WAYNE’S WORDS
Volume 6 Number 02
Learn It. Know It. Live It.
Well, hello there! I’m back. I decided to take the Month of February off since tis my birth-month. Hey! I deserve a break! Tis quite grueling to have to work one day a month! I’m only human!
I couldn’t decide about what to write… I know you don’t want to hear anymore about people close to me who have died or been hospitalized or about friendships dissolved or realization of unrequited love. Too depressing, right? Trust me, I know!
Since I celebrated a birthday, I thought I would try to share with you little nuggets of wisdom that I have accumulated during my 45 years on your planet, but… I don’t know. I just don’t know if I am the one to pass on advice when so much around me is crumbly. All I can say is stay strong and keep the faith.
So I thought more about my birthday and remembered that I share it (the date – not the year) with Jennifer Jason Leigh. Neeto! Even MORE neeto was that I recently was able to view Fast Times at Ridgemont High on one of the movie channels! It was the first time in years that I actually watched it (unedited) from beginning to end. Twas quite fun. Not only did I have a milestone birthday this year, but so does Fast Times – it was released August 13th, 1982. That’s THIRTY years ago! OMG!
The movie is great, but what’s much more incredible is… I hear you all saying it… the soundtrack! Not just the album, but ALL of the music that is in the movie from beginning to end. (Some tracks are not on the album and some are not even credited.)
- Go-Go’s – We Got The Beat > During the opening credits and scenes.
- Poco – I’ll Leave It Up To You > When Ron Johnson goes into Perry’s Pizza.
- Joe Walsh – Waffle Stomp > Guitar riff plays when Brad walks into All-American Burger.
- Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers – American Girl > First day of school at Ridgemont High.
- Graham Nash – Love Is The Reason > When Rat tells Damone he’s in love with Stacy.
- Jackson Brown – Somebody’s Baby > Stacy sneaks out for her date (and the loss of her virginity) with Ron Johnson.
- The Ravyns – Raised On The Radio > Brad washes his car and Stacy gets her roses from the pedophile, Ron Johnson.
- Darlene Love – Winter Wonderland > Christmas shopping scene at the mall.
- Unknown To Me - I’ll Call It Spicoli’s Dream > Jeff’s dream of being interviewed by Stu Nahan. (If anyone knows the song – let me know!)
- Louise Goffin – Uptown Boys > Damone gives Ratner tips about dating using a cardboard cutout of Debbie Harry as his object d’ amour.
- Led Zepplin – Kashmir > Ratner and Stacy drive to dinner in his sister’s car.
- Unknown Artist – Strangers In The Night > The background lounge music is perfect for Stacy and Ratner’s date.
- Don Henley – Love Rules > Stacy attempts to make the moves on Ratner.
- Sammy Hagar – Fast Times At Ridgemont High > Spicoli and Jefferson’s little brother head to a party in Jefferson’s kick-ass Camaro Z-28.
- Donna Summer – Highway Runner > Everybody at Ridgemont prepares for the big game against Lincoln.
- Billy Squier – Fast Times (The Best Years Of Our Lives) > Jefferson nearly cripples every player from Lincoln High in retaliation for the destruction of his Z-28.
- Quarterflash – Don’t Be Lonely > Linda and Stacy talk and sunbathe by the pool.
- Don Felder – Never Surrender > Ratner and Damone interrupt Linda and Stacy’s sunbathing to “help them with their math homework.”
- The Cars – Moving In Stereo > Brad, um, fantasizes about Linda (and WE get to see her topless!)
- Gerard McMahon – The Look In Your Eyes > Damone (back-stabber) drinks iced tea with Stacy. (I skipped the ice-cream truck music that played as they walked from school.)
- See Number 6 > Damone and Stacy do it in the pool house.
- See Number 7 > Damone walks the hallways looking all smug and blowing off Stacy.
- See Number 3 > Brad drives to deliver a whole stack of those catch-of-the-day boxes to the boys at IBM and Nancy Wilson laughs at him at a stop light. (I skipped the Hawaiian music playing in the restaurant while Brad is changing.)
- Cheap Trick – Dream Police, Surrender > OK, so they are not REALLY in the movie, but Damone sings snippets of them while trying to sell Cheap Trick tickets to a girl on the bleachers. (Plus, Cheap Trick rocks!)
- Stevie Nicks – Sleeping Angel > Damone tries to raise the money for his half of his and Stacy’s abortion.
- Go-Go’s – Speeding > Damone finds a certain derogatory term written on his car and his locker.
- Jimmy Buffett – I Don’t Know (Spicoli’s Theme) > Ridgemont High students take their final exams.
- The Eagles – Life In The Fast Lane > The first song heard at the school dance. (It was actually played by Reeves Nevo & The Cinch at the dance and not The Eagles.)
- Sam The Sham And The Pharaohs – Wooly Bully > A song at the dance performed by reeves Nevo & The Cinch along with the vocal stylings of Jeff Spicoli.
- Timothy B. Schmit – So Much In Love > OK. Here’s the thing. This is supposedly the song playing when Stacy motions for Ratner to come over from the theater to the pizza place. According to the soundtrack listings and internet research. In the version of the movie I saw, it is a different song. Evidently it was replaced with this Schmit remake or this Schmit remake replaced it. In the version I recently watched, song’s lyrics begin “As we walk hand in hand in our own enchanted land, we’re reminded of the golden memories. On those soft summer nights, underneath the corner lights as we listened to our favorite melodies. Just a sweet love song, hear it all night long playing soft and low…..” and I CANNOT find this song on the internet, so I put in the Schmidt song.
- See Number 3 > Brad’s working the night shift at Mi-T-Mart.
- Oingo Boingo – Goodbye Goodbye > The “where are they now” blurbs and the closing credits.
Oh here is an IMDB link that talks about Alternate Movie Versions for Fast Times At Ridgemont High.
I will sign off for now with the Fast Times quote that has more and more meaning to me the older I get. “What are you, people? On dope?”
Until Next Time,
Wayne
