FM soundtrack (1978)

"A NOW STORY WITH NOW MUSIC!"

A movie about Q-SKY, the #1 radio station in Los Angeles and the battles the staff must fight to keep things the way they are because the owner wants to sell more ad time.  Typical staff vs. suits stuff, loosely based on the real-life adventures of KMET radio (on a related note, check out the book Radio Waves, by former KMET DJ Jim Ladd).   Not much of a plot, and overall the movie is only enjoyable as a '70s time capsule, but the soundtrack is fantastic and the movie contains appearances by Linda Ronstadt, Jimmy Buffett, Tom Petty, and REO Speedwagon.  Evidently the movie budget was spent on licensing rights and drugs instead of screenwriters.  It didn't last long in theaters and is currently rated at 22% over at Rotten Tomatoes.  Even so, the movie is currently hard to find, with used copies of the 2000 release DVD currently fetching well over $100 on the secondary market.

MCA Records issued a double LP soundtrack album which peaked at #5 in its 24 weeks on the Billboard 200. It also won the 1979 Grammy Award for Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical.

Side One	Side Two
FM Night Moves Fly Like an Eagle Cold as Ice Breakdown Bad Man	Life in the Fast Lane Do it Again Lido Shuffle More Than a Feeling
Side Three	Side Four
Tumbling Dice Poor Poor Pitiful Me Livingston Saturday Night There's a Place in the World for a Gambler Just the Way You Are	It Keeps You Runnin' Your Smiling Face Life's Been Good We Will Rock You FM Reprise

In the order the music appeared in the film:

1. Opening credits: "FM" by Steely Dan, found on the soundtrack album (1978)
2. Jeff Dugan rushes to work: "Life in the Fast Lane" by the Eagles, found on Hotel California (1976) and the soundtrack album.
3. Jeff begins his radio show, takes request for "Freebird": "Hollywood" by Boz Scaggs, found on Down Two Then Left (1977)
4. Staff meeting: "Fly Like an Eagle" by the Steve Miller Band, found on Fly Like an Eagle (1976) and the soundtrack album.
5. Jeff and Doc Holiday in the booth: "Cold as Ice" by Foreigner, found on Foreigner (1977) and the soundtrack album.
6. Mother in the booth: "Night Moves" by Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band, found on Night Moves (1976) and the soundtrack album.
7. Regis Lamar enters the station: "It Keeps You Runnin'" by the Doobie Brothers, found on Takin' It to the Streets (1976) and the soundtrack album.  (Briefly interrupted by a recording of An der schönen blauen Donau, Op. 314 by Johann Strauss, commonly known as "The Blue Danube Waltz").
8. Regis meets Eric Swan in the booth: "Sentimental Lady" by Bob Welch, found on French Kiss (1977).
9. Jeff shows Regis around the station: "American Girl" by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, found on Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (1976)
10. "Save the Whales" Concert: "Livingston Saturday Night" by Jimmy Buffet, live version found on the soundtrack album.  Studio version on Son of a Son of a Sailor (1978).
11. Delores Deluxe meets Eric: "Do it Again" by Steely Dan, found on Can't Buy a Thrill (1972) and the soundtrack album.
12. Eric makes excuses: "Your Smiling Face" by James Taylor, found on JT (1977) and the soundtrack album.
13. Celebrating the new ratings: "Feels Like the First Time" by Foreigner, found on Foreigner (1977)
14. Jeff and Doc shooting bottles: "(Remember Me) I'm the One Who Loves You" by Red Foley, found on Songs Everybody Knows (1965).
15. Jeff meets Lt. Reach: "Green Grass and High Tides" by Outlaws, found on Outlaws (1975)
16. Tower Records remote broadcast: "Ridin' the Storm Out" by REO Speedwagon, found on Ridin' the Storm Out (1973).
17. Jeff and Regis discuss the military ad account: "Don't Stop" by Fleetwood Mac, found on Rumours (1977)
18. Entering the concert: "Life's Been Good" by Joe Walsh, found on But Seriously, Folks... (1978) and the soundtrack album.
19. Concert: "Tumbling Dice" by Linda Ronstadt, live version found on the soundtrack album.  Studio version on Simple Dreams (1977).
20. Concert: "Poor Poor Pitiful Me" by Linda Ronstadt, live version found on the soundtrack album.  Studio version on Simple Dreams (1977).
21. Concert: "Love Me Tender" by Linda Ronstadt.  Live version not available.  Studio version found on Living in the USA (1978).
22. Eric and Bobby in the studio: "Baby Come Back" by Player, found on Player (1977)
23. Eric loses it on the air: "Just the Way You Are" by Billy Joel, found on The Stranger (1977) and the soundtrack album.
24. Eric breaks down, Jeff consoles him: "The Key to My Kingdom" by B.B. King, found on Completely Well (1969)
25. Office conversations/Mother quits: "More Than a Feeling" by Boston, found on Boston (1976) and the soundtrack album.
26. Mother and Laura talk in the booth: "There's a Place in the World for a Gambler" by Dan Fogelberg, found on Souvenirs (1974) and the soundtrack album.
27. Tom Petty in studio: "Breakdown" by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, found on Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (1976) and the soundtrack album.
28. The Prince of Darkness on the phone with Laura: "Life's Been Good" by Joe Walsh, found on But Seriously, Folks... (1978) and the soundtrack album.
29. Staff meeting: "Southern Man" by Neil Young, found on After the Gold Rush (1970)
30. Staff enters the studio at night/conflict preparations: "Lido Shuffle" by Boz Scaggs, found on Silk Degrees (1976) and the soundtrack album.
31. Street scene, management vs. staff:  "Bad Man" by Randy Meisner, found on Randy Meisner (1978) and the soundtrack album.
32. Night scene on street outside studio: "We Will Rock You" by Queen, found on News of the World (1977) and the soundtrack album.
33. Jeff gives speech from the roof/court injunction arrives/riot: "Slow Ride" by Foghat, found on Fool for the City (1975).
34. Moral victory/end credits: "FM Reprise" by Steely Dan, found on the soundtrack album (1978)

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