KZbin and on the radio many times by John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band and they always reminded me of Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band but they disappeared like many bands during this time but great to see this interview with John, thanks Professor.🎶🎤🎸🎸🎹🥁🎶

[@FredGroenke55]

When I first heard this song on the radio, I actually thought it was the Boss.

[@ProfessorofRock]

Thanks Roger! Enjoy!

[@ProfessorofRock]

Same!

[@debbie4503]

​@@FredGroenke55 I did too

[@WhiteCamry]

@@FredGroenke55 We all did.

[@sakostwwy1903]

Just recently I was thinking about this movie. I searched all over the net to watch it and couldn’t find it. So I bought the BluRay that has both movies. I have a true home theater and popped up some popcorn, fired up the projector. It took me back for sure. I was one of those kids that watched it probably 50 times on HBO. I remember when part 2 came out, a whole bunch of us from the block got together to watch it at my house and had a party. Absolutely love those movies and the soundtrack. Now I got to hear the story behind it. THANK YOU POR!!

[@bakstabbath]

I loved Eddie and the Cruisers. Isn't it crazy to think that 1983 was only 20 years after the events in the film. Now the movie is 40+ years... I feel old and have to lay down lol

[@xennial80sxberner]

It probably seemed like 30 years ago especially with all the sociopolitical shifts during the late 60s and 70s though lol

[@Jims_Camera_at_dawn]

Thank you for another great episode. ☕️☕️🎶🎵🎶

[@dgtwo3724]

1983-84. I remember this so well and whenever I hear the song, I go right back to age 14 & 15 and the guys I grew up with and watched the film with on cable TV. In fact, today 9/13/24 is three years since one of those old friends, Robert, passed away in 2021. He always comes to mind when I hear "On The Dark Side". When the song and film were out, I remember asking my parents of Eddie & The Cruisers were a real band when they were growing up. The told me no and thought it was funny that I asked but my father would ask of that was Bruce Springsteen singing the song, which I completely understand. RIP to my friend, Robert. I played this song on my way to see him a couple of weeks before he passed, our first time together after 25 years❤

[@cdncitizen4700]

"On the Dark Side" was something that COULD have easily been on Springsteen's "Born in the USA" album!

[@meowmax2004]

I was just about to type this! It would've been the second best song after Dancing In The Dark.

[@jjsamuelgunn1136]

touchy topic. JC and the Beaver Brown band had a reputation of being a wannabe of Bruce and his E Street Band

[@cdncitizen4700]

@@jjsamuelgunn1136 it's hard not to "sound" like someone else any more. As Barenaked Ladies sang... "It's all been dooooone... befoooooore"

[@cincity076]

I was one of those kids that discovered it on HBO. Absolutely great movie; great soundtrack. I raced out and bought the album on cassette. I remember listening to it over and over, on a trip to the Grand Canyon with my parents. I'm here to say, while The Dark Side was a good song, 'Tender Years' and 'Boardwalk Angel' were amazing! Thanks for covering this one, Adam! Great interview!

[@owensthomas]

Love watching and the stories that go with the music....pure GOLD!!!

[@ProfessorofRock]

Thanks!

[@mikemartin8408]

Great interview. Love this movie and this song. JC and Beaver Brown nailed this entire soundtrack.

[@jimray2281]

Lucky to see Beaver Brown at small clubs in RI/MA back in the late ‘70’s early ‘80’s - Gullivers in Smithfield RI was memorable “Wild Summer Nights”!

[@greggpappas3292]

Many Fridays and Saturdays at the Bon Vue Inn, Narragansett. Loved Gullivers!

[@path0610]

I saw them at January's in Pawtucket and Gullivers. Seems like yesterday, but it wasn't. Good times!

[@jimray2281]

Awesome - cool to see this interview

[@BaumgartenFilms]

During the height of the movie's soundtrack blowing up, John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band played a club in Orlando near the University of Central Florida. It was a great show. John stayed after the show and signed autographs and I still have it. :)

[@stevevanness4195]

I was going to college in Providence RI when the song came out, and I think the city in general was very proud of the success of the song & Beaver Brown

[@ProfessorofRock]

Very cool! Thanks for sharing!

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

Are they from Providence?

[@stevevanness4195]

@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 I’m pretty sure they’re from Rhode Island and played in Providence, that was the impression I was under at the time

[@justaug63]

Just wanted to thank you and share how much I appreciate the passion you express when sharing the soundtrack of my Life. The album covers in the background always inspires me to name them as well as recollect my own purchases. So, do you remember the Columbia House Record gimmick of the 70's and 80's. I can say, I was definitely one of the many millions to find myself in an early credit dilemma. It was certainly one way to start a lifetime of music purchases. Now that would be a great episode...

[@LowEarthOrbitPilot]

@ProfessorofRock : What a thrill it was to know their music made it into a movie. I used to watch John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band play at the Mishnock Barn in Rhode Island ❤️

[@WildOne71]

I seen the thumbnail and said EDDIE & the CRUISERS❤️🤣🤣🤣..you’re AWESOME

[@eauhomme]

Loved the Eddie and the Cruisers movies--both of them. My mother had seen Eddie and the Cruisers when it first came out--probably because she liked Michael Pare in "The Philadelphia Experiment"--and immediately bought the record and a couple 45's. They got played frequently over the next 30+ years.

[@chrislean1013]

She probably loved Streets of Fire too, another Michael Pare movie, which helped launch Dan Hartman.

[@eauhomme]

@@chrislean1013 Funny you mention that. I wasn't living with my mother in 1984 when I was 12. She was living on the other side of the country at the time, and had flown back to visit. We went to see Streets of Fire at the local drive-in theater. I had wanted to see it, and she thought I was asking to see "Firestarter", since she had not heard of "Streets of Fire", and no way she was going to see a Stephen King movie. Anyway, I convinced her it wasn't the same movie. We both had mixed feelings about the movie but loved the music. She had been a seamstress for local rock musicians, so we always had good music around, and she had been a major fan of Meat Loaf, and of course Jim Steinman wrote both "Nowhere Fast" and "Tonight is What it Means to be Young".

[@Loni783]

Wow, I was so excited to watch a video of yours and be able to figure out exactly who you're talking about just from your beginning description. Lol I had a friend named Chip who was a customer of mine when I was bartending. He was such a larger-than-life character. Every time he would come in, he would have me turn off the music I was playing. Every time he would make an announcement to the whole bar that he was about to play his funeral list. This included maybe 15 songs and one of those songs was on the dark side. Before the song would start he would look at me and say 1986 and then tell some crazy story from his past lol... He told me all about John cafferty and Eddie and the cruisers. He was such a cool dude and i miss all the stories now that he's passed on. When he died his wife contacted me for "the funeral list." It meant so much to me and she knew that I would remember those songs. It was funny because anytime he played his funeral list at the bar, the other customers would look shocked because they were not typical funeral songs. I always thought yeah right like they are really gonna play this at your funeral. So when I walked into his visitation and I heard On The Dark Side playing i couldn't help but smile. The friends we make thru music are like none other.

[@nickknight5543]

The movie was filmed in Montreal and I was an extra in the crowd. My brother and I had the rockabilly look going on. I was 17 years old.

[@jilllogan1288]

lucky guy!

[@suerowe3334]

I have to say, I agree with you Professor, John Cafferty is a great talent, and a super nice guy! He played once, at a club called The Pavilion, at Salisbury Beach, Massachusetts, where my om was the bartender. She asked him if I could meet him after the show, and he was gracious and kind enough to give me a few minutes of his time. I was 18 or so, and it was also my favorite at that time. I still remember meeting him, and the thrill of getting to see him/them perform from a front row seat. The respect and kindness that the whole band gave my Mom, will always be greatly appreciated as well. Thanks for bringing me back to this wonderful memory!!!

[@pmcgee78]

If I remember correctly Dan Hartman got noticed after The Sorels sang his song " I Can Dream About You" in Streets Of Fire

[@ProfessorofRock]

One of the best songs of the 80s!

[@nicholastotoro7721]

Dan Hartman had some success before that, he just wasn't a "household name" until Streets of Fire. Even then, he had to make an actual video for the song since everyone thought The Sorels were the real singers LOL!

[@actionsub]

@@nicholastotoro7721 I'd known of Dan Hartman in the 70s from his work with the Edgar Winter Group and a subsequent solo album called "Instant Replay". So when that soul group was shown in the video miming that song, and then the graphic ID'd it as Dan Hartman, I was like "uh, Dan Hartman's a white dude..." (Note: Dan shows up in one version of the film clip video as a bartender.) It's a bit more complicated when you find out that Dan turned the lead vocals for that track over to an R&B singer named Winston Ford. That said, if the purpose of music videos was to visually sell a song, "The Sorels" couldn't have done it better!

[@narosser]

Yep came here to post that exact same type of plot twist thing w the great Dan Hartman. And of course not only did he PLAY with Edgar Winter, he wrote many of their songs, most notably ‘Free Ride’. An under-appreciated talent for sure.

[@mramisuzuki6962]

@@actionsubyea they reworked all that back into a music video a little after the movies released.

[@MyName-pl7zn]

The perfect Saturday night song! To come up with a song that quick that we all still crank up every time we hear it. That captured the magic of rock and roll like no other song at the time. John Cafferty is a great interview with a fantastic story behind their music. Love this episode!

[@ProfessorofRock]

Thanks My Name! I agree.

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

Definitely a song to crank up on car stereos on a road trip.

[@lisapop5219]

Oh flashbacks, my mom loved the movie. Once she got the soundtrack on cassette, she wore it out! ❤ it

[@ProfessorofRock]

Very cool!

[@johnbarney5787]

I'm always SOOO happy when you have an interview with someone, and they are awesome people ! John Cafferty was super cool and gracious. Thanks Prof!

[@robertvance1873]

I have both soundtrack's and the later release called the lost tapes, All of John Cafferty and The Beaver Brown Bands Music is Amazing and Should be much more Popular and Celebrated.

[@w.llawrence86]

Listened to Cafferty's 1st show in Chicago on WXRT radio. That show was fun.

[@dirtyzardian]

What an incredibly humble guy, great interview.

[@LeeLee-sk2wf]

By the sounds of things, I was one of the rare people who loved the film the first time I saw it. Still have it and the second movie on VHS and I watch them regularly.

[@stillhere1425]

I think people who watched it tended to like it, except the critics, it's just, few got to see it.

[@ndmac440]

Really liked the movie. Got to see John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band open for Foreigner in 1985 in Denver. Tunes was awesome on sax. Loved their music. Theirs was also the first CD I bought (also in 1985) and heard that crystal clear piano and I was blown away listening to digital music compared to the old vinyl pops and hisses. Thank you for the memories.

[@robsolf]

Love this whole soundtrack. We had this, Born in the USA, and Scarecrow within a couple year period. GREAT time for roots rock.

[@ChicagoDB]

@ProfessorofRock - thanks Professor…those were my high school years and I have always loved the soundtrack. “Tender Years” is my fave from that super soundtrack. Another of my all-time fave soundtracks and “band films” is “The Commitments”…not “Rock” but I hope you’ll cover it someday!

[@BearRamsey62]

at age 15 I went to my very first live rock concert, and it was Led Zeppelin, I still have a polaroid photo I took in front of the stage, as the band was rocking out to Immigrant Song, I was mesmerized, my Aunt and Uncle who had taken me, were commenting to my mom about how still and focused I was the entire three hours, not diverting any attention other than the stage and the music being performed in front of me, because any other given day I was wide open and mind racing and with attention span of a puppy on a car ride, to say hyper-active wouldn't even come close, but music, and creating music, writing lyrics and eventually having a fairly successful band of my own and performing mainly songs I wrote, which back then it was unheard of for a local band in our area to do shows of all original tunes and it took me years to finally be able to say, "Wow, i did write some good songs." I became one the most known /unknown artist around or over 30 years, you could mention my name anywhere in the world and there was at least one person who was a fan and knew who I was, that boggled my brain, and finally after years of not understanding why music grabbed my focus an everything else I simply ignored, I was diagnosed as the same condition the man had on the movie A Beautiful Mind, except instead of equations, I hear music in my head all day every day and I have to write the song I hear or it wont stop, like jukebox that is always on., and I ain't complaining, there could have been worse things to focus on.

[@ProfessorofRock]

WOW!

[@yvettevitacaponigro]

Thank you for sharing your story with us. I checked your catalog of your music, I must say just listening to a few of your songs, you Rock! 🤘🏻👍🏻✌🏼😊

[@BearRamsey62]

@@yvettevitacaponigro thank you so very much

[@yvettevitacaponigro]

@@BearRamsey62 👍🏻✌🏼😊

[@yvettevitacaponigro]

@@BearRamsey62 Your first song that I played was lies. You definitely rocked it. Then I heard the song that you dedicated to your dad. I was blown away! Sorry for your loss. 🙏🏻 I subscribed to your channel so I can listen to more. I’m a little tired at the moment, because I am in treatment for. Small cell carcinoma, lung cancer. Between the chemotherapy and the radiation treatments I’m just a little bit exhausted. So I will definitely be back to listen to some more awesome music. Have a great evening. 👍🏻✌🏼🙏🏻😊

[@robinray7817]

On The Dark Side has been one of my favorite songs since I first heard it. It’s one that gave me chills as the first keys played, and it still does.

[@JamesKubajak-c1i]

You know, it doesn't surprise me that the movie flopped. In 1982, Riddley Scott's Blade Runner & John Carpenter's The Thing did terrible at the Box-office, even thought they were both well earned classics!

[@adotintheshark4848]

"Grease" had been popular but I think people were burned out on that type of retro movie at the time..don't forget too, " Star Wars" also flopped when it first came out.

[@brianerickson6775]

I just don't remember "Eddie" be advertised.(Sept 1982), also consider Grease 2 came out in June 1982. Grease 2 didn't help. BTW, I remember Star Wars doing very successful. I saw it twice in the theaters. Both times it was fairly crowded. After it's initial release.

[@adotintheshark4848]

@@brianerickson6775 Grease 1 sucked, 2 was probably twice as bad.

[@brianerickson6775]

@@adotintheshark4848 You have the right to your opinion. Grease 1 was a box office hit. Launched the careers of John Travolta and Oliva Newton-John. I liked it. Grease 2 was torture. My sister's four favorite movies: Pollyanna, Moon spinners, Oklahoma and Grease 2. She watched them over and over and over... She still does watch it over and over..

[@curtisthomas2670]

There's a weird little piece of rock n roll magic that sometimes happen where just hearing the opening of a song for the first time touches a part of you and you're somehow already in love with a song that you have no idea how the rest of it goes, and when you hear the whole thing your first feeling is fully validated and you really do love it. That happened to me with "On The Dark Side"

[@daveautzen9089]

Great film, great soundtrack, greater band! I recently got the soundtrack on vinyl.

[@eddiecarter9831]

Eddie & the Cruisers is still one of my favorite movies. The soundtrack is one that you can listen to from beginning to end without skipping a single song. Great music!

[@secularZoo]

Pink Floyd Live at Pompeii is my favorite Rock-Doc. You get a glimpse of them in the studio for Dark Side, plus a live performance at the ancient ampitheatre

[@thatsnotoneofmeatsmanyuses1970]

All those performances were great. It is my favorite version of Echoes.

[@AwlDeigh]

Great Interview…so appreciate you finding all these guys

[@rayv8185]

Sad thing is that most people who hear John Cafferty & the Beaver Brown Band music thinks they are Springsteen. My opinion they are much better than Springsteen

[@l1zrdking]

The grip the movie and this song had on me as a kid. You have no idea. I still fire it up from time to time to this day.

[@DC8091]

I know a girl who says that Eddie & The Cruisers is her, & her 20ish yo daughters, all-time favorite movie. Now that’s something I’d never heard before! I remember loving it when it was on HBO “47 times (a) week”, but haven’t seen it myself in years, might be worth a rewatch, if anything else because On The Darkside rules! 🤘

[@ProfessorofRock]

Such a great song!

[@Raggmopp-xl7yf]

Dang! I remember back then when pay-per-view cable channels had around a dozen movies and played the crap out of them. I still can't watch Young Frankenstein!

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

It’s not a girl, it’s a lady! 😜

[@DC8091]

@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 🤣touché!

[@AthenaWeaver]

I was in dance when I was a kid. For recital, an older boy did a solo to this song. It was so exhilarating to watch and hear that song. Automatic crush. Great song! It's a regular on my playlist.

[@JoeR203]

The thing that made it believable is that John Cafferty's singing voice was a great match for Michael Pare's speaking voice.

[@stillhere1425]

Yes. A 1965 movie, not particularly low-budget, trying to be real hip and happening, "Baby the Rain Must Fall," about a tortured hippie musician, played by Steve McQueen: When he sang, Glenn Yarbrough. Glenn was a fine musician, but no way would his voice come out of McQueen's mouth. If you (or anyone who might read this) don't know who they are, or how they sound, look them up.

[@rubybaby7320]

This guy! This guy! I love him, he's such a great interview. I always wanted to hear more from John Cafferty. Thanks for fulfilling a decades old dream. I can't say how much this movie meant. I was in my twenties and had to say good bye to Elvis years before. Ronnie Milsap's Lost in the 50s Tonight and add Queen's Crazy Little Thing and I think people my age were ready for a movie like this. It was James Dean, Elvis, Sock Hops and Jitterbugs (which was still a dance thing and hopefully kids will rediscover it), Bobby Knight, Teen Angel all brought into one story. Every generation makes emotional connections when they are teens but not every generation gets a movie that expresses those connections like Eddie and the Cruisers

[@SteeeeveC]

John needs to do voiceover work. Has the perfect accent.

[@karlpmadsen]

I knew who John and the band were and as soon as the music started in the movie I knew who was doing the music. No one believed me until the credits ran. One of my go to movies and bands!

[@MichaelD6287]

I'm tellin' ya, professor, in 1984 I had the hardest time reconciling myself to the fact that this song was NOT Bruce Springsteen & the E St. Band!

[@markdeloria20]

I watched Eddie & the Cruisers on HBO in the 80s DOZENS of times. Love that movie. "On the Darkside" is an absolute banger of a song. Never sounds dated, still sounds fresh to this day.

[@constipatedinsincity4424]

Back in the Saddle Again Naturally

[@shiroibasketshoes]

Good morning, Constipated; I'm taking off, blessings to you and yours and all the other wonderful people here!

[@constipatedinsincity4424]

@@shiroibasketshoes Hello my friend top of the morning 🌄

[@AnnaTrail-xp8pr]

Good day Mr Wang

[@constipatedinsincity4424]

@@AnnaTrail-xp8pr When ever I speak with you!

[@AnnaTrail-xp8pr]

​@@constipatedinsincity4424?

[@gSlover4reel]

One of the best movie soundtracks ever. Still have the cassette!

[@ProfessorofRock]

So cool!

[@jerryramsey4236]

Reminds me of Bruce Springsteen on this song 'On The Dark Side'?

[@shaunthom]

Eddie and the Cruisers 1 & 2 are two of my favourite movies and sound tracks. Michael Pare did an excellent job of miming Johns voice.

[@alexs.8401]

I always felt this song owed a lot to Springsteen's "It's Hard to be a Saint in the City". Definitely that Jersey Shore sound.

[@ProfessorofRock]

For sure!

[@stvitalkid7981]

@@ProfessorofRock. And for sure, On the Dark Side could have been the inspiration for R.O.C.K. in the USA by Mellancamp. Lots of similarities.

[@ShelleybutyoucancallmeShell]

I LOVED Eddie and the Cruisers (both movies!). I have the dvds. I have seen both movies at least 3 times. Time to watch again soon. John Cafferty's voice was a perfect fit to be completely believable as Michael Paré's voice. I thought the music was amazing,and loved the storylines. I have no idea why the movie(s) didn't do well in theaters. And having a Platinum Blonde member in the movies- so cool. I had no idea that Southside Johnny was involved in the music. I did know some people did think Springsteen did the vocals- but not me- I knew Springsteen's voice too well. But, it was my introduction to John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band. I was working in a record store when the soundtrack came out, and it was an album I played a lot while working. Wow! Loved the interview! Thanks, P.O.R.!❤

[@jamesgambony5870]

I grew up hearing Springsteen on the NY radio stations before he made it nationally.... this song always felt like it was something left over from either the Darkness on the Edge of Town or Born to Run sessions. Right down to the saxophone player... ;-)

[@ShelleybutyoucancallmeShell]

@@jamesgambony5870 You're right! It would have been a great fit for Darkness... I find John Cafferty's singing voice distinguishable from Springsteen's at that same time period as JC had a thicker voice, and lower, a little nasally. Definitely sings in a lower register compared to his speaking voice. But Springsteen's voice during Hungry Heart release was so much different compared to when Springsteen began getting older. When he was young, his voice sounded younger and cleaner/smoother to me. Oh,- aging. Happens to us all! 🙁😆

[@TerrickTerran]

Greetings Rock and Roll fans

[@Whisper_292]

Good morning!

[@TerrickTerran]

@@Whisper_292 hello Whisper. Have a great day.

[@Metalbass1979]

Hello from Kenya. 😎

[@FredGroenke55]

Hello Terrick and fellow music junkies.

[@TerrickTerran]

@@FredGroenke55 hey Fred.

[@thejackal007]

So glad to hear about this Greatest Hits collection! Amazing song, too. I knew nothing about the movie it was based on but I will always listen to the song when it comes on the radio!

[@NOLAgenX]

What’s funny is Eddie and the Cruisers 2 was the worse movie of the 2 and it got distribution to theaters. I remember taking a date to it. Anyway, the movie and the first hit immediately got me to buy John Cafferty Tough All Over. It was a really solid album!

[@TJMagine]

I don't know I saw the second one before I saw the first one when I was a kid and honestly I like the second movie better than the first movie, but to each their own.

[@ProfessorofRock]

Ha ha. It came out in the great summer of 1989 too!

[@NOLAgenX]

@@ProfessorofRock Yep! A great music year also.

[@kevinfisher5492]

@@TJMagine The sequel certainly had it's moments, like the beach scene where Eddie reveals that he's actually alive.

[@JasonSimmonds-rg7ru]

I always preferred the sequel, the movie and the music

[@dannysunay4386]

I actually had a neighbor who had cable and saw the movie! LOVED IT! The song is so memorable! My favorite biopic of all time is the buddy holly story with gary busey!❤❤😊

[@DC8091]

Eddie “Lives”? 0:26

[@cahg3871]

That’s was the title of the sequel-“Eddie and The Cruisers-Eddie Lives”.I believe the sequel was filmed partly in Montreal Canada.

[@hbull9253]

John Cafferty & Beaver Brown Band has always been one of my favorite bands. Great music to tap your toes too.

[@keithguidry2841]

As good or better than any Springsteen song!

[@ProfessorofRock]

You think? As good but not better! ha ha!

[@FredGroenke55]

That’s a bold statement that I don’t believe to be true.

[@josephkogut4205]

Easy that’s bold statement let’s see if it pans out…it’s a great record but it’s Backstreets lite…no wall of sound and substance is broken friendships.

[@AnnaTrail-xp8pr]

Better for sure

[@eclecticx]

Great song, great band, great movie! Seriously underrated movie. Should have been a HUGE summer box office success. Pare` was unreal, he was so good.

[@jimmyramone7396]

When i was a kid, i actually believed they were a real band.

[@Metalbass1979]

Wait...... they weren't? 😉

[@mitchellbaker9434]

They may not have been at the time of the movie, but they absolutely did exist in some form later, because I saw them.

[@jimmyramone7396]

​@@mitchellbaker9434 was talking Eddie and the Cruisers.

[@Metalbass1979]

​@@mitchellbaker9434No, what you saw was a weather balloon, or maybe some swamp gas. 😎

[@BrentCox-m3r]

Love this song!! Very cool interview Professor!🤘🔥

[@ProfessorofRock]

Thanks Brent!

[@Whisper_292]

Hey, y'all.

[@shiroibasketshoes]

Good morning, Whisper! Blessings to you and yours, I'm off to Japan and won't be accessing internet there, no cellphone. Stay safe!

[@TerrickTerran]

Hey again, Whisper.😝

[@Whisper_292]

​@shiroibasketshoes Have a safe, amazing trip and give me deets when you get home!

[@Whisper_292]

​@@TerrickTerranAll the hellos in the mornings!

[@Mark_Lawler]

One of my favorite movies and soundtracks back in the day. Still love both. Thanks for sharing this!