Various Artists - Fast Times At Ridgemont High Music From The Motion Picture (19 tracks) +Album Reviews

Another 80's soundtrack classic, ex-Eagles rock and new wave

Daniel J. Hamlow | Narita, Japan | 12/02/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Like Heavy Metal, the soundtrack for Fast Times At Ridgemont High was long out-of-print until 1994 or 1995, when both were finally issued on CD, and the music here is a mixture of late 70's California rock, as personified by ex-Eagles flying solo, and new age popsters. The two sounds are disparate but they make for a superb compilation. Here are the highlights.The main theme song is the rhythmic but semi-melancholy "Somebody's Baby" by Jackson Browne. "going walk up to her, I'm going to talk to her" reflects Mark Ratner's feelings towards Stacey.With "Waffle Stomp", ex-Eagle Joe Walsh has one of his goofy songs with a stomping beat. "You can punch out your boss/get fired from your job/collect unemployment/for your enjoyment/take out he trash/come down with a rash" and so on. One of the funnier songs here.Fellow ex-Eagle Don Henley comes next with the tender guitar and piano "Love Rules." Standout lyric: "I wish I didn't have so much to feel/it's much too scary and it's all too real"Louise Goffin's poppy "Uptown Boys" has a bit of 60's girl-group stylings in the chorus and backing singers, but the pre-chorus bits have that California sound a la Ronstadt or Karla Bonoff. Timothy B. Schmit's fingersnapping "So Much In Love" is a nice bit of doowop, with only a bass and drums coming in. The Ravyns' rocking "Raised On The Radio" is heard at least twice, once when Brad is washing his car.The Go-Go's' "Speeding" has a jamming beat reminiscent of "We Got The Beat", which wasn't included here despite playing during the first scene, but has a sound close to their Vacation era. One of the best songs by them and on this album. "Driving faster, driving faster...""Don't Be Lonely" by Quarterflash fits more on their debut album than Take Another Picture, and it's a good-enough song. And yes, there is a brief Rindy Ross sax solo.Like Heavy Metal, Fast Times sports two title songs, and they fit in the rock mode. The first is Billy Squier's "Fast Times (The Best Years Of Our Lives)" and the second is Sammy Hagar's hard-driving, with a grinding guitar and tempo like "I Love It Loud" or "We Will Rock You."Jimmy Buffett's goofy "I Don't Know (Spicoli's Theme)" perfectly fits the character, incorporating lines and loves of Spicoli: "too gnarly a day for a classroom" and "cruising is what I dig the most."Graham Nash's "Love Is The Reason" has a melody and sound like the Eagles' "Take It To The Limit", while Poco's well-paced "I'll Leave It Up To You" with its new wave synths makes it far from the country-rock band that emerged from the ashes of Buffalo Springfield. Donna Summer's "Highway Runner" sports some Eagles-ish guitar and sitar, and is a far cry from her usual disco stuff. It's not bad, just weird for her. Stevie Nicks' "Sleeping Angel" can also be found on the Enchanted box set; when I first heard it from there, I chalked another all-time great melancholy ballad for the Welsh Witch. This is played while Mike Damone is calling people who owe him money, to no avail.Palmer/Jost's "She's My Baby (And She's Outta Control)" is pure 80's new wave a la Devo or Cars. Oingo Boingo's raucous "Goodbye, Goodbye" is more like Stray Cats-like rockabilly, with a call and repeat bridge section.One of the best 80's soundtrack compilations, with the legacy of the Eagles included in various spots."

Great Movie, Great Soundtrack

Thomas Magnum | NJ, USA | 06/29/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Fast Times is one of the funniest movies ever made and the soundtrack captures the spirit of the movie quite well. Although the movie employs some great previously released material that doesn't appear on the cd (The Go-Go's "We Got The Beat" & Zeppelin's "Kashmir" as examples), the songs written specifically for the movie and appear on this cd stand up to those quite well. "Sleeping Angel" is one the prettiest songs Stevie Nicks has ever recorded as is "Love Rules" by Don Henley. Jimmy Buffett contributes a typically humorous track with "I Don't Know", the usually insipid Sammy Hagar mines a heavy chunk of rock in the title track, the Go-Go's provide a great original song with "Speeding" and the big hit off the album, Jackson's Browne's "Somebody's Baby" is still catchy. There are some very weak songs ("Uptown Boys" & the Timothy B. Schmidt remake of "So Much In Love" to name two)which prevent it from being a 5 star cd, but overall if you loved the movie, you'll love the cd. Even if you're not a fan, there is some outstanding music that makes the cd worth a listen."

Awesome, Totally Awesome!

Anthony Nasti | Staten Island, New York United States | 01/31/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Fsst Times At Ridgemont High" is one of my all time favorite movies ever. I've rarely laughed harder than I did when I saw this all time 1980s' classic.

One of the main reasons I loved it was because of the soundtrack, which I found to be an awesome compilation of music from thst time period. For months I searched for it but wasn't able to find it. I finally found it last night.

I'm so glad I did. Be advised that not every song from the movie is on it, but I think that's inevitable. Besides, I already have "Kashmir", "Moving In Stereo" and "American Girl", and I can do without "We've Got The Beat". But there's some darn good stuff on here. I love Jackson Browne's "Somebody's Baby", a fine piece of early 1980s' soft rock. There's a lot of other great stuff as well, such as Joe Walsh's "Waffle Stomp", Don Henley's beautiful "Love Rules", Quarterflash's "Don't Be Lonely", Sammy Hagar's title song, Jimmy Buffet's "I Don't Know (Spicoli's Theme) and of course Oingo Boingo's "Goodbye, Goodbye".

The songs sound very good, though I'd like to see a new version since next year is the film's 25th anniversary. Still, this will do for now."

Yes there was an 80's BEFORE Madonna

KRA | East End of LI | 08/25/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Although I could take or leave the movie itself, this sountrack is a great recap of the early 80's.

Tracks feature some groups who back in 1982 were riding high on the charts, and probally thought that they would be around forever such as the Go Go's (Speeding), Quarterflash (Don't be Lonely), Oingo Boingo (Goodbye, Goodbye), and The Ravyns (Raised On The Radio), as well as 80's icons such as Sammy Hagar, Joe Walsh and Don Henley.

The big hit from this album belonged to Jackson Browne with Somebody's Baby, proof that he can deliver a great non-political pop song.

Two "from the vault" tracks also delivered sales to this album, and they are Stevie Nick's Sleeping Angel (later to appear on at least one of her compilations), and Donna Summer's Highway Runner from the then unreleased rock/new wave orientated album I'm A Rainbow (released in full in 1996).

"Never Surrender" your love for the music of your High School & College Years!"

Excellent.

KRA | 03/30/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This movie is the best representation of the 80's to date. It completely captures the mood and feel of the decade. I was in high school during that time, and was too young to see it when it first came out. In watching it many years later, I was instantly transported back to high school. Who, from that generation, did not know a Spicoli, or Rat or even Damone? The music really brought back memories; rocking out in the school gym, first job, first girlfriend, etc. Beyond a doubt, this movie and the music will serve as the best representation of the '80s ever filmed and recorded."

Search - Various Artists :: Fast Times At Ridgemont High: Music From The Motion Picture

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