When Their Big Break was Stolen, Random Cable TV Airing Shot 80s Bar Band to #1 | Professor Of Rock
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- Опубликовано: 2 окт 2024
- The unbelievable story of John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band’s rise to the top of the charts in 1984 with the hit On the Darkside from the soundtrack for Eddie and the Cruisers. They were a hard working rock and roll bar band that sometimes played 3 gigs in one day.. growing up in the same trek as Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band and Southside Johnny.., They played wherever and whenever paying their dues until their big shot came. A producer for a movie wanted to use their music as the back drop for a big hollywood rock and roll film… they finally got to record a full album but then in a big blow the movie died at the box office and was pulled from theaters. A full year later John Cafferty got a call… his album had just sold 25K copies in one day, the movie had just found new life on cable tv. In our latest edition of Bottled Lightning this rock crusader tells us how he went from a never was to a top 10 single and multiplatinum album in just a few weeks next…
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Isn’t John Cafferty great? For the first time ever John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band are releasing a Greatest Hits album that includes the songs from both Eddie & The Cruisers movies plus Rocky IV and Cobra and the band’s others hits like Tough All Over and C-I-T-Y these songs have never been available all together.. They are all of the original recordings from the 80s --
- 16 tracks get it at the link below
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#1980s #rock #vinylstory
Hey music junkies Professor of Rock always her to celebrate the greatest artists and the greatest songs of all time if you work through your personal problem and demons through music. You’ll dig this channel make sure to subscribe to this channel right now so you don’t miss an episode. Also make sure to become a part of patreon channel as we just released an insider video you’ll want to see…
I’m excited to bring you another episode from our series Bottled Lightning - Where the impossible becomes possible. when it seems overnight a song or artist takes over the planet for a time with that magical lightning in a bottle sound. Today wehave one of the hardest working rockers of the 80s John Cafferty leader of the Beaver Brown band on his 1984 #7 hit On the Darkside from the Eddie and Cruisers soundtrack. Cafferty has one of the most amazing bottled lightning slash comeback stories of the decade. After recording a double side 45 independently that sold over 10k copies John Cafferty and his band Beaver Brown which came from a paint can were ready to take their music to the next level That’s when longtime fan Kenny Vance a notable producer who was once a member of Jay and the Americans recommended them for a movie being made out of the Novel Eddie and the Cruisers.. This is one amazing story of how a singer and his band paid their dues and got a shot at the title only to falter and then rise from the ashes to take over the charts. Couldn’t happen to a nicer guy.
I’ll let him tell you the rest. As we go into this interview I want to thank our sponsor Zenni eyewear
Poll: What is your pick for the best rock and roll MOVIE of all time? Also to order John Cafferty's Greatest Hits LP click here: a.co/d/hc3iQGV
I think Rock Star is the greatest; idolizing a band and then becoming exactly what you've been fantasizing about your whole life? so many of us who jammed along with our favorites would have died for that opportunity.
Bohemian Rhapsody
Purple Rain
Heavy Metal
Wayne’s World
Woodstock….
Er, that’s one right?
The entire Mamma Mia film
....ALTHOUGH I'm not a Fan, but....Cruise's "Risky Business" undies moment, to "Old Time Rock N' Roll" got those frat Boys SLIDIN' all over their Ma's House, in Ray-Bans!! ...ha-HAAA!!
I’m going to say The Wall is my favorite movie to watch and listen to but the story of The School of Rock wins
Love this. So over 20 yrs ago I was working at a gas station on Cape Cod, MA 3rd shift, playing my guitar doing scales and John came in after a show at a local bar. He said, "you play? I said yeah, running scales. He said putting your time in man...right on. Keep at it." I recognized his voice and he introduced himself. Told him how much I loved the big hit. He inspired me to keep putting the time in. 20 yrs later, my band has released their first album. so thank you, John Cafferty and thank you to you as well. I love these shows. They are inspirational. My band is Exonym. Feel free to check us out.
I believe that
John & his band were one of the most underrated groups of the 80’s
Absolutely love his voice!
Love their “Tender Years” and “C-I-T-Y” as well!
Same here. Quality music. Thanks for watching.
....ding-ding-DING!
I'm not one to watch a movie more than once, but the ones I do, I never tire of. Eddie and the Cruisers is one of them.
To this day, both Eddie movies are among my top favorite movies. I can watch them again and again! This is because the music is just so incredible and fits the story to the tee. The effect of the record guys reaction to Season In Hell was brilliant. John Cafferty made these movies what they were with great song and great performances! 🤘😎
Eddie and the Cruisers rock! Indeed they do!
What a great song that was.
I saw Eddie and the cruisers the next day I had the soundtrack. I love all the songs from each movie Tender Years is a great song
I have a John Cafferty story, but it would take too long to tell. These guys are (and ever will be) on my Favorites' Playlist. 😀
Seen these guys since the 70s, everywhere from The Casino by the Sea, Falmouth, MA, The Olde Forge Tavern, Easton, MA to The Rodeo Club, Lajolla, CA. Great band! Great guys!
This was the BEST match of singer to actor voice in a movie EVER! Wish Tender Years got as much airplay as On The Darkside did though 😕
Tender Years is a beautiful song. Their live version in concert was always amazing..
I absolutely love that movie
Great song, great interview, and what a great guy Cafferty is.
One of the most subtle and meaningful parts of the movie: sax player leans on the piano and just soaks in what he's playing, then gives the subtle smile and nod on the last note "ya done good kid"
I remember laying on the living room floor watching the movie on HBO. Such a wonderful movie and soundtrack. Still one of my mom's favorites
I remember hearing this song on the radio all the time when it was new--and yet SOMEHOW, I never noticed it had only one verse until I watched this video! Such is the magic of that song.
Great interview. Now I want to go back and watch this movie again. Thanks Professor.
Eddie and the cruisers, still love both 1 and 2 saw them both on TV mid 80s have both albums on my phone as well
Very cool. I need to go back and watch Eddie Lives. Have;t seen it since it came out.
Awesome! Rock on!
We got to see them play back in the early 2000's at those Summer Park Friday night sessions. They got the crowd so into their music, kids & adults were dancing. Fun time for sure.
I grew up listening to this album with my mom. This was my mother's favorite album. She wore out her cassette tape, it was so overplayed. 😂 I was able to find her a CD years later at a flea market.
Your mother has rockin' taste!
My ex-girlfriend from back in the day, loved this song & needless to say...she had horrific taste in music. That dating period didn't last long, thankfully. It's funny how a shit movie, takes a shit-band out of the shitter and into the mainstream & tortures millions of people with their horrendous crap.
From now on...when I watch another POR video, I am going to fast forward to see what the mystery band is first, so I don't have to be subjected to such a nauseating experience again.
Hit the like but that is double awesome
Wow! I love both movies and soundtracks! I have done Eddie and the Criusers double features a few times! That would be a blast on the big screen! EDDIE! EDDIE! EDDIE!
One of my middle school teachers won a contest to have John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band come play at our school. That was my first rock concert.
So cool! Thanks for sharing!
That had to be awesome. You will always remember your first concert. Mine was the Beach Boys. My dad took my sisters and I to a afternoon family concert, I was 10 years old but I still remember having a blast.
Wow, super cool!
Man that is really cool
I remember that concert. I was working for John at the time.
I remember watching this movie on tv & I thought it was a cool movie & I dig the soundtrack, too. Thank you Professor, have a beautiful day!
The voices were perfect for each other. Michael Pare has that deep voice so you really believe he's singing in the movie.
Michael Pare was really great in the film.
I really enjoyed this. This is the first real John Cafferty interview I've seen. 👍👍
I used to see Beaver Brown -- as they were called back before they hit it big--at beach clubs in Rhode Island. Those were the best nights of high school in 1978. I live in Chicago now and this past summer they came to Summerfest in Milwaukee. It's literally been over 40 years since I last saw them live but I was transformed back to those wild summer nights in Rhode Island.! I brought my adult daughter with me and showed her what I grew up with. She was impressed. Thanks JC and Professor for documenting rock history and reviving my youth. Awesome memories. Awesome.
Thank You from New Bedford Mass.
I always thought this was a Bruce Springsteen song. It wasn't until I got older that I realized this was Cafferty. What a great zero to hero story.
I am glad I wasn't the only one who thought this was Bruce when I first heard it. It also took me a while to realize it wasn't Bruce.
yes sir...
Me too. Thought it was Springsteen.
Great way to put it.
....NOT JUST YOU! ...I had to 'educate' soooooooo many People when I worked at Sam Goody...... "...no, it's NOT Bruce, It's CAFFERTY!" ...ha-HAAA!!
John Cafferty I was a HBO Youth when Eddie & The Cruisers Came out loved IT !!
Eddie LIves!
Indeed he does!
Eddie Munson lives too! 😜
My late father loved this movie! I was instantly addicted to the music. I bought both soundtracks and played them all of the time in my truck.... so many people got hooked just by riding with me.
John Cafferty one of the greatest and most under appreciated talents of all time! This man is a national treasure. He's never gotten the respect he deserves/earned.
Loved Eddie 1 and 2. Music was awesome
Decades later still iconic! How many artist can say that? Shoutout to my parents for getting cable when HBO had great movies and MTV had videos
Very cool comment!
My mom and aunts had cable for all this time and they watched MTV a lot!
I remember seeing it on Showtime. HBO and Showtime were kind of interchangeable at the time though.
hbo had this movie on repeat. i've seen it so many times... almost as many times as i've seen caveman.
@@Araye Yes!!! A fellow "Caveman" lover!
Great interview. I play guitar and sing, solo and with a band. I play and the band plays “On The Dark Side” we get the same reaction as in the movie and when John and the band plays. Everyone sings, dances, it’s one of those songs that moves you emotionally and physically.
The way he talks about learning from those that came before is one of the big things that's missing from much of today's music acts.
Exactly. So sad where we've ended up
This is one of my favorite songs of all time! My older brother was in love with the movie, but I fell in love with the music. This is an epic song!
I never knew who the singer was for this movie. I thought the movie, and is sequel, was pretty good. I worked at a video store at the time, it was a great job for a teenager and I worked there all through high school and college, so I remember when it came out in video.
It was a little known movie and we only had one copy, but after it was reserved two weeks in advance my boss ordered nine more copies. Even then all copies were always rented every weekend.
I never knew why it didn’t do well in the theatre, just on its soundtrack alone it should have been a hit in my mind. On the dark side was a great song and in my opinion it, and it’s band, should have been known more than it was.
They never got the exposure they should have had. They should have had the same exposure as Los Lobos did after the movie La Bamba.
I agree!!! I wish I had the original LP but instead I bought the cassette. The whole soundtrack is gold!
Thanks for sharing that story. Took me back.
Ahh, the days when video stores were big. On the Dark Side is a bonafide classic, it rocks!
I have never seen the movie but I remember the song and wanted what a nice guy
Loved the music from Eddie and the Cruisers. "Tender Years" is an even better slow one, and then "Season in Hell", a more modern complex piece that played a key moment in the film.
An interesting rarity is "Eddie and the Cruisers II: Eddie Lives", showing Eddie living in Montreal in the 80s under an assumed name, deciding to join a bar band. Good music, much more 80s than 60s, Cafferty and Beaver Brown again providing all the music.
Tender Years is great.
The whole soundtrack is awesome!
Would love to hear the story on Tender Years. That song is so epic to me and my favorite of the soundtrack!
Yes! The second movie and sound track was even better!!
The scene where Eddie struggles to get through the song and has to leave the stage is still one of the best acted scenes from a movie I have seen.
Loved the movie. Probably watched it 100 times as a kid, and it was largely due to the music. Cafferty seems like a cool, humble guy. Rock and roll through and through
Tender Years is still one of my favorite songs from the 80s... the piano at the end still gives me chills
I Couldn't agree more. Great song.
Same
Here are some of my memories. Marty Davidson is my uncle. My mom, Arlene Davidson, co-wrote the screenplay and associate produced the film. The film was not a boxoffice success but it became a cult classic and making it was one of the greatest memories of her life.
I visited the set in Atlantic City you talked about, the bar on the boardwalk. They allowed me to work as an assistant to the grip department, which was fun. I met the entire cast as well as Kenny Vance and John and the whole Beaver Brown band. I have especially good memories of Tunes, the sax player.
I remember my mom spoke with Tunes back in around 2012 when she was very sick with Alzheimer's. They talked about him coming to visit her but I don't think he was able to make it happen. But she did see Michael Pare one more time. He came to visit her at the senior center where she was living and I got to talk with him for a bit. I appreciate him for doing that.
I have to admit, every time I hear the opening of this song it brings both smiles and tears of joy. Thanks for this interview with John, it's great to see him again and share a long distance moment with him.
Wow! Thanks for commenting!
I loved those 2 movies (and soundtracks). Much appreciation to your mom for her writing, - I have both movies in my dvd collection.
Oh my goodness, that is super cool!
I drove those two blue Chevy Novas all around,even bought one when movie was done,worked for Ferco then,helped deliver equipment to set
Very cool. Those are memories you take to the grave. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for sharing. So cool.
Great video! Great movie! Great soundtrack!
Very similar other than the timeframe. This is my father's favorite movie, and now mine.
The scene in the movie where they actually develop the song (words and music) educated me and many on how to write a song and what it is all about! I was one of those kids who watched it over and over again and that scene (and song) always stuck out as pure magic!
I was eleven and my parents did not have cable. Remember loving this song on the radio, though...
I Love both of the "Eddie and The Cruisers" movies and have watched them countless times. I never get tired of them. The music just reaches inside of you and grabs your soul. It is Timeless music!!! I think John Cafferty and The Beaver Brown Band did not get the recognition they deserve. They are Awesome!!! Forever a Fan and Lover of their music!!
The Smithereens also came off Bleeker Street in the late 80's. I used to sell bootleg cassettes out front of The Bitter End on cold Winter Saturday Nights. One time, Living Colour's Will Calhoun got out of a cab, whispered "cover me", relieved himself whilst hiding next to me, then ran inside to jam with Vernon Ried. What great memories. Keep 'em flowin', Prof!
I actually thought that Eddie and the Cruisers was a real band when I first saw the movie, and you know what, they were in my heart and the heart of many others. Many thanks to John and the band and to you Adam for giving me a wonderful window into my childhood.
I guessed the band right away by the title of your post. I recently moved to Camden County, NJ and a new friend took me around on a Eddie and the Cruisers sight seeing tour. Was fun.
Good pick, Professor! What also could've led to its major success was because the "Born in the USA" album was such a hit in 1984, a lot of people mistakenly thought it was Springsteen & the E Street Band, right from the sound to John's screaming vocals.
Thanks Kylie!
IMO . . . . Better Than Springsteen . . . By Far
I saw and heard the video for “On the Dark Side” on MTV. I didn’t know about the film until then, and I only saw bits and pieces of the film after I graduated from high school in 1986. I was blown away by the song. In my humble opinion, JC and the BBB bottled the lightning that Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band were chasing. Both had that “streets of New Jersey” sound, but JC and the BBB had a more muscular posture with a bit of emulation of Detroit oomph (a la Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels). Not only was I wowed by “On the Dark Side” and recommended it to anyone who would listen, but my dad - a serious audiophile and mainly a fan of doo-wop and early rock and roll - was also impressed by it.
I hadn’t heard “On the Dark Side” since the early 1990s and had forgotten about it. Thanks for reminding me, Adam!
My favorite song from them was “Tender Years”. Brings tears to my eyes every time I hear it. Thanks John Cafferty for the great music.
My Dad and I bonded over this song too professor. This was more his type of rock and roll. He tried to explain to my young, raised on MTV, brain why the actor wasn't really the artist. I still have his copy of the Eddie and the Cruisers soundtrack that he loved to blare loudly as we both sang along! Great memories from a great song. I'm going on 10 years without my Father and I appreciate music like On the Darkside that we both loved and sang along together to!❤️
So cool. thanks for sharing a precious memory.
I've always had a special place in my heart for music of the '50s, and the way music was produced back in that decade and ending in the early sixties. I have to admit for a person who lived in the theater through the 80s, Eddie and the Cruisers movie wasn't even known to me.
It took a friend of mine to bring a copy that he had run it from video store for me to discover not only the movie but the soundtrack. To say I love the music and the movie will be a understatement, it touched all the bases for me for sure. Years later I had the loaned a young lady that I met some money and in return she gave me her VHS copy of Eddie and the Cruisers, as a way of paying me back.
I honestly believe that she thought she was getting over on me but it was money well loaned....!! Lol
I feel the same! the 50s were magical.
50s and early 60s doo wop was classic! I mean, the Platters, Elvis, Chuck Berry? Who could go wrong?
The trailer to the movie was pretty much the intro to the song. I remember thinking I absolutely had to see this movie based on that song.
It was a great way to pull you in. HE nailed it.
1984...the year I graduated high school, and possibly the greatest musical year ever, and "On the Dark Side" was a part of it. What a great tune! Adam, I'd love to see you do something on The Tubes.
Same here exactly.
WPOD, was our anthem when we were in school.
Will do!
I'm from LA and in the late 70s and early '80s those guys used to play it small venues all over the place. They always put on a fantastic live performance.
The Tubes are great!
Awesome movie and even better soundtrack! On the dark side is a timeless song that to this day doesn't sound aged
Opened for these guys back in the day. Nicest bunch of people. Much respect for them.
Great, great band. I will be buying that album. To some the movies were bombs. I thought they were great. I rtink musicians understood them more than civilians. And no mistaking where they were from. Didn't need to be told. That Jersey sound is like no other.
I always thought of him as a Bruce Clone, but now I understand much better. What a nice guy! And I love that he always said "we" and "us" when talking about his musical history, never just "I did this thing". Much respect!
I remember seeing the trailer for the movie before it came out. Went and saw it based on the music and then picked up the soundtrack album. Played the heck out of it.
It's a great album. So many good songs. I always loved their version of Runaround Sue.
I wonder if they benefitted slightly from the fact that 90% of listeners would think this is Bruce Springsteen.
Couldn't hurt!
I would not be surprised by that.
Are you kidding me, this is way better then Springsteen.
Oh, man, besides Top Gun, The Outsiders, Red Dawn, and Rocky 4, Eddie and the Cruisers were the most influential for so much, including the music. John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown band are awesome!
This is such a great, iconic song. I don't think I ever heard another tune from John Cafferty & Beaver Brown band but I've played this song enough to make up for that, I think.
They have a lot of great tunes. I'm excited about this greatest hits album coming out.
yep, it's as iconic as Princes of The Universe & Flash by Queen, Eye of the Tiger and Danger Zone along with dark side being absolutely legendary IMO
also Storybook Love from Princess Bride....absolute killer song....[seriously princess bride is awesome in every way imaginable, seems silly but ends up being funny as hell and one of the best fantasy movies ever] gods i miss the 80's!
It’s sad since they should have been much bigger.
@@darthXreven The Princess Bride is my all-time favorite movie. It's the best!
wow! this guy sounds like my best friend, always with "ya know" westerly rhode island? we're painting a house there now. its on the ocean and its on stilts so its up there
I saw John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown band in a bar down the Jersey Shore around 20-25 years ago and it was poorly promoted as the radio station that sponsored it more or less gave the wrong time that the show was starting and there ended up being only about 20 people in the entire bar. But they put on one incredible performance as if they were playing Madison Square Garden. They were true professionals that night. One of my favorite albums of all time.
I have a guitar signed by John and Tunes plus several others.
Man, you did it! I am a huge fan of Eddie And The Cruisers. John Cafferty And The Beaver Brown Band are pure Rock & Roll. One of my top 5 favorite movies of all time. And to do the interview wearing a Tom Petty t-shirt, such a bonus. Thank you sir, thank you.
I loved that movie i and i was 7 when it came out. I remember watching it at the place my parents rented. They had a huge selection of vhs movies. The reason we started watching movies is because it rained all week. I thought Eddie and the Cruisers were a real band and i was obsessed with on the dark side. My second favorite song wildsummet nights.
Much respect for bar bands. They work their asses off to make a living. And the vast majority never do much more that make a living. Talent doesn't matter unless you get discovered.
John cafferty is the kind of rock star that's non existent today good old fashioned hooks with lyrical passion and didn't follow any trends he let the music speak for itself
So true. Sad but true.
My best friend loves the movie Eddie and the Cruisers. That's where I heard John Cafferty. Asked why he didn't get more play, told repeatedly he sounded too much like Bruce Springsteen. I didn't think so.
When I first heard him I thought he maybe got some inspiration from Springsteen. I'm glad he didn't get sued for copyright though.
I do not think so either! Totally different sound totally different vocals!
Do you know how many times people thought that on the darkside was Bruce
I still remember getting in a huge argument with one of my friends who thought it was Bruce. Lol
I’m on the other side of the fence. Never thought it was Bruce but thought what a killer voice!!
I never saw John as a "Bruce clone." He was the mailman's kid I went to grade school with. I remember him as a pretty good artist as well. I never saw him again until about 1998 in. Sturgis South Dakota. I walked up and introduced myself and he remembered we were Cub Scouts together. After all that, still just a regular guy. Also went to high school with Kenny Silver. Sure did my heart good to see these guys catch the brass ring.
I think I watched “Eddie and the Cruisers” about 10 times after I saw it on HBO.
I can’t remember if Ellen Barkin had done “Sea of Love” with Al Pacino before or after “Eddie and the Cruisers.”
I thought it was a great movie, and “On the Dark Side” became an instant classic (for me, anyway.) It made me think of The Doors with the brooding lead singer and shy piano/organ player.
Same here! It was after. Sea of Love came out in 89
_Sea of Love_ is such a great movie. I watched it back around 1990 or so, but just rewatched it about a year ago. I was pleasantly surprised when the "baddie" turned out to be one of the dudes from the first season of _The Walking Dead_.
I loved that movie when it came out! I was listening to stuff like Motley Crue and Iron Maiden and shifting towards more punk stuff but I got hooked by On the Dark Side!
The story, yes. But the song - I thought it was Bruce Springsteen when it came out.
I think it was after. On The Dark Side is such a feel good 80s classic!
I always try to guess who it is by the thumb nail caption. After the 1st 20 seconds I knew I nailed it. Dang it I’m old, I know all these Prof! You make 55 feel like 16 all over again. I remember going to see the movie. So cool cool you got JC to tell it! Never cease to amaze me! 🤘
I always thought "On the Dark Side" was smash-up of Southside Johnny and Bruce with the E-Street Band. Great vocal, and I can hear Clarence doing that sax solo and knocking it out of the park! RIP Big Man. 🙏🙏💔💔
I first heard this song on MTV, video came on..I sat there transfixed until it was over. I was about 13 or 14 when I saw it. I remember when it was over, I sat there wanting it to come on again. It was one of those songs that the first time you heard it...it was unbelievable! Didn't matter what kind of music you were into, this song grabbed you. So haunting, so beautiful..and when it kicks in, automatically you tap your foot along to the beat. Def one of those songs that you will always remember the first time you heard it. I didn't see the movie til years later, on VHS. It was a good film, mainly liked it bc of the soundtrack. "Tender Years", the other single off the soundtrack, is actually just as good or better than "On the Dark Side". Even as a teenager of the 80s, I could feel the emotion in that song..made me long for good times and girlfriends of my youth, although that was only a few short years before..haha! What a great interview with John Cafferty. Seems like a really likeable guy. I've never really known much about him. They always got panned as a Springsteen and E Street Band copy band (not necessarily a bad thing)..and me, being a huge Bruce and E Street Band fanatic.. I could def see and hear the influence..but i like Jon Cafferty and Beaver Brown Band on their own. I will def seek.the greatest hits album coming out.
I worked for a movie company that ran this movie. The whole staff used to stop and head into the theater to listen to this song. Great memories. The movie was way underrated.
I've watched Eddie and the Cruisers a half a dozen times. I get chocked up every time. The music and story are that good.
These guys used to play everywhere when I was growing up. Southside Johnny as well. I remember sneaking into Great Adventure to watch the free concerts. We had a special way of getting in without paying. I definitely saw Southside Johnny there. I think now it's called six flags Great adventure or maybe just six flags.
They did play their hearts out all the time. Still do.
Yooo
Yo!
My abiding memory of the album and the movie is that my ex-husband was fond of calling the band Beaver Rafferty in the most profane way possible that still makes me laugh to this day. 😆😂🤣
It was amazing how the music seemed to click with everyone at the same time after seeing it on Home Box Office. I can remember trying to go to the local record store to buy it and it was not even in stock. Within a couple weeks everyone was talking about it and singing the songs. Never had seen anything like that.
It’s because they were irresistibly catchy!
Thank you for sharing the background for On the Darkside. I am a Baby Boomer, grew up with 60's & 70's Rock, and when I first saw Eddie & the Cruisers (like you) on HBO, I love it and was captivated by On the Darkside. I never knew the back story to the song or how the song was developed for the movie and I am appreciative to learning from you. Love the song back then, and still love it now.
This brings back so many good memories. I was like 12 yrs old when I saw that movie. Loved it & all the songs. Think it was same year I saw Purple Rain & went to my first concert to see Kiss. Great times
1984 was a phenomenal year.
Purple Rain is a classic!
Loved this episode. Eddie and the Cruisers was one of my favorite films. But I think I liked the soundtrack to the second film just a bit more. I don't know, there was just something about it that just grabbed hold of me.
Very cool!
Love these stories about artists “rising from the ashes”. Proof that success seldom follows a straight line, but that hard work eventually pays off. Great interview! Thx Adam!
Thanks for watching Robster. I promise I haven't forgotten. Come hell or high water,I'm going to get this signed copy from Kenny's camp. I know they've been slammed due to the rescheduled Loggins and Messina shows at Hollywood bowl. We'll get it done.
What an important lesson.
I love John Cafferty And The Beaver Brown Band, and my favorite by them is a tie between "On The Dark Side" and "C-I-T-Y". Also, "Eddie And The Cruisers" is awesome! The sequel is good, but the original is the classic. Strange how it bombed at the box office, yet blew up on cable TV. Much like today, where a movie stiffs upon release, yet finds life on home video, because it's the same film all along!
Not strange at all why it flopped upon initial release. In fact, they talk about why it flopped (released too late, in September, and by that time the young audience that would havr seen it, were back in school - this was due to the inexperienced distribution company bungling the release dates) and also why it became a hit on then-new cable TV (Cafferty goes over the reasons quite well, and I think he hits upon the main reason being that cable TV was then quite new and the audience who had it, would watch and re-watch stuff they liked on cable, over and over, since it was on repeat rotation, and I also think because cable cost a lot more and as Cafferty said, was still a novelty, the audience wanted to get their money's worth by re-watching or watching stuff they might not have watched if it had been free TV).
I think the repeated viewings are what made the music catch on and become hits on the radio and charts. It wss sort of like music videos on MTV, and the repeats on cable allowed the viewers to hear the songs over and over and get to like them. Or the other wat around too - they loved the music so they watched the film over and over.
I saw the movie on cable when it came out, I saw them play live at UNH back in the 1980’s and I just saw them a couple of years ago play in my town at Tupelo Music Hall-has to be one of the best acts to see live!!!! They get right into the crowd, rockin’ the roof off with huge energy and such a great bunch of musicians!!!
Very cool.
Sounded packed with fun!
The Soundtrack was INCREDIBLE.......John.
I think a lot of people think of John Cafferty & the Beaver Brown Band as a one-hit wonder. I'm glad you pointed out that they had other hits too. Me, I bought three out of their four top 40 hits as singles when I was 19 and 20 ("On The Dark Side," "Tough All Over," and "C-I-T-Y"). Great songs.
Hearts on Fire from Rocky IV is another great one!
Bad timing for the Move Eddie and the Cruisers was an understatement. Since it got zero publicity, I never knew this was this was a movie soundtrack, my cousin had the tape and I never read the cover. I bootlegged a copy of Darkside and Through the years from the radio. I had thought for many years that Michael Pare the actor was in fact John Cafferty. The music video didn't help much because they looked alike. It wasn't until a few years later that I actually saw the movie as a rental that I made the connection of who did what.
John Cafferty and Beaver Brown, played at my college in 1982 and they were great. It was cool to hear that Southside Johnny went with John to the studio when he recorded the song. The opener for that night was John Eddie and the Front Street Runners neither band had a record yet but they were both pretty big bands on the Jersey Shore at the time.
On a side note, Adam you really have to do an interview with Southside Johnny, I've heard you mention him twice in interviews, It's time you talk to "The God Father".
never heard of it!
I saw these guys live at the starry night night nite club in portland oregon. I was 12 feet from the stage. I met a butifal burrnett gril .
I'm good with any story that includes Southside.
i guess that’s the thing about cult movies. i was in middle school when i heard the music and saw eddie and the cruisers and streets of fire and had no idea they tanked at the box office. all i knew is that i watched at my friend lethe’s house at a sleepover (we snuck to watch 😁) and we were all hooked. love john cafferty and dan hartman to this day. box office isn’t everything.
Saw them a zillion times, many at the Fast Lane in Asbury Park in the early 80s. Nice guy too. Fun, fun, fun, fun bar band. And he is a hard rocker committed to winning the crowd. So many good songs. Did a killer version of The Trade Winds' New York's a Lonely Town; and the guitar player, Gary Gramolini (who's brother played with Southside's band) had a cool song, Monica (or was it Veronica?). A year or two ago I saw them again at a motorcycle rally event. Wrong booking for them. I bumped into John and he graciously stopped and chatted with me for a few seconds. I told him I never missed a show at the Fast Lane. He looks at the bike crowd, looks back at me and says "we ain't in Asbury Park no more!" LOL. The crowd never got into the band fully, but I NEVER saw a leader of a band undeterred to win the crowd over - even coming off stage into crowd. Oh, did a killed cover of Claudine Clark's song Party Lights. May be the best bar band I ever saw (along with Henry Lee Summer).
Hey Fezz, great memory. Gary's song was Monica. We always requested it and John would get annoyed and finally let him sing it😎. I moved down to the shore from Rhode Island and got to see all their Fastlane shows from the summer of 79 thru 1981. I was so grateful to be able to see my friends and fav band Beaver Brown that often in Jersey. Also saw them in Philly, at their 4 show stint at the Bottom Line and at the famous Bitter End (actually called The Other End in those years) show where Kenny Vance appeared and led to Eddie & the Cruisers. the Fastlane shows were also special because of the many special guests who joined the Beavers for encores--Bruce, Gary Tallent, Mad Dog Lopez, Southside, many Jukes and two back to back appearances by Joe Jackson. After the shows in the summer of 1980 Beaver Brown, Obie, Dave Marsh and others would come to my beach restaurant, The Wanderer, in Belmar and hang out till dawn. So glad to hear your similar experiences for those fantastic shows..
I was born on the DarkSide ! But you don't hear me singing about it!
Ha ha.
Awesome episode Professor! Great to hear John Cafferty's story! loved "On the dark side" and the "Eddie and the Cruisers" movie also, great times back then! more music from the good old days! Thanks for keeping the music alive Professor!
Michael pare' doesn't get enough credit for his Performances. Amazing actor that just didn't get a lot of play.