They're all genius. Number two rocks hardest, so really does it for me. JR's vocal delivery is perfect and the Modern Lovers may as well be playing with machetes - blazing a trail for so many others to follow. Hard to believe this song is over 50 now! Still sounds as vibrant and youthful as the day it was born, like all great pioneering works of art! Legendary compile WeeklyRations!

A modern genius, slept on Lou Reed's floor reportedly. You can hear his influence I think.

The second one is the best, I think. A superb pop single. One of my all time favourites.

I'm in San Francisco. 19 years and a few thousand miles away from Fall River, MA. However J.R. and crew just brought me back so fast I got whiplash. Thank you Weekly Rations you got this old hippie to tear up.

And there's still a Stop & Shop at the intersection of Rtes 9 and 27 in Natick, MA. They should put a plaque up or something. Heck, a statue. 😎

The first (Once) for me is a little masterpiece. So tight yet with feeling. Nice to hear the different versions and "Thrice" is nice too.

WBCN, maybe 1972, not sure, I was 16, couldn't believe what I heard at all.... this is not Chicago! this is not 3 dog night!

The Sex Pistols attempt this on The Great Rock n Roll Swindle. Makes me ashamed to be British. This song is superb. It was a direct tribute to Sister Ray by the Velvet Underground.

They said when you bought a guitar 🎸 learn 3 chords to make a song, this is miles better with 2, still listening to this nearly 50 years later 🇬🇧, a work of art

Been in love with this since i first heard the 1977 version in 77 aged 15 . Still listening and still loving it aged 62 . ❤

Massachusetts late at night, with the radio on!!

Happy 70th birthday, Jojo. The man continues to be one of my musical heroes because "Roadrunner" changed my life the first time I heard it on KPFA ("what the heck was THAT?!"), because I still tear up for his cameos in (and esp when he sings in the tree) in 'Something About Mary,' because I will NEVER get to see enough live performances, and because he is so utterly and unabashedly HIMSELF. "I'm in love with the modern rock'n'roll... now you say it, Modern Lovers..."

Beautiful, I may be an old git but the 70s were a great time to be a teenager.

I so relate to the way Jon loves driving around Massachusetts, I'm the same way, from the same area...and in his own way, he's the greatest New England poet since Kerouac...and that 1972 album is the first Alternative Rock album years before New Wave and Alternative came along. The black and white (mostly) videos for those Modern Lover songs are amazing works of art, too.

Love being able to listen to these different versions.

#2 is what makes this immortal. #1 is the demo, a cool idea for a song. #2 edits, upping the tempo, adding the John Cale drone, and making it something completely else.

Version 1 wakes my heart up everytime

Although the song goes back to 1972, this was my introduction in the UK to "New Wave". After Gary Glitter, The Sweet, and Doctor Hook, this was so refreshing and exciting. Years later, I moved from UK to.......you guessed in, Massachusetts! I drive past the StopnShop on Route 128 practically every day and I am a Roadrunner! Going to see him live in Somerville in October. Can't wait!

I m in love with the radio on...🥳

Love all the positive comments.