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Underground > Radio & Music >

Good Old John Richman.

The Natural Way

08:12 / 31.01.02

It really doesn't matter what mood I'm in, this guy sorts my head out. 'I, Jonathan' is just fantastic.... I don't know what to say really, but, inspired by this mornings listen, I decided to start a thread extolling this man's virtues (or not, as the case may be - depending on whether or not yr an arse). First up: his uncanny ability to make me laugh and feel happy when, before, I was being Mr. Miserable Fuck.

And don't you just hate it when people refer to him as "Richmond"? God, I hate that....

P.S. Does anyone know if he's got any tours planned anytime soon? I must see him live - everyone tells me he's superb.

10:12 / 31.01.02

I've been meaning to get into this guy for ages .. he seems like a cool cat.

The Natural Way

10:21 / 31.01.02

He is a cool cat. You should have no trouble getting into him, whatsoever.

For the best "getting into him" results, check out the first Modern Lovers album and the aforementioned 'I, Jonathan'.

Do it now! Quickly! Modern love it!

[ 31-01-2002: Message edited by: Sgunnice Runcheon 'n' ]

Regrettable Juvenilia

12:53 / 31.01.02

Funnily enough I've recently downloaded I, Jonathan, after discovering the joys of 'I Was Dancing In The Lesbian Bar' through this very forum.

"In the first bar folks were drinking sips
In this bar they could shake their hips..."

It's a great little album, very atmospheric... 'Parties In The USA', 'Rooming House On Venice Beach', 'Velvet Underground', 'That Summer Feeling' - I like the way these songs are both witty and droll but also carefree and light, almost goofy. And the stripped-down music seems to fit this really well.

"Could there be block parties 'bout which I don't know?
Maybe they're in neighbourhoods where I don't go..."

I know he's touring America over the next month or so, Runcey. Don't know if he's coming to the UK though, but I might well be up for seeing him if he is...

The Natural Way

13:02 / 31.01.02

Sexcellent.

People's initial reaction to Jojo is normally to assume he's being droll and ironic, but, on closer inspection, the fabulous thing.....he really fucking means it!

He really believes that there should be more good, old fashioned parties in the USA, that the Velvets are the best band ever and that that there lesbian bar is the jiveiest night out in town....

13:23 / 31.01.02

There's a song on one of the Sesame Street videos that my son watches which sounds veeery much like our man, but I'm not sure. It goes:

"I'm a li'l airplane NEEEOWWWW
I'm a li'l airplane NEEOWW NEEOWWW!"

Anyone recognise that? Is it him?

13:28 / 31.01.02

You really NEED to catch him live if you can - if you think "I, Jonathan" is stripped down, wait till he totally captivates a club with nothing but his electric guitar and a few goofy dance moves.

And he tells stories about why he doesn't sound like the Modern Lovers anymore.

(Short version: because of a calypso band on a cruise the band got booked to play. People *liked* the calypso band. They were *cheerful.*)

I'm also reeeeally partial to the album "Jonathan Goes Country," and the best song he ever recorded, "It's You" (featuring a wonky sax solo that WILL bring joy), is on, uhhh, shit... ah. It's Time For...Jonathan Richman. Which also has the sublimely moody "When I Dance" on it.

Oh, and you all NEED to hear this song, too.

The Natural Way

13:34 / 31.01.02

Hey Jon, are you really trying to tell us 'Govt. Centre' isn't cheerful?

I can see why the cruise crowd might not have got off on 'Hospital' or 'She Cracked', however. Our John and his weird obsession w/ the fatal femmes.....

15:00 / 31.01.02

I know he's touring America over the next month or so, Runcey.

Yeah, one of these days I'm gonna pick up my tickets to see him in February. Man, saw Grant Hart last night, The Moldy Peaches tomorrow night & Jonathan Ritchman next month.

BTW, anybody else see "There's Something About Mary" in the theatres? If so,....

<insert 'possible spoilers--abandon all hope all ye who blah blah blah' comment here>

did the audience applaud when Jonathan bites it in the end? When I went, everyone was shouting "YEAH!!!" really, really loud. It was just so wrong!

00:23 / 01.02.02

I really laughed a lot when I saw that scene, but fuck I didn't know who he was back then!
I remember I was fascinated by him (well, I loved the whole movie, but he was one of the
reasons) Then I heard Roadrunner and immediately picked up "The Modern Lovers", then went
for "It's time for Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers", and to this day I haven't recovered
of that impact...

It's you
It's you
whooo-ooo-oooo

Oh Double chocolate malted for me
yeah yeah yeah...

There's no way music can get better than this

[ 01-02-2002: Message edited by: [N.O.B.O.D.Y.] -Supersónico- ]

[ 01-02-2002: Message edited by: [N.O.B.O.D.Y.] -Supersónico- ]

[ 01-02-2002: Message edited by: [N.O.B.O.D.Y.] -Supersónico- ]

07:37 / 01.02.02

People have derided his 'Mr Humphries' as a sterotypically effeminate closet-case cliche, but I've always found him a brave, moving articulater of life as seen through the eyes of a mens' underwear assistant in a humorous 1970s department store.

A

01:07 / 02.02.02

Truely, Jonathon Richman is more God than Man. I was lucky enough to find three Modern Lovers albums for about 10 cents each in an op-shop a few months back.

I really can't imagine anyone else completely changing their entire musical direction after one classic album and pulling it off that well.

If only he would come to Australia one day... i think i'd better save up for a plane ticket instead.

01:37 / 02.02.02

quote:Originally posted by Ganesh v4.2:
People have derided his 'Mr Humphries' as a sterotypically effeminate closet-case cliche, but I've always found him a brave, moving articulater of life as seen through the eyes of a mens' underwear assistant in a humorous 1970s department store.That would be John Inman, shurely?

Not to wory, sir, those sleeves will ride up with wear...

04:44 / 02.02.02

Hooray! I was waiting for someone to suss my oh-so-sophisticated humour there, Jack. Glad you're back.

00:57 / 03.06.05

I've been in love with Richman's music since I was thirteen (which was when I got indoctrinated into almost all the music I like today).

He's amazing live, even if all I got to see was the back of his neck. The lasting impression I got was that the man just looks extrodinarily healthy, but that's no big thing in a room full of Glaswegians.

I always wanted to start a Jonathan Richman covers band called Poor Man's Richman.

04:27 / 03.06.05

Can I just add my vote to the yay for jojo party? Was over at a friend's for dinner last week and they were listening to Rock 'n' Roll with the Modern Lovers when we arrived. Played it three times through before we felt the need to change to something else.

For mine, the kookiness of things like "Here come the Martian Martians", "Abominable Snowman in the Marketplace" and "Ice-Cream Man" are just unadulterated in their joy.

Anyone heard the song he co-wrote with his 8yo daughter, "Rock 'n' Roll Drummer from the Hospy-Tel?" Oh boy.

I got to see him live for the tour on the album where he's dressed like a pirate on the cover (Surrender to Jonathan?)and it was just him and a drummer using a stripped-back kit (may have been as minimal as a snare and a hi-hat...). He was excellent, dancing these weird dance moves that reminded me of nothing so much as Emmanuel Lewis (remember the times he'd stand on top of a piano and do a little dance routine? like that).

God love him. Surrender to JoJo indeed. To think that he's cited as the godfather of punk just tickles me pink.

m.

10:58 / 03.06.05

"I'm a li'l airplane NEEEOWWWW
I'm a li'l airplane NEEOWW NEEOWWW!"

Finally, after years of waiting, Saveloy shall have his answer, and I, Boboss, will give it to him.

Yes, that's Johnny boy. Good song, too.

17:13 / 03.06.05

"I'm a little airplane"

Not to be confused with "I'm a little dinosaur".