Modern Lovers

First formed in the late Sixties when Jonathan Richman became infatuated with the Velvet Underground and started his own band, blending the influence of that band with his earlier love for Fifties-era rock. The result, The Modern Lovers, were together in their original format until 1974, and by the time their one album (really a collection of individual sessions which form a cohesive album) was released in 1976, the band backing Jonathan Richman had changed. Jonathan moved towards softer musical styles, and while this would provide some great music, the original band's sound was lost.

That's what makes this recording so great: here is the "rockin'" Modern Lovers captured in their primal heat, bringing down the house to a bemused audience who doesn't quite know what to make of them. One of the charms of the live shows is the way Jonathan and the band switch from heavy, fast songs like "Someone I Care About" to slower, low-key numbers like "Hospital" or "Girlfriend". The sound captured on this is pure fun and enjoyment, tempered with Jonathan's own hearbreak-fueled songs about girls who hang around in the Cezanne wing of the modern museums.

This is a gem of a record, worth seeking out if you wonder what all the fuss was about. If you have no idea who Jonathan Richman is, this will be a perfect intro. All in all, this along with the original album are perfect compliments to each other, and both illuminate how punk evolved. Get this first, then the album. You can't go wrong...

Revealing as an artist's sketchbook..........2003-04-29

If you already appreciate the unique genius represented by the original Modern Lover's Beserkly release then you will likely find this live collection very interesting and moving... but if you are new to the world of JoJo in general, or the Modern Lovers thang in specific, then this piece would not serve as a good entry point.

For one thing, the sound quality is "bootleg"... also, the song selection / running order leans heavily on slow, meandering sad stuff instead of the more upbeat, cutting/rock-edged stuff. This may turn off first-time or casual listeners... but there are definitely some very magic moments for those with patience and determination... you get some "unheard/unrecorded" songs including the phenomenal "the Mixer" which is easily on par with classics like "Roadrunner" and "She Cracked". Also, alternate lyrics for Roadrunner are interesting and the extended "patter" in-between songs really gives you some intense insight into where Jonathan Richman's head was at during this period.

The stand-out cut for me on this album though was the monumental version of "I'm Straight". During the spoken intro the pain and scars are so fresh that Jonathon sounds like he is seriously about to break into tears... the band unsteadily slids in behind him and things slowly build in intensity until we get to a point by the end of the song where all the microphones and recording gear overload heavily into the red-line as the whole band shrieks the refrain "I'M STRAIGHT!!" at the top of their lungs. I can't think of anything else in the history of recorded music that compares with the emotional intensity of this track... well worth the price of admission alone!

Three Chord Salvation Hoedown..........2002-11-10

My Modern Lover's collection will often sit untouched for months on end but when I dig them back out they don't leave my CD player for weeks.

This album captures everything the Modern Lover's stood for. The essential piece on this disc is "A Plea for Tenderness". Call me a bizzare case but that song that may sound like a bunch of unstructured noise to anybody else brings a tear to my eye every time I hear it.When Jonathan begins pleading, he sounds like he's really breaking down from desperation.

Jonathan's constant pleas of "play softer" and the bands obvious desire to not comply with his wishes give you a look into the reasons this truly unique band dissolved but it also makes for highly entertaining listening.

In my view this is hands down the best live recording of any rock band ever, mainly because it's not about perfection. it's about sincerity and the freedom music can give you to be your own person.

Essential stuff.......2001-12-05

If you believe, as I do, that the first Modern Lovers album was Jonathan Richman's creative watershed, this is an essential purchase. You can really hear how close their live sound was to the John Cale-produced "demos" that constituted their Beserkley debut. What makes this indispensible, however, is the inclusion of a handful of original songs that were never recorded, as well as Jonathan's inimitable stage patter. Added bonus: The great John Felice, the original 15-year-old Modern Lovers guitarist, is on several tracks. (Who's John Felice, you ask? Check out the 1977 debut album of his boss band the Real Kids, which is available thru Amazon.com. You won't regret it.)

Average customer rating:

Great CD, but the track listing is wrong

The Modern Lovers
The Modern Lovers
Manufacturer: Sanctuary UK
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000IY0G3O
Release Date: 2006-10-23

Tracks:

Roadrunner
Astral Plane
Old World
Pablo Picasso
I'm Straight
Dignified and Old
She Cracked
Hospital
Someone I Care About
Girl Friend
Modern World
Government Center

Album Description

2006 reissue of this absolutely mind-blowing classic 1976 album packaged in a miniature LP sleeve from Jonathan Richman and his original line-up of The Modern Lovers which featured David Robinson (later of The Cars) and Jerry Harrison (later of Talking Heads). This is as raw as Richman would get, mixing basic Rock 'N Roll with a distinct Velvet Underground influence (VU's John Cale actually produced much of this release). Features five bonus tracks: 'I Wanna Sleep In Your Arms', 'Dance With Me', 'Someone I Care About', 'Modern World' and a different version of 'Roadrunner'. Sanctuary.

Album Details

The Modern Lovers were Led by Jonathan Richman (Including Future Car Elliott Easton in the Lineup) and Came from Massachusetts in the Early 1970s. This Classic Debut Album Includes Heartfelt Songs About Dating Awkwardness, Growing Up in Massachusetts and Love of Life. Many Feel this is their Best Album. The Sound of the Band in this Period Owed a Great Deal to the Influence of the Velvet Underground (Owing that These Sessions were Produced by None Other Than John Cale), but also Pointed the Way Towards Much of the Punk, New Wave and Indie Rock of the Following Decades.

Customer Reviews:

Great CD, but the track listing is wrong.......2007-03-12

The CD only has 9 tracks on it. I had an older copy of this CD, and it was so scratched that I wanted a new copy. After receiving this one, there are 3 tracks that are not on the CD. They are tracks 5, 6 and 12.

Roadrunner, Roadrunner: The Beserkley Collection

Average customer rating:

Roadrunner, Roadrunner: The Beserkley Collection
Jonathan Richman , and Modern Lovers
Manufacturer: Sanctuary UK
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Jonathan Richman & the Modern Lovers

ASIN: B0002ADXY8
Release Date: 2004-07-26

Tracks:

Roadrunner (Twice)
Astral Plane
Pablo Picasso
She Cracked
Hospital
Someone I Care About
I'm Straight
Modern World [Alternate Take]
Dignified and Old
Government Centre
New Teller
It Will Stand
Back in the U.S.A.
Rockin' Shopping Center
New England
Lonely Financial Zone
Here Come the Martian Martians
Amazing Grace
Rockin' Rockin' Leprechauns
Summer Morning
Afternoon
Egyptian Reggae

Tracks:

Sweeping Wind (Ewa Ti Feng)
Dodge Veg-O-Matic [Extended Version]
Fly into the Mystery
Wheels on the Bus
Angels Watching Over Me
I'm a Little Airplane
Hey There Little Insect
Ice Cream Man
I'm a Little Dinosaur
Morning of Our Lives
Chapel of Love
Abdul and Cleopatra
Lover Please
Affection
Buzz Buzz Buzz
Back in Your Life
Party in the Woods Tonight
I'm Nature's Mosquito
Lydia
I Hear You Calling Me
Roadrunner (Once)

The Beserkley Years: The Best Of Jonathan Richman And The Modern Lovers

Average customer rating:

I love it
Cuts through to the nitty-gritty
Best Jo-Jo Album
His Best Work
Getting it Right

The Beserkley Years: The Best Of Jonathan Richman And The Modern Lovers
Jonathan Richman & the Modern Lovers
Manufacturer: Rhino / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000003491
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Roadrunner
Astral Plane
Pablo Picasso
Government Center
New England
Here Come The Martian Martians
Important In Your Life
Abominable Snowman In The Market
Lonely Finacial Zone
Ice Cream Man
Afternoon
Dodge Veg-O-Matic
I'm A Little Dinosaur (Live)
The Morning Of Our Lives (Live)
Back In Your Life
Abdul And Cleopatra
My Love Is A Flower (Just Beginning To Bloom)
Affection

Customer Reviews:

I love it.......2007-04-12

I first heard about Jonathan Richman through a magazine article. Then I saw him in humorous locations throughout the film, There's Something About Mary. This is my real introduction to this very interesting artist. His music is pretty much indescribable. I'll just call it smiling music. It just makes you smile. He sings songs about just about anything you can imagine. From being a three year old kid to rocking out in the laundrymat, you will be entertained. His voice takes some getting used to, but it fits perfectly in his humorous songs. I recommend this album to everyone.

Cuts through to the nitty-gritty.......2005-08-10

Years ago, I had this up on the stereo when my wife walked in the door. "What the hell is that?" she asked.

"Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers," I replied, and before "Morning of Our Lives" was over, she was choking back tears.

That's the kind of record this is. It walks the thin line between stubborn steadfast optimistic love and stalking

Best Jo-Jo Album.......2004-05-07

I won't try to describe the phenomenon that is Jonathan Richman. He started as an MC5/Lou Reed rocker and is now the troubadour for those two guys that make unfunny comedies. I love Jonathan and always have, but his work can become precious. (I'm not sure "Nature's Mosquito" or "Dancing in the Lesbian Bar" qualify as works on the level of "Desolation Row" or "Gimme Shelter," but you get the picture.)

This album, however, is nails through and through. It is not a solo album and this line up of the Modern Lovers is really great. Jonathan's songs here are all rockin', too. They are nostalgic without being cloying and funny without being slapstick (mostly). There are no less than three genuine Jonathan classics, too: "That Summer Feeling," "Give Paris One More Chance," and "Not Yet Three." The remaining songs are not just filler.

If I had to pick two albums, I'd pick this one and "In Your Life." In fact, I'd say this was an essential album to anyone's library.

His Best Work.......2004-02-24

I was sort of surprised to read all these generic reviews of "Jonathan Sings," as none of the reviews actually dealt with this specific album (Good work, Amazon.) Jonathan Richman can be really self-indulgent, and although I'm a huge fan, I'm not wild about his solo albums (which seem to be the majority). Nor do I think the first "Modern Lovers" album is so essential (but then I also hate the Velvet Underground's first album as another example of bad musicianship). Not to worry, however: this album (i.e., "Jonathan Sings") sparkles. Richman assembled a really good group of musicians for a change: the back up singers are really wonderful (I saw one of them (Ellie something) open for Richman circa 1990 at the Palomino Club of blessed memory). Each song is a gem, and three are his best: Give Paris One More Chance, That Summer Feeling and I'm Not Yet Three. I'm kind of shocked that this ablum is out of print, but I'm not shocked that used versions fetch so high a price. If I could replace my crappy cassette version of this album, I would. Go buy this if and when it's re-released.

Getting it Right.......2003-09-05

Jonathan Richman blasted out of Boston with his band, The Modern Lovers, about 20-odd years ago, hailed as the next new Mick Jagger, yet with an open heart, and not a cloaked dagger, to offer his fans. The group that filled out The Modern Lovers(Jerry Harrison, later of the Talking Heads; Ernie Brooks, the renowned bassist and later sometime record exec, and David Robinson, who went on to play drums for The Cars) were equally distinguished.

There are no known visual recordings of that group at work, tho some still photos are floating around; some of these can be found on the one live album of the (mostly) original group that did (thanks to Brooks) make its way into CD form. (That recording is spotty at best, which is to be expected given the primitive recording nature, but gives one an idea, and also includes at least one old Lovers outtake not to be found elsewhere on disk or vinyl.)

What we do know is that fans and record executives who saw the group were convinced that they were the next great thing, and the Lovers were promptly shipped off (by RCA, if I recall correctly) to LA to be produced by ex-VU member John Cale (Richman, as a youth, had been a big VU fan, and from time to time would follow them around on their abrupt touring schedule) for the then astronomical sum of $250,000.

Songs like Roadrunner, Pablo Picasso, and Modern Love were catchy, new, and, amazingly enough, seemed acceptable to both teen audiences and their parents (many of the latter, you will recall, were at the time terrified of their children developing into Charles Manson-like flower children or, even worse, college dropouts) and it seemed like Richman and the Lovers were on their way.

It was not to be. Richman, often described as good-hearted but hard-headed, did not take kindly to the artistic direction suggested by the record company, balked at the deal, and walked out on the band. Happily, the basic tracks had already been laid down, and we now have the essence of that great group available on the CD simply entitled The Modern Lovers.

Richman's self-relagatio (broke and back in Boston) lead to the various odd incarnations we have found him in since. Happily, Jonathon Sings is one of those rare occasions were he really gets it right. There is an artful acoustic twinge to this production which makes the most of his ever-wistful lyrics. Best of all is the little-known classic: The Neighbors. Rhapsodizing about the maleficent influence of excessive neighborly interest, Richman declares himself "intent not to let the neighbors run my life, yeah, no need to let the neighbors run my life."

That statement might well sum up his attitude toward the entire music establishment. Richman's independent line of thought has often tested even his most loyal supporters, but with Johnathon Sings he amply rewards them with his best solo work.

Tracks:

I'm a Little Airplane
Hey There Little Insect
Egyptian Reggae
Ice Cream Man
I'm a Little Dinosaur
My Little Kookenhaken
South American Folk Song
New England
Morning of Our Lives

Album Details

Digitally Remastered Expanded Edition of the Classic Live Modern Lovers Album. It was Recorded Recorded at London's Hammersmith Odeon in September 1977 at the Height of the Punk Movement.

Customer Reviews:

When 5 Stars is Not Enough.......2005-10-28

What makes a great live album? A faithful reproduction or superior reinterpretation of a studio classic? Audience rapport? Great guitar solos? Fantastic new songs? All of the above?

Have I got the album for you.

For post-Beserkley Chartbusters Jonathan fans, this is THE album to have. It kicks off with I'm a Little Airplane, which is available nowhere else. Until the applause kicks in at the end of the song, it is as tight as Jonathan's best studio recordings from the era. It's goofy lyrics (yes, he really is a little airplane), joined with fun riffs and a guitar solo so good that Jonathan requested a second one, result in a thoroughly enjoyable two minutes. The song immediately segues into audience banter where a heckler accuses Jonathan of wearing the same shirt for two consecutive nights. Of course, Jonathan objects! Fortunately, he is not thrown off form and counts into a version of "Hey There Little Insect" that is superior in every way to the studio version. If you don't know the song, it's everything its title promises. From there, the band moves on to their biggest hit, the instrumental "Egyptian Reggae." Doesn't this album sound fun already?

And I haven't even gotten to the marathon rendition of "Ice Cream Man" that closes side one of the old album. This is a far superior version to the studio recording that brings out all of the song's promise of waiting for the ice cream man on a hot summer's day when you were six years old. The fake endings of the song as the audience begs for more is the high point of the album and guaranteed to bring a dumb smile to your face.

Side two has a hard time living up to side one, but that's like saying side one of Abbey Road doesn't hold up to side two. Not much to complain about here. A guided tour to the land of dinosaurs, New England, South America, and Kookenhakens is more than most of us deserve. The final song, "The Morning of Our Lives," is so sweet-natured and kind; do the cynic inside of you a favor and give this song a listen. It will make you wish you never grew up.

All in all, this is my favorite live album by any artist. Jonathan's hero, Lou Reed, did well with "Rock 'n Roll Animal," but this is better.

Buy it and have a great time!

Modern Lovers still alive!.......2005-09-09

It must have been more than 25 years ago I listened to this album for the first time. It's one of these you must have in your collection. Songs like "I'm a little airplane" and "Icecream man" still lingered in my mind and over the years I trapped myself regularly I was humming or singing these songs when I was in a good mood. Now I can make every mood good! I put on this CD and the sun is shining again!

One more time ice cream man!.......2004-06-18

After "Rock & Roll With...", this is my favorite post Jerry Harrison Modern Lovers album (just ahead of "M.L.s 88"). A few weeks before this new Castle edition was released the Amazon listing for it mentioned something like 33 bonus tracks that were to be included on a two disc set. Apparantly they couldn't clear that extra material in time (hopefully bootlegs will start appearing now of those shows). What is here is the same great album you probably already have, but with rare photos & newsclippings that are actually rare as well as remastering. The best live albums for me are the ones with great new songs to make them worth buying. The four new songs are classics. "I'm a Little Dinosaur", "My Little Kookenhaken" & "I'm a Little Airplane" (which has been featured on "Sesame Street") are his best kiddie songs & "Morning of Our Lives" his best anthem about optimism & self esteem. "Hey There Little Insect" is the only old one they improve on, but the rest are just as infectious as the originals. Jonathan's good natured confrontations with the audience are priceless & even the umpteenth false stop of "Ice Cream Man" has a certain charm. Anyway, it depends how important artwork & remastering are to you. & if you could never find this cd before (or want to pay the collectible price), here it is for you to discover (excavate?).

Average customer rating:

An Enduring Classic
Do Kids These Days Even Listen To This?
A No Man's Land Between Proto-Punk and New Wave
20 years later this still sounds fresh and great! A highly accessible and fun proto-punk album!
If the Velvet Underground put the artiness in Alt / Indie...

The Modern Lovers
The Modern Lovers
Manufacturer: Rhino / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0000032AZ
Release Date: 1989-09-12

Tracks:

Roadrunner
Astral Plane
Old World
Pablo Picasso
I'm Straight
Dignified And Old
She Cracked
Hospital
Someone I Care About
Girl Friend
Modern World
Government Center

Amazon.com

Jonathan Richman's nasal little kid's voice and playful innocence turned out to be a perfect detour for the still-young punk movement in the mid-'70s. This 12-song, 1976 album, actually a collection of demos from earlier in the decade, opens with the ultimate Boston driving anthem, "Roadrunner." In addition to its fun, straightforward guitar-and-keyboard songs, such as the anti-drug "She Cracked," the loopy "Pablo Picasso" and the rocking-secretary "Government Center," the album is notable for historical reasons. David Robinson was the Lovers' drummer before he joined the Cars, Jerry Harrison was keyboardist before he joined Talking Heads, and ex-Velvet Underground violist John Cale produced half the tracks. Steve Knopper

Customer Reviews:

An Enduring Classic.......2006-11-15

This is a classic that, for some reason, is largely unknown.

In 1971, this group cut an un-pretentious album that echoed punk, new wave, alternative, and emo before anybody there was even a name or category for that type of music.

This is raw (real raw) rock and roll, earnest song writing and humble vocals. This had to be be dramatically different from anything else when it was recorded back in 1971.

What makes this album great is the energy of the songs and the sincere topics of the songs. Jonathan Richman's lyrics are about the common teenage nerd/geek/dweeb desiring to simply being a member of the in-crowd, fantasizing about getting the un-obtainable girl, or wanting for things to be the way they used to be (or should be). The songs are very optimistic.

What a strange yet enticing batch of songs;

"Pablo Picasso" states that the famous artist was not only cool and got the girls but also, unlike you and I, he was not an %@& hole.

"I'm straight" is about trying to get a girl who is dating "Hippy Johnny", who is a stoner. Why date him, he's always stoned, when she can date the narrator of the song? Because...he's straight.

Let's have a rockin party at the "Government Center" where the secretaries are always getting better.

"Girlfriend is a ballad where Jonathan Richman simply wants to have, not a good time, a one night stand or wild chicks, no...he just wants a basic girlfriend.

The highlight of the cd is "Roadrunner" a two chord rave up celebrating the joys of driving real fast, with the top down, WITH THE RADIO ON.

This album has it all...fuzzed out guitars, beefy hammond organs, crashing drums, lots of handclaps, and call and responses (it is no coincidence that it has a common denominator with the sound of the Velvet Underground ...it's produced by John Cale.)

Although this is 34 years old, this music is indistinguishable from any raw, punky, alternative sound that you would hear today.

If your a fan of punk and want to see an obvious influence, this is it. If you love raw, roots music, this also is for you. If you like songwriting about the underdog doing the right thing, wanting to treat girls properly, then this is for you.

This strange band somehow, someway, without really even trying, recorded an album that was decades ahead of its time.

This cd should be much more prominent in the history of rock and roll.

Do Kids These Days Even Listen To This?.......2006-08-23

Alright, I'm 13, I HATE MODERN MUSIC WITH THE ACCEPTIONS OF THE DEADLY SNAKES AND THE KING KAHN AND BBQ SHOW. I love The Kinks, Billy Childish, The Mc5, and Syd Barrett. This album is one of the best I've ever heard. If you listen to The Modern Lovers, I really dig you considering you're in the "Kids Forum." Now If I could just get you guys into Vonnegut and Ginnsberg

A No Man's Land Between Proto-Punk and New Wave.......2006-01-28

There is a scene near the end of the movie "Manhattan" in which Woody Allen's friend angrily says to him, "You think you're God!", to which Woody replies, "I gotta model myself after someone!"

This is the same line of defense I would offer to any singer who is accused of sounding too much like Lou Reed. Jonathan Richman is perhaps chief among those who have met with this accusation. Whether or not Richman really does sound that much like him is debatable, but he clearly and unapologetically invokes the powers of the leader of his favorite band. (Richman explained in an interview that he used to draw and paint all day as a young man, but that was before he discovered The Velvet Underground.)

The Modern Lovers' debut seems an unlikely candidate for such an influential record. It has certainly received its share of nearly hyperbolic praise. Andy "Music Geek on 'Beat the Geeks'" Zax says that "Roadrunner" is his all-time favorite song, and the good folks at Pitchforkmedia.com say that without this song, "we're pretty sure Western culture would have ended in 1977". And the fact that The Sex Pistols (and Joan Jett, and others) did a cover of it hardly helps to refute the idea that this completely unthreatening track is a quintessential proto-punk single. Moreover, I have seen the track "Pablo Picasso" performed live by three different artists: David Bowie, Richman himself, and John Cale, who produced the early Modern Lovers sessions.

But there is more to Jonathan Richman's influence than his music. His image has had an equally widespread impact. He was surely not the first geeky, awkward outsider to become a rock star, but he was surely among the first to flaunt it (with all due respect to Buddy Holly). In addition to Richman's obvious influence on punk, his whimsy, winsomeness, silliness, and geekiness is apparent in Talking Heads (of whom Modern Lover Jerry Harrison was later a member), They Might Be Giants, Weezer, Fountains of Wayne, and the more contemporary Swedish songmeister Jens Lekman.

The best place to start in reviewing this record is with the setting of many of the songs. Plenty of major cities in the world - L.A., New York, London - have had their stories chronicled in popular music. With The Modern Lovers, Boston (my adopted hometown) gets a bit of its due. Granted, the lure of Beantown may not be as romantic as the City of Angels or the Big Apple, but it certainly has its charms for a young Jonathan Richman-type suburbanite. From the Stop-N-Shop and "[Route] 128 in the moonlight", to the Museum of Fine Arts, the Fenway, and BU, Richman knows the town he loves the way Lou Reed knows NYC, or Ray Davies knows London. (Of course, the Naked City - Richman's adopted hometown - is mentioned a few times on the record, too.)

The songwriting and musicianship on this record are deliberately amateurish. Notice how he spells "Girl Friend" incorrectly in the song of the same name in order to make a pretty obvious rhyme. Sometimes it is to a fault, and the quality is a bit compromised (eg, "Old World"), while other times the results are inspired, such as in "Modern World". "I love the USA/I love the modern world/Put down the cigarette/And drop outta BU" is one of my favorite lyrics on the album. (The variations on this refrain include that last line being "act like a true girl" and "drop outta high school".) I know that doesn't sound like much, but to hear Richman sing it in his mock-tough guy voice makes all the difference.

And while he could be accused (if not convicted) of posturing, Richman convincingly shows his many sides on this record. He is a giddy and optimistic young man on "Roadrunner" and "Government Center", but sad, lonely, and mature on "Hospital" ("there is pain inside/you can see it in my eyes"), "Someone I Care About" ("I don't want a girl just to fool around with"), and "Girl Friend" ("I walk through the Fenway/I have my heart in my hands"). He is also a geeky Lou Reed on "Pablo Picasso", which struts along at a cocksure midtempo pace, "She Cracked" ("she'd eat garbage, eat s**t, get stoned"), and "Modern World". (And like Fountains of Wayne after him, he makes his disdain for hippies obvious on "I'm Straight".) The music includes pre-New Wave, Steve Nieve-ish keyboards, sloppy Velvets-y guitar, and the welding of the two. Whether these songs are dated from 1972 - when they were first recorded - or 1976 - when they were first released, they manage to land smack dab (chronologically and stylistically) in the middle of proto-punk and New Wave.

If there were a Hall of Fame for cult rockers, Richman would surely be among its first inductees. His artistic and commercial success are inversely related, and he is best known to a mass audience as that guy in "There's Something About Mary" (or for the old school rock fans who haven't seen that movie, he is best known as the guy who is always described as the guy who is best known as that guy from "There's Something About Mary"). Keyboardist Jerry Harrison, on the other hand, is in the actual Rock 'N Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Talking Heads, and David Robinson, later the drummer for The Cars, may well end up there himself. (These two have been given a bit of poetic justice as members of more successful and well-known bands, but I am not sure what became of bassist Ernie Brooks.)

Although The Modern Lovers will never get the attention or credit they truly deserve, the fact that so many other artists are indebted to them is a start. It vicariously gives them a mass audience that they could never have on their own. Like The Sex Pistols and Television - both of whom could qualify as kindred spirits of the band - The Modern Lovers made a huge impact on the basis of a single album. But sometimes that is all it takes to change the world of popular music: sometimes someone needs to do something for the first time, just to show that it can be done. By this standard, the importance of The Modern Lovers first record should not be underestimated. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

20 years later this still sounds fresh and great! A highly accessible and fun proto-punk album!.......2006-01-09

I usually don't like punk music, but "The Modern Lovers" is one album that I always have fun listening to. It admittedly sounds a little dated, but if you can get past that then you'll find that every song here is catchy, fun and interesting. The lyrics especially are fun to pay attention to. Singer Jonathan Richman has a great voice which most people will like a lot. The musicianship is just excellent and the production is crystal clear - a lot of hard work went into this album. It's a very creative and original album (at least, when it came out in 1976). It's essentially proto/art punk in the vein of The Velvet Underground. This album also makes for some great background music wherever you happen to be. This is THE punk album that you should show to people who don't think much of the genre (like me!). Most people will love this album and I think you will too! Highly recommended!

Highlights include:
the entire album!

If the Velvet Underground put the artiness in Alt / Indie..........2005-01-15

... than these guys gave it the proper amount of teen angst. Before you write them off for that, remember that they were doing this stuff before anyone else. Hey, this sounds like it could've come out yesterday, and it's influence on alt / indie / emo shows (let's not hold it against them). By far the greatest band to come out of Boston, matched only by the Pixies possibly. Do what you can to track down this cult classic, you will not be dissapointed.

Average customer rating:

3 stars but a 4th due to the very cool Beserkley bonus trax

Jonathan Richman & the Modern Lovers
Jonathan Richman
Manufacturer: Castle
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Rock 'n' Roll With the Modern Lovers
Back in Your Life
The Modern Lovers
Live
I, Jonathan

ASIN: B0001EMM5G
Release Date: 2004-03-22

Tracks:

Rockin' Shoppin' Center
Back in the U.S.A.
Important in Your Life
New England
Lonely Financial Zone
Hi Dear
Abominable Snowman in the Market
Hey There Little Insect
Here Come the Martian Martians
Springtime
Amazing Grace
It Will Stand [*]
Government Center [*]
New Teller [*]
Roadrunner (Once) [*]

Album Description

2004 reissue of the classic 1977 album features 15 tracks including 4 bonus tracks, 'It Will Stand', 'Government Center', 'The New Teller', & 'Roadrunner (Once)', taken from the legendary Beserkley 'Chartbusters' sampler. Includes foldout sleeve with extensive liner notes, photos & memorabilia. Castle.

Album Details

Digitally Remastered Reissue of Richman's Reconsituted Modern Lovers that were Assembled for their Second Incarnation and Second Full Length Album. It is a Modern Classic, featuring the Childlike Charm and Charisma of Richman, Whose Take on the World at Large is Unique and Endearing. The Bonus Tracks Included Here were Taken from the Now Legendary Beserkley Chartbusters Samplers.

Customer Reviews:

3 stars but a 4th due to the very cool Beserkley bonus trax.......2006-02-26

I have this album, yes, vinyl lp, from the 70's. I also have the Beserkley sampler with these 4 bonus trax. The album was never one of his strongest from the 70's. There's a coupla songs that are nice but mostly this album is a bit indlugent which Jonathan can be off and on.

The bonus trax are excellent. They seem to show up here and there on various Jonathan re-issue records. Any way you can get them they're all four worth it. Strong songs of love or how he sees life.

If yer thinking about getting this album if you don't have those 4 bonus trax then go ahead. If you do, I'd pass on getting the album cuz it's just not that memorable. No real stand out songs like he has on some other albums. chrisbct@hotmail.com

Average customer rating:

yes!
Hit after hit of pure JR sunshine...
Like a Memorial Day BBQ in my CD player...
A great rock n roll record - as usual.
It has nothing to do with David Lynch...

Modern Lovers 88
Jonathan Richman & the Modern Lovers
Manufacturer: Rounder / Umgd
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Rock 'n' Roll With the Modern Lovers
Jonathan Richman
I, Jonathan
Jonathan Richman & the Modern Lovers
Having a Party with Jonathan Richman

ASIN: B0000003JD
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Dancin Late At Night
When Harpo Played His Harp
Gail Loves Me
New Kind Of Neighborhood
African Lady
I Love Hot Nights
California Desert Party
Everything's Gotta Be Right
Circle I
I Have come Out To Play
The Theme From Mountain Rouge

Customer Reviews:

yes!.......2003-02-07

1) Dancin' late at night: This is a good track, although not my favorite. I like the Lata Night Falafel Stand.
2) When Harpo Played his Harp: This is one of favorites of JR'S. It's sentimental and shows off his, well, quirky style.
3)Gail Loves Me: This actually grew on me!
4)New Kind of Neighborhood: This is very catchy!! Classic Modern Lovers!
5)African Lady: Although it's instrumental, I still reccomend it!
6)I love Hot Nights:This is probably my least favorite on the CD.

7)California Deset Party: If you like ANY of Jojo's music, you'll like this
8)Everything's gotta be right: I like this. No more to say!
9)This was OK.
10)This is remembering childhood, simalar feeling to "My Kind of Music"
11)I must have listened to this 5 or 6 times in a row. It's great!
This is alltogether a good album and a great addition to any Modern Lover's collection!

Hit after hit of pure JR sunshine..........2002-10-11

The sheer joy on this disc is palpable and pervasive. After brief stints at Sire (1983's Jonathan Sings!), Twin Tone (1985's Rockin' And Romance), and Upside (1986's It's Time For Jonathan Richman And The Modern Lovers) -- by the way, will these albums EVER be brought back into print?! -- perhaps Jonathan anticipated a longer, happier relationship with his then-new label, Rounder. (He would go on to record six more albums for the label from 1989 to 1995.) And although he had spent a great deal of time in California before this album, he seems especially inspired by his surroundings on tunes like "New Kind of Neighborhood," "I Love Hot Nights," "California Desert Party," and "Circle I" (a rollicking ode to a produce-growing "ranch out West"). Life as a family-man seems to have informed other tracks: On "I Have Come Out to Play," he paints a vivid portrait of childhood, complete with bike-riding, a "purple squirt gun," and leaping up from the dinner table to play outside some more before the sun goes down; the how-we-fell-in-love ballad "Everything's Gotta Be Right" is sort of a precursor to "Just for Fun" and "A Higher Power"; "Gail Loves Me," an ode to his then-wife, contains few lyrics beyond the title phrase but now seems rather poignant in light of later events (see 1996's Surrender To Jonathan and 1998's I'm So Confused). The opener "Dancin' Late at Night" and the instrumental "African Lady" are fun throwaways; but my favorite track -- "When Harpo Played His Harp," a tribute to the late, silent Marx Brother -- shows a rare serious side of Richman. Musically, the influence of '50s and early '60s rock 'n' roll can be heard in almost every track. My only other complaint about this disc -- aside from the rather indulgent closer, a hummed rendition of "The Theme form 'Moulin Rouge'" -- is that it's just too short (at 30 minutes) and, for the most part, too slight. (I still recommend Modern Lovers '88, but for weightier fare from this period, check out 1991's Having A Party and 1992's I, Jonathan first.)

Like a Memorial Day BBQ in my CD player..........2002-02-26

...Or more songs about dancing and food. This is happy, jangly, upbeat, mid-tempo music. A short album (about 35 min) without a single guitar solo, but mucho cheerful strumming. Jonathan Richman isn't very ambitious here; sometimes it seems like he's making it up as they go along. The lyrics aren't very challenging, but they are relentlessly happy. He sings about purple squirt guns, riding his bike before it gets too dark, being loved, dancing, partying, with lots and lots of references to food - guacamole, corn, tomatoes, potatoes and the only reference to "falafel" I know of in any song. He sings words like: "Wangetty dangetty dingy dangetty dangetty dingy." And the music sounds like those words. It's the sort of music where you can tell what the whole album is like by listening to any five seconds of it. If you're feeling dour, this might be too upbeat for you. Either you hate it or love it. I personally loved it. I've listened to this CD every other day for the last half-year.

A great rock n roll record - as usual........2000-05-15

Mat Snow has not got it at all. David Lynch? This is a great rock n roll record. If you can't dance to this and sing along then you are hip. Way too hip. Another unique gem . I can't believe some people don't like JR but I know the reality is that almost everyone I could ask would say no - I don't like that That's their loss. Don't analyse this - enjoy it Fabulous joyful record and it rocks..

It has nothing to do with David Lynch..........1998-11-07

Wow. The "Professional" reviewers on this Amazon thang, out to join the jojo online digest. Too serious! This is not like David Lynch (who makes films and not music) nor is it not live Pee Wee Herman's New Kind of Neighborhood. It's a rockin' and a rolling and a singin' of songs -- New kind of Neighborhood!

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