jonathan richman: is this guy a class fucking act or what?

clayton bush: is this guy a class fucking act or what?

(he's seriously probably 18 years old, isn't he?)

somebody get this kid a job at pfork

it's true that there is something beyond musicianship that makes richman's concerts great experiences, and he does have a certain kind of (anti-?) showmanship. but these aren't bad things. and they don't imply a LACK of musicianship or great music full stop.

he's a consummate showman imho

also in a weird way what this clayton mcbush guy is saying is not worlds away from what dan perry says about richman (upthread?)--that it seems like a cult who uncritically adores everything he does and is incomprehensible to the uninitiated. i don't agree obviously. i took my girlfriend--not a big jonathan richman man--and she adored him. and read jess's post that started this whole thread.

also i would seriously see j. richman in concert every few months if such a thing were possible. can't imagine getting tired of this dude.

I can't think of that many musicians who can captivate an audience by just dancing around and clapping - James Brown. Michael Jackson. Its a pretty narrow list.

my gf doesn't give two shits about Jonathan Richman or his legacy or anything but she loves his live show

gf? wtf we've been married for 5 years

hahaha

my mistress doesn't give two shits about Jonathan Richman or his legacy or anything but she loves his live show ... my wife, on the other hand ....

she's still yr gfriend

that's ok, amateurist's girlfriend is apparently a man?

aw that's sort of sweet--thinking your wife is still your girlfriend. bodes well for the marriage (honestly).

xpost

shit, cat's out of the bag.

(i meant to type "fan," not "man." yeah. that's what i meant to type.)

also i would seriously see j. richman in concert every few months if such a thing were possible. can't imagine getting tired of this dude.
THIS

Really kicking myself for missing him @ teh Continental a couple weeks back. Also not happy about sharing a real-life first name w/that douche "critic."

My Jonathan Richman collection consists of just the first Modern Lovers album. It took me a while to love it but now I do especially Dignified & Old and Hospital.

Any recommendations for where to go next? I checked him out on amazon, his albums could do with being reissued especially the second and third Modern Lovers albums which are going for quite a lot.

I've always wanted to get some more of his albums as Eddie from Art Brut names him as a major influence and I'm kind of obsessed with them.

Jonathan Sings is one of my faves ...

the post-Jerry Harrison/David Robinson/Ernie Brooks incarnations of the Modern Lovers bear little to no resemblance to the first album. Richman pretty much abandoned the motorik beat/VU obsession in favor of 50s doo-wop sorta structures and melodies (altho this is quite deceptive, there is usually quite a lot going on in his songs). Of the ones I've heard I like Modern Lovers '88 the best, (with Jonathan Sings! a close second) but there's classic stuff on pretty much all his 80s material. They're like an alternate universe of american pop, really clever and gorgeous in their sorta stripped-down way. They all have a casual, house party feel to them. Ed's Redeeming Qualities was clearly taking notes, among others...

This comp my friend put together is kind of a good intro to his post-Roadrunner days: http://doomandgloomfromthetomb.tumblr.com/post/371399670/songs-of-innocence-experience-jonathan-richman
It doesn't have actual album tracks, just random live/television appearances, but it gives a good idea of his style ...

I'm a rabid fan and for me the best album by Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers is "Jonathan Sings", followed by "Rockin' and Romance" followed by "It's Time For Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers". Those ones have the benefit of a full band, backing singers, great songs, good recording quality etc. The rest are pretty good too but have their patchy moments. "Rock'n'Roll with the MLs" is poorly recorded in my opinion and is the worst, but I know others disagree about that.

About 2 years ago, I had the TV on and sesame street happened to be on, and one segment actually used a Jonathan Richman song. It was a song that I hadn't heard, but it reminded me how much I love him. His 80s albums stand up well -- especially the production which weren't 80s-ized at all; no easy feat.

Whenever someone tries to play Beat Happening, I can't listen to it. It just seems like exactly what Jonathan Richman does, but worse.

I saw him live last year of college 07-08. That was a good year for concerts in Athens, GA. I think I saw Sloan and Nada Surf at that same venue. Sloan was probably the best of the 3 with their amazing song request collage for the encore. But I was sort of drinking for all 3 concerts and I can't remember the specifics of any of them, just that they were all great.

I don't have nearly all his albums to know which are best, but I really adore I, Jonathan

Also rep for I, Jonathan, I think my favorite after the 1st incarnation of Modern Lovers. Also re that review - he is a great singer, esp. these days.

Well in the last month since I asked for recommendations on this thread I've bought a few of his albums.

Rock n Roll with the Modern Lovers and the second album were the first ones I found which are pretty good. Then I went for I, Jonathan and Jonathan Sings! which are just incredible, I have been playing them both a lot over the last week.

I've ordered Modern Lovers 88. Rock & Romance and It's Time For the Modern Lovers would be my next choices to get but I'll have to add those to my rare overpriced vinyl list or just get bootlegs/downloads of them for now.

I already asked this in another thread about him but are any of his solo albums worth getting? I've ready so many mixed reviews of just about all of them apart from I, Jonathan.

Of course they are worth getting. He was practically a solo act from the time of Jonathan Sings anyway - he'd just assemble a bunch of musicians and friends to act as the Modern Lovers for a while.

I'm not very familiar with his last four solo albums but I think I have all the previous ones. They are all good. The self-titled one is kinda weak and I'd avoid that. "Having a Party with Jonathan Richman", "I, Jonathan" and "You Must Ask The Heart" are all great. Those would be my first picks. Mostly performed with good musicians with a couple of solo guitar numbers per album. "Jonathan Goes Country" is a full-on guitar album with retakes of some of his earlier songs like The Neighbours and Corner Store which are great. The Spanish album is a novelty which you can ignore.

His more recent albums have not been as enjoyable in my opinion. He tends to re-record two or three old songs per albums, plus the tone of his lyrics doesn't appeal to me the way his earlier one do. Instead of being confidently independent and declarative he can sound whiny and self-centred. And I don't think his tunes are as good either.

And don't ignore Modern Lovers '88 - it's good vintage Jonathan too.

Sorry, when I said "Jonathan Goes Country" was a guitar album, I meant to say, country album, with slide guitars, songs about horses etc.

Duh. I meant to say "Back In Your Life". You said you'd ordered '88.

Xpost. ILM pays me $9.99/year to point out whenever necessary that Rockin and Romance is available here:

http://www.twintone.com/projects/8558.html

It is a regular CD in every respect other than the cover art.

I'm a massive Jo Jo fan. Have everything he's done. 'Rockin' & Romance' and the other 80's Rough Trade albums are excellent. Sad that their so out of print.

Fave albums for me would probably be 'Back in Your Life' and 'Having a Party' but I'm sure I'd pick out a different one every day. I absolutely adore 'Now is better than Before' and 'I' just beginning to live' from 'Rockin' & Romance'.

Duh. I meant to say "Back In Your Life". You said you'd ordered '88.

― everything, Friday, March 12, 2010 11:09 PM (Yesterday) Bookmark

Yeah 88 should be with me early next week. I wasn't sure about Back In Your Life I'd seen some not so great things written about it but I'll get that one ordered too.

I think Jonathan Sings is the one to beat. I just played it again and I'm just loving it so much. It has a really great sound to it, it really suits him having the female backing vocals. In the sleeve notes it say's he isn't a massive fan of the album himself, he likes the band but hates his vocals and the production.

Xpost. ILM pays me $9.99/year to point out whenever necessary that Rockin and Romance is available here:

http://www.twintone.com/projects/8558.html

It is a regular CD in every respect other than the cover art.

― dlp9001, Saturday, March 13, 2010 12:55 AM (17 hours ago) Bookmark

Thanks for the tip (also in the other thread) I'm one of those people that still wants to own the actual album before downloading or getting it any other way. I think i would rather fork out for the vinyl than paying for a CD copy even if it is close to owning the real thing.

It's really annoying, I think I just pick bands to get into that have rare back catalogues to make it hard for myself (see also The Cardiacs)

Twin Tone also has the excellent Yung Wu record -- I think it's the only place you can get it (other than used record stores ...) Kind of fun to see how much those records sold.

Xpost. ha-ha. Fortunately I'm blessed with a huge collection of Jonathan and Cardiacs spread across ridiculous amounts of formats. I have actually found the 80s era Modern Lovers albums to be quite easy to find in second hand, but that probably depends on where you live. Back in You Life starts off with a pretty weak song (Abdul and Cleopatra) but then the rest of it is solid. I always consider it to be a companion piece to Modern Lovers Live - it has the same killer line-up - Asa, Leroy and D.Sharpe and the tone of the songs is similar - some uptempo dance numbers with great backing harmonies (and some of that conversational stuff where Jonathan asks the Modern Lovers what they think), a couple of faux-naive numbers, a great rock'n'roll cover of "Lover Please" and a sprinkling of his more sincere/confessional material.

Regarding the female backing vocals - Jonathan likes to use his backing vocalists as foils and when he's singing with women that can often work really well. I think that Jonathan Sings and Rockin and Romance are the only ones where there is female backing vocalists all over the place but there's a sprinkling throughout the catalogue. The Neighbours has some great dynamic. Her sarcastic response to Jonathan's explanations is just classic. Also, "Just Because I'm Irish" from You Must Ask The Heart which has Julia Sweeney is pretty great.

I'm incredibly jealous of you right now. I live in the UK where the second hand record shops are really struggling. I've asked in quite a a few shops recently about about both The Cardiacs and Jonathan Richman, Most reactions have been no chance mate!

I can't believe up until a few years ago you could get Cardiacs records in shops and on their website and now they go for over 60 pounds. I just got a copy of The seaside through the post today, which is great.

Anyway back to Jonathan Richman. I'm bidding on Back In Your LIfe on Ebay now. I'm not quite rich enough to bid on the one copy of Rockin and Romance that's 85 pounds.

The Neighbors is probably my favourite song of his at the moment. I love how both the versions of That Summer Feeling are really different but both equally amazing.

Holy Shit. Eighty five quid? That's ridiculous. Especially with the Twin/Tone version available for a tenner. Both these artists need comprehensive box-set makeovers right now. BIYL is one I have not seen around much. I don't have it on vinyl - I have had the cassette for about 20 years and thankfully found a CD of it more recently. I think I mentioned upthread that there's a great version of The Neighbours on Jonathan Goes Country which is killer, but there's a third rendition on his Spanish album (like I said, not essential).

Yeah it's one of those buy it now jobs so no-one is going to ever bid on it. They are pretty much wasting their time and...well mine!

So yeah if anyone has any spare copies they would like to sell of that or It's Time for the Modern lovers or can just point me to somwhere that might have them on vinyl, I would be so grateful.

If your really liking 'Jonathan Sings' I'm pretty sure you'll love 'Rockin' n Romance', it has similar production and, to me, a stronger set of songs all round. That's crazy it's selling for so much now. I even think I have two copies, I might be able to help you out. I managed to find all the Jonathan LP's a few years back. Think the one I most struggled with was the 'I'm so confused' album.

'Back in Your Life' is essential. 'Affection' is one of my favourite Jonathan songs.

Totally forgot to mention the self titled album earlier. It might actually be the best of the LP's for me. Some outstanding songs on there i.e 'Micicals Will Start to Happen', 'A Mistake for Me' and 'Closer'. That album has some of Jonathan's best guitar playing.

Just had a look and it's 'It's Time For the Modern Lovers' that I have two copies of, not 'Rockin' n Romance'.

Does anyone know if 'Havin a Party', 'You Must Ask the Heart' and 'I, Jonathan' ever got a vinyl release?

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4021/4585196011_5180679db6_o.jpg

looool

class fucking act

I am seeing him in two days, seriously anticipating.

He is right on about the 4 seasons.

I see he's at the Casbah in San Diego in two weeks. Sounds like a magical night, love him and that place so much. Last thing I heard that moved me: "Time Has Gone By So Fast." All-time favorite: "You Must Ask the Heart."

He is right on about the 4 seasons.

― Band Fag X (u s steel)

i think i know what that letter is in response to... a review of a bryan ferry album by dave marsh, right?

funny--i've been listening to jonathan richman nonstop today.