Fast Times at Ridgemont High soundtrack (1982)

This movie was one of the first rated R movies I got into - my friend Jim bought the tickets and I did my best imitation of a 17 year old (I was 16 and looked 14).  Unlike many teenagers, I completely ignored the soundtrack album in 1982 because I thought the Classic Rock music didn't fit the New Wave vibe of the movie. Many, many years later, I purchased the DVD of the movie, listened to the commentary by writer Cameron Crowe and director Amy Heckerling and discovered that I was right:  one of the film's producers, Irving Azoff (manager of the Eagles), forced this music into the movie.

"I had to use a lot of music that I totally, totally hated." - Amy Heckerling

Heckerling wanted Elvis Costello, Dead Kennedys, etc.  Her only victories were the Go-Go's We Got The Beat over the opening credits, an excerpt from Led Zepplin's Kashmir (neither on this soundtrack album, but would have been welcome additions) and Oingo Boingo.

Cameron Crowe's 1981 book is long out of print and used copies are selling for a good piece of change on the secondary markets.  If you've got money to burn, do it.  If not, I strongly suggest you do what I did and get your local library to find you a copy through Interlibrary Loan (or click here until the site is taken down.).  It reads much like the movie script and certainly isn't a challenging read, but I enjoy it. It basically reinforces the teenage tropes we all know are true: high school kids are infatuated with alcohol, drugs, and premarital sex.  Sex, drugs, and rock 'n roll!

The 2 LP soundtrack album sold well, but probably not up to expectations.  It peaked at #54 in Billboard and #48 in Cash Box.

Side One	Side Two
Somebody's Baby Waffle Stomp Love Rules Uptown Boys So Much in Love	Raised on the Radio The Look in Your Eyes Speeding Don't Be Lonely Never Surrender
Side Three	Side Four
Fast Times (The Best Years of Our Lives) Fast Times at Ridgemont High I Don't Know (Spicoli's Theme) Love is the Reason I'll Leave It Up to You	Highway Runner Sleeping Angel She's My Baby (And She's Outta Control) Goodbye, Goodbye

The following list is based on the 2004 DVD release.  In the order of appearance:

1. Opening credits/mall: "We Got the Beat" by The Go-Go's, found on the Beauty and the Beat (1981)
2. Stacey waits on Ron:  "I'll Leave It Up to You" by Poco, found on the original soundtrack album (1982)
3. Brad enters All American Burger: "Waffle Stomp" by Joe Walsh, found on the original soundtrack album (1982)
4. First day of school: "American Girl" by Tom Petty, found on Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (1976)
5. In Damone's bedroom: "Love is the Reason" by Graham Nash, found on the original soundtrack album (1982)
6. Stacy and Ron go to The Point: "Somebody's Baby" by Jackson Browne, found on the original soundtrack album (1982)
7. Brad washing the Cruising Vessel: "Raised on the Radio" by The Ravyns, found on the original soundtrack album (1982)
8. Christmas at the mall: "Winter Wonderland" by Darlene Love. found on A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector (1963)
9. Spicoli's dream sequence: generic surf rock incidental music
10. In the mall, Damone's five-point dating plan: "Uptown Boys" by Louise Goffin, found on the original soundtrack album (1982)
11. Stacy and Rat in car: "Kashmir" by Led Zepplin, found on Physical Graffiti (1975)
12. Stacy and Rat in restaurant: stock incidental music from Universal music library
13. Stacy and Rat in Stacy's bedroom: "Love Rules" by Don Henley, found on the original soundtrack album (1982)
14. Spicoli and Jefferson's little brother in Jefferson's Camero Z28: "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" by Sammy Hagar, found on the original soundtrack album (1982)
15. High school montage before Lincoln game: "Highway Runner" by Donna Summer, found on I'm a Rainbow (1981/1996) and the original soundtrack album (1982)
16. Ridgemont vs. Lincoln football game: "Fast Times (The Best Years of Our Lives) by Billy Squier, found on the original soundtrack album (1982)
17. Stacy and Linda by the pool: "Don't Be Lonely" by Quarterflash, found on the original soundtrack album (1982)
18. Damone and Rat join Stacy and Linda by the pool: "Never Surrender" by Don Felder, found on the original soundtrack album (1982).
19. Bard fantasizes about Stacy: "Moving in Stereo" by The Cars, found on The Cars (1978)
20. Damone and Stacy drink tea at Stacy's House: "The Look in Your Eyes" by Gerard McMahon, found on the original soundtrack album (1982).
21. Damone and Stacy in the pool house: "Somebody's Baby" by Jackson Browne
22. Damone walks the halls of school, ignores Stacy: "Raised on the Radio" by The Ravyns
23. Brad changing clothes at Captain Hook's Fish and Chips: generic slack key guitar incidental music
24. Brad driving Crusing Vessel on delivery: "Waffle Stomp" by Joe Walsh
25. Damone sings while pushing concert tickets: "Dream Police" and "Surrender" originally by Cheap Trick
26. Damone on phone trying to collect debts/Stacy waiting for ride: "Sleeping Angel" by Stevie Nicks, found on the original soundtrack album (1982).
27. Damone finds car and locker vandalized: "Speeding" by The Go-Go's, found on the original soundtrack album (1982).
28. Students taking final exams: "I Don't Know (Spicoli's Theme) by Jimmy Buffett, found on the original soundtrack album (1982).
29. Graduation dance: "Life in the Fast Lane" by Reeves Nevo & The Cinch, originally by Eagles
30. Graduation dance: "Wooly Bully" by Reeves Nevo & The Cinch, originally by Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs
31. Stacy beckons Rat in the mall: "So Much in Love" by Timothy B. Schmit, alternate version appears on the original soundtrack album (1982).
32. Brad and Spicoli at Mi-T-Mart: "Waffle Stomp" by Joe Walsh
33. Ending and closing credits: "Goodbye, Goodbye" by Oingo Boingo, found on the original soundtrack album (1982).

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