I hear the song every so often on the "classic rock" station that I listen to on my daily walks. It's a good song. I never change the channel when it's on at least. I don't remember the movie at all.
Holy crap. “Life is a Highway.” Never made that connection. Really enjoyed this piece. Going to have to rewatch film to investigate those red shoes. Take care.
Loved the European alarm siren at 3:55. Who knew there was lap steel guitar! Never saw the movie but might look deeper at RR on Mike Thompson’s recommendation!
I did. Had a drive this AM and listened. I love that 80s “sound” Hi-hat drum machine beat. The schoop schoop schoop schoop ah “ “ “ “ Man I miss this days 😩
Thanks for the great writeup! It's been a long time since I've listened to Lunatic Fringe, and this issue of RTL prompted me to go hear it again after many years - so thanks for that! This song will forever live in my brain among the melodic "third tier" classic rock songs that I remember liking but rarely hear on Classic Rock radio these days, along with tracks like "Ah! Leah!" by Donnie Iris, "I Got a Line on You" by Spirit, "Cities on Flame With Rock and Roll" by Blue Öyster Cult, etc. Thanks again for making me re-enjoy Lunatic Fringe after a long hiatus.
I’ve always loved the menacing quality of this song. I know the movie but I think it also got play with the carnies running the barely-bolted together rides at the summer carnival in my dirtbag town growing up. This was a fun, eye-opening essay.
I saw Red Rider back in 1979, opening for The Kinks here in Toronto! It was my second concert ever (first one was Queen in 1978). I didn't know Tom Cochrane would go on to much fame and fortune, at least in Canada.
I was listening to The Wall quite a lot of the time. I had no idea what it was about and now I’ll listen with new ears.
I will also put out there that I really like The Scorpions’ Winds of Change. I remember the fall of the Berlin Wall so vividly. It was very important to me.
Finally, thank you for recognizing it as a resistance song. We all need that right now.
I love this timeless classic, but my neighbour nearly killed it for me. It all started in the spring of 1983. My new neighbours from Newfoundland were sweet people and we started frequenting the arcade in the city 10 minutes away. One night, someone suggested Red Rider for the music of our sojourn to town; As Far As Siam is a great record. Lunatic Fringe sounded so good on that beater's car stereo, so good that they repeated the song again. They became obsessed with it and played it over and over again every time we took Robert's car anywhere. They played it for months on end, and I just stopped going to the arcade. It was bizarre!
Red Rider is one of the most underrated bands in Canadian history. Great piece, Jim!
I hear the song every so often on the "classic rock" station that I listen to on my daily walks. It's a good song. I never change the channel when it's on at least. I don't remember the movie at all.
Good stuff. Fun read, man.
Holy crap. “Life is a Highway.” Never made that connection. Really enjoyed this piece. Going to have to rewatch film to investigate those red shoes. Take care.
Loved the European alarm siren at 3:55. Who knew there was lap steel guitar! Never saw the movie but might look deeper at RR on Mike Thompson’s recommendation!
I think it would be worth exploring!
I did. Had a drive this AM and listened. I love that 80s “sound” Hi-hat drum machine beat. The schoop schoop schoop schoop ah “ “ “ “ Man I miss this days 😩
Thanks for the great writeup! It's been a long time since I've listened to Lunatic Fringe, and this issue of RTL prompted me to go hear it again after many years - so thanks for that! This song will forever live in my brain among the melodic "third tier" classic rock songs that I remember liking but rarely hear on Classic Rock radio these days, along with tracks like "Ah! Leah!" by Donnie Iris, "I Got a Line on You" by Spirit, "Cities on Flame With Rock and Roll" by Blue Öyster Cult, etc. Thanks again for making me re-enjoy Lunatic Fringe after a long hiatus.
Move to Pittsburgh and you’ll hear as much Ah Leah as you want. Donnie Iris is local noy made good. But also, don’t move to Pittsburgh.
I’ve always loved the menacing quality of this song. I know the movie but I think it also got play with the carnies running the barely-bolted together rides at the summer carnival in my dirtbag town growing up. This was a fun, eye-opening essay.
I saw Red Rider back in 1979, opening for The Kinks here in Toronto! It was my second concert ever (first one was Queen in 1978). I didn't know Tom Cochrane would go on to much fame and fortune, at least in Canada.
I first heard the song in MIAMI VICE's Smugglers Blues episode. Another great use. Thanks for an interesting take on the song and Vision Quest.
I too also associated the song as something that could have come from The Wall,
I was listening to The Wall quite a lot of the time. I had no idea what it was about and now I’ll listen with new ears.
I will also put out there that I really like The Scorpions’ Winds of Change. I remember the fall of the Berlin Wall so vividly. It was very important to me.
Finally, thank you for recognizing it as a resistance song. We all need that right now.
I love this timeless classic, but my neighbour nearly killed it for me. It all started in the spring of 1983. My new neighbours from Newfoundland were sweet people and we started frequenting the arcade in the city 10 minutes away. One night, someone suggested Red Rider for the music of our sojourn to town; As Far As Siam is a great record. Lunatic Fringe sounded so good on that beater's car stereo, so good that they repeated the song again. They became obsessed with it and played it over and over again every time we took Robert's car anywhere. They played it for months on end, and I just stopped going to the arcade. It was bizarre!
Really loved this post - both moving and thought-provoking. Thanks!!
I saw Rundgren, circa 2003, perform this live, with a tongue in cheek dedication to then-AG John Ashcroft. History doesn’t repeat but it rhymes?
They play this song often on my local classic radio station and it grabs my attention every time with that opening.
I bought Corporate Rock Sucks recently and looking forward to reading it. Thanks, Jim!