S.O.D. "Roadrunner" by The Modern Lovers

8/28/2015     A freedom of driving alone and the serenity of the suburban environment, specifically around Boston, form the basis of the passionate lyrics in this 1971 tune written by Jonathan Richman.  Music critics and journalists have given it high praise with Laura Barton of the daily London newspaper, The Guardian, describing "Roadrunner" as "the most magical song in existence" and making an attempt herself to visit all the places mentioned in the tune such as the Prudential Tower, Deer Island, Rte. 128 and many others all located in Massachusetts.  

     There are many versions of this tune that have been created by different groups with the most successful coming as a solo version by Richman which he began playing publicly at age 19.  As a teenager Richman saw the alternative rock group, The Velvet Underground many times and derived the format of "Roadrunner from the song "Sister Ray" by The Underground.  There were attempts to make it the Massachusetts state song, but too much controversy arose.  Rolling Stone magazine ranked it at #269 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.  

     The Modern Lovers formed in Natik, Massachusetts in 1970 and temporarily broke up in 1974.  Their original recordings were not released until after the breakup. Two years later they regrouped and were active until 1988.