Breakfast Club - "Right On Track"

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OH MY GOD where do I begin? The Prince-influenced synths roll over a tasteful-yet-compelling beat while the singer laments that his dancefloor crush isn't melting at his ferocious boogie skills. It's the ultimate 80s-movie-soundtrack song. It's utterly brilliant and shits from a large height on a vast majority of the music I've listened to since 1985.

I mean, really; how can you NOT love the bass in this? The deadpan vocals? The diva-soul backup singers? The whole song is about five hundred cliches smashed together in precisely the right way. I think the last time my heart sang like this was listening to "Siamese Twins" by The Cure.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Thursday, 12 June 2003 21:02 (twenty-two years ago)

I heard this for the first time on...Sunday, if I'm not mistaken, and though my opinion may be tainted by the video that came with it, I must say I can't share your enthusiasm. Though it is better than their Beatles cover for "License To Drive" (though the video for that had them scraping their asses for its entirety, which was funnier than the stuff in the "Right On Track" video).

Didn't this guy do Mother Goose Rock'n'rhyme later?

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Thursday, 12 June 2003 21:07 (twenty-two years ago)

It's the ultimate 80s-movie-soundtrack song.

They had nothing to do with the film (and pre-date its existence). They were Madonna's band (before she cut them loose to go solo). It is a great -- if sorely dated -- track, though, you're dead right.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 12 June 2003 21:08 (twenty-two years ago)

And it's `87, not `85.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 12 June 2003 21:09 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh whoops, sorry dan, I misread your post. I thought you were alleging that you've been listening to it since `85.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 12 June 2003 21:11 (twenty-two years ago)

They had nothing to do with the film (and pre-date its existence).

Hah, I knew that part was going to be misconstrued. I meant that the song sounds like the distilled essence of the 80s soundtrack song (going back to "The Breakfast Club", it's like "We Are Not Alone" merged with "Fire In The Twilight" merged with "Get To Know Ya").

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Thursday, 12 June 2003 21:29 (twenty-two years ago)

great track - VH1 Classics plays it all the time for a reason (I don't know why they play the aforementioned awful "Drive My Car" cover though). There's a 80s cover band that tours the fratcircuit in the south called The Breakfast Club that once got my hopes up sorta - *sees club marquee* "holy shit - THE BREAKFAST CLUB! I hope they do "Right On Track"!" "what are you talking about? it's just a lame cover band" "so it's not THE Breakfast Club?" "what are you talking about?" "poor Breakfast Club. Not even the Breakfast Club remember them."

― James Blount (James Blount), Thursday, 12 June 2003 22:28 (twenty-two years ago)

Legend has it that when Madonna was in the band (originally as the drummer) they played venues like Max's Kansas City and the Mudd Club. Sort've hard to fathom.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 12 June 2003 23:15 (twenty-two years ago)

Not really, Belinda Carlisle was in the Germs

― dave q, Friday, 13 June 2003 07:26 (twenty-two years ago)

Belinda Carlisle was a punk-chick who was turned into a pop star.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Friday, 13 June 2003 09:25 (twenty-two years ago)

im not gonna get you back.

― Chris V. (Chris V), Friday, 13 June 2003 10:46 (twenty-two years ago)

Not really, Belinda Carlisle was in the Germs

It's not that I'm having a hard time fathoming Madonna in the Breakfast Club, I'm having a hard time fathoming how the Breakfast Club (for all intents and purposes a "punk" band at their inception) ended up playing comparitively slick dance music. It just seems like quite a leap (though of course they were not the only band to make such a leap). Moreover, in the video, you see them brandishing guitars (albeit covered in springs, chicken feathers and brightly colored plastic thingeys), yet one is hard pressed to hear any actual guitars in the song.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 13 June 2003 17:39 (twenty-two years ago)

?New Order to thread?

― dave225 (Dave225), Friday, 13 June 2003 17:42 (twenty-two years ago)

Likewise Devo

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 13 June 2003 17:52 (twenty-two years ago)

three years pass...

Dan is quite correct. This song is a meringue -- a lighter, tastier "Living in a Box" (which was a hit, if memory serves, around the same time?).

yet one is hard pressed to hear any actual guitars in the song.

You can hear them in the chorus, though they ARE backgrounded.

― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn (Alfred Soto), Wednesday, 2 August 2006 01:46 (nineteen years ago)

I was in college when that album was out. My good friend O.T. (who now plays guitar in a nu-metal band) was raving about this band to the skies - I was even in the store with him on the day he bought their album.

19 years later, still can't help but (a) laugh or (b) feel a little old whenever I see this album in the 99-cent used bins (where it always is). Wonder if O.T. still has his copy.

― Rev. Hoodoo (Rev. Hoodoo), Wednesday, 2 August 2006 01:58 (nineteen years ago)

vh1 classicks don't play this much anymore :(

― j blount (papa la bas), Wednesday, 2 August 2006 02:42 (nineteen years ago)

I played this album a whole lot when I was in middle school, but I can barely remember it now. Just searched for used cd's online and they're going for ridiculous amounts of money (well, $30-$50 anyway).

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Wednesday, 2 August 2006 04:17 (nineteen years ago)

I did see "Kiss & Tell" the other day. Pallid.

― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn (Alfred Soto), Wednesday, 2 August 2006 15:41 (nineteen years ago)

The video for this song completely and totally BLEW MY FIVE-YEAR-OLD MIND.

The piano player has no arms!!
The drumset is made out of tires!!

― Mr. Snrub (Mr. Snrub), Wednesday, 2 August 2006 16:20 (nineteen years ago)

The backup singers look like chickens!!

― Mr. Snrub (Mr. Snrub), Wednesday, 2 August 2006 16:21 (nineteen years ago)

The lead singer's a cutie.

― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn (Alfred Soto), Wednesday, 2 August 2006 16:33 (nineteen years ago)

OMG the video is brilliant in its stupidity.

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Wednesday, 2 August 2006 17:07 (nineteen years ago)

one year passes...

IS THAT GONNA GET YOU BACK??

― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Thursday, 6 December 2007 02:37 (seventeen years ago)

^^^ otm

― HI DERE, Thursday, 6 December 2007 04:00 (seventeen years ago)

Sounds more like a Madonna effort than a Prince effort to me. Then, no wonder as it was Stephen Bray's band and he also wrote and produced several of Madonna's biggest 80s hits.

― Geir Hongro, Thursday, 6 December 2007 21:59 (seventeen years ago)

I still love this song.

― Alex in NYC, Thursday, 6 December 2007 22:53 (seventeen years ago)

two months pass...

Alex's love shocks me.

― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Saturday, 1 March 2008 14:15 (seventeen years ago)

It's a shocking world.

― Alex in NYC, Saturday, 1 March 2008 15:37 (seventeen years ago)

four years pass...

OMIGOD THE ALBUM IS $7.99 ON ITUNES

― a regina spektor is haunting europe (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 13 June 2012 17:01 (thirteen years ago)

let us revisit

because this song rules

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3L5-mPYTMw

― Peppermint Patty Hearst (VegemiteGrrl), Wednesday, 13 June 2012 18:45 (thirteen years ago)

http://open.spotify.com/album/7mTQuuDqjHsEiDX7WCHNQG

honestly can't believe this is on Spotify, day = made

― Victory Chainsaw! (DJP), Wednesday, 13 June 2012 18:46 (thirteen years ago)

also apparently Randy Jackson played with them for a while...?

― Victory Chainsaw! (DJP), Wednesday, 13 June 2012 18:48 (thirteen years ago)

really?

― Peppermint Patty Hearst (VegemiteGrrl), Wednesday, 13 June 2012 18:49 (thirteen years ago)

By the mid 1980s, the band consisted of the Gilroys (with Dan now concentrating exclusively on vocals, while Ed provided all guitars), Gary Burke (bass), Paul Kauk (keyboards), and Stephen Bray (drums). Both Bray and Burke had previously been Madonna's bandmates in Emmy. Bray had also dated Madonna for a while, and reportedly, Madonna had initially suggested him as her replacement in Breakfast Club.[citation needed] They signed with ZE Records and released their eponymous album in 1987, which spawned the U.S. Top Ten hit "Right On Track". Later, Randy Jackson (bass) and E. Doctor Smith (The Drummstick, percussion) joined the band.

seems like timing was never really Randy's thing until American Idol happened

― Victory Chainsaw! (DJP), Wednesday, 13 June 2012 18:51 (thirteen years ago)

God just looking at their wiki, they really didn't last long at all, did they. And Madge scored with TWO of them? Nice work.

― Peppermint Patty Hearst (VegemiteGrrl), Wednesday, 13 June 2012 18:52 (thirteen years ago)

she was RIGHT. ON. TRACK.

― a regina spektor is haunting europe (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 13 June 2012 18:57 (thirteen years ago)

Lead singer and guitar player are brothers, also CUTE as hell - remind me of Ad-Rock from the Beasties. Such a crush on them when this song came out. <3

― Peppermint Patty Hearst (VegemiteGrrl), Wednesday, 13 June 2012 19:00 (thirteen years ago)

Dan Girloy is a real cutie yes

― a regina spektor is haunting europe (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 13 June 2012 19:01 (thirteen years ago)

madonna otm

― Peppermint Patty Hearst (VegemiteGrrl), Wednesday, 13 June 2012 20:25 (thirteen years ago)

I can't stop listening to this song

― Peppermint Patty Hearst (VegemiteGrrl), Wednesday, 20 June 2012 18:55 (thirteen years ago)

two years pass...

IS THAT GONNA GETCHA BACK

― guess that bundt gettin eaten (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Sunday, 18 January 2015 01:36 (ten years ago)

sliiiiiiiiiiiiide to the right for a whiiiile

― difficult-difficult lemon-difficult (VegemiteGrrl), Sunday, 18 January 2015 01:51 (ten years ago)

If I ever find a karaoke night with this song as an option, a whole lot of people are gonna find out if that is gonna get them back

― Let me help you out Charlie XCX fan (DJP), Sunday, 18 January 2015 02:07 (ten years ago)

hell yes

― difficult-difficult lemon-difficult (VegemiteGrrl), Sunday, 18 January 2015 02:26 (ten years ago)

one year passes...

GONNA MAKE A MOOOVVE
THAT KNOCKS YOU OVAH

― The burrito of ennui (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 11 August 2016 17:21 (nine years ago)

― Flamenco Drop (VegemiteGrrl), Thursday, 11 August 2016 19:33 (nine years ago)

http://pagesix.com/2016/08/13/documentary-reveals-bedroom-tapes-madonna-made-with-lover/

― The burrito of ennui (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 16 August 2016 13:31 (nine years ago)

ugh this seems kinda gross

also lol at "director guy guido"

― Flamenco Drop (VegemiteGrrl), Tuesday, 16 August 2016 15:19 (nine years ago)

Dan Gilroy adorbs then though

― The burrito of ennui (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 16 August 2016 19:16 (nine years ago)

no question! that's the main upside.
i just mean waiting til now to dish all of that stuff

― Flamenco Drop (VegemiteGrrl), Tuesday, 16 August 2016 20:37 (nine years ago)

six years pass...

If I ever find a karaoke night with this song as an option, a whole lot of people are gonna find out if that is gonna get them back

― Let me help you out Charlie XCX fan (DJP), Saturday, January 17, 2015 9:07 PM

― the dreaded dependent claus (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 15 June 2023 18:08 (two years ago)

otm

― werewolves of laudanum (VegemiteGrrl), Thursday, 15 June 2023 18:14 (two years ago)

OMG, this song was just in my head this morning for completely unknown reasons! I just checked the video and discovered that I had been conflating it with Pee-wee's Playhouse for the past several decades (it is in fact chicken ladies and not a window box full of animate flowers singing on the chourus).

― Beautiful Bean Footage Fetishist (Old Lunch), Thursday, 15 June 2023 18:38 (two years ago)

Pere Ubu studied both!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0Ov-rJGey8

― the dreaded dependent claus (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 15 June 2023 18:48 (two years ago)

This was on my playlist during our weekend drive to Montreal. My partner was not impressed by it ;_;

― Marvel Puzzle Quest is my favorite gasm (DJP), Thursday, 15 June 2023 20:58 (two years ago)

booooooo

― werewolves of laudanum (VegemiteGrrl), Thursday, 15 June 2023 21:04 (two years ago)

three months pass...

“Never Be the Same” is almost as good. “ba da ba-da-da ba.”

― Mr. Snrub, Tuesday, 3 October 2023 03:06 (two years ago)

I guess licensing etc., but still, wondering why Breakfast Club didn’t turn up on any of those Ze Records comps that dropped about 15 years ago.

― henry s, Tuesday, 3 October 2023 06:36 (two years ago)

ten months pass...

IS THAT GONNA GETCHA BACK

― guess that bundt gettin eaten (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Saturday, January 17, 2015

― the talented mr pimply (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 27 August 2024 23:45 (one year ago)

i’ve not been faring badly

but i would gladly

take

you

back

― werewolves of laudanum (VegemiteGrrl), Wednesday, 28 August 2024 01:43 (one year ago)

Seeing this getting revived, I had to throw it on, and as always, just a blast of sheer joy - the way the bass and guitar add those syncopated moments at the end of measures, and that bridge, as referenced immediately above by VegemiteGrrl, is just glorious. (I especially appreciate that Spotify randomly followed it with "Honeythief" by Hipsway, which also has those diva backup vox!)

I remember fighting with the student activity group in 6th grade, trying to get this song on the playlist for our grad dance. I lost that battle, but they did choose "Why Can't This Be Love?", "Head to Toe", and the extended remix of "It's Tricky", thus I guess 3 out of 4 ain't bad?

― Front-loaded albums are musical gerrymandering (Prefecture), Wednesday, 28 August 2024 03:02 (one year ago)

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