Talk:Jonathan Richman

Untitled
Which version of Jonathan / Modern Lovers appears on the excellent "Row B Seat 13" live album?

That's an excellent question. I've never heard of it, and allmusic.com seems to think it doesn't exist. Can you give me more details? Is it perhaps a bootleg? -- Paul Drye

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00000BIDB/o/qid=/sr=8-1/ref=sr_aps_pm_1_1/026-4639140-6506019

The call it Modern Lovers Live, but thats another name

Interesting. It's a reissue of a live album, issued by Berserkley Records in 1977. Never heard of it before this (tho' I'm not obsessive about Richman). Based on the year, the label, and the track listing, it's almost definitely the second lineup. -- Paul Drye

Mines not a reissue, its vinyl and on Berserkley. Its also excellent. Give it a listen...

The line up is as follows: Jonathan Richman - Guitar, Vocals Asa Brebner - Bass, Vocals D. Sharpe - Drums, Percussion, Percussion Leroy Radcliffe - Guitar, Vocals --Simon Angling 15:58, 25 Apr 2004 (UTC)

I don't think there's a need for separating the discography between ML, JR and JR&ML

213.64.74.121 21:48, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

Yes there is it's two different types of music GummoLosyMarxBro (talk) 02:14, 19 August 2018 (UTC)

Their first album was released in 1975
I have two copies (somewhere) of the Modern Lover's first album, and I am absolutely certain that I listened to it, and played it for a friend, on the night Saturday Night Live debutted in 1975 (October 11, 1975). I know this because my friend's brother was killed in a car accident later that night. Thomas144 16:29, 26 September 2006 (UTC)

Unmentioned Mysterious Song
Does anyone know anything about I'm a Little Airplane Now? It's really crazy and I'd like to know more about it. All the information I've found on it so far comes from http://tmbw.net/wiki/I'm_A_Little_Airplane (featured on http://tmbw.net/wiki/Podcast_6A) and that it was on Sesame Street (as mentioned here http://www.vaporrecords.com/catalog/a_jon_richman.html). --ArtifexCrastinus 07:37, 22 April 2007 (UTC)
 * This ? Ghmyrtle 09:16, 22 April 2007 (UTC)

Yeah, it doesn't appear to be available anywhere besides the Modern Lovers' first live album. Interesting song, I hadn't heard it since I watched Sesame Street 10-15 years ago, but the title alone made me recall it immediately. --JohnnyLurg (talk) 11:58, 18 December 2010 (UTC)

This Introduction is making some broad and unverifiable assumptions
Here is how Wikipedia introduces Jonathan Richman:

"Jonathan Richman (born 16 May 1951) is an American proto-punk icon and one of the progenitors of "indie rock". He is known for his wide-eyed, near-childlike lyrical outlook, and music that, while rooted in 1950s rock and roll structures, can be wildly eclectic."

This introduction makes too many assumptions based on vague genre influence. While these statements may be true in a sense, it is incredibly misleading and should at least have some sort of outside source support. It is also insulting to Jonathan Richman that he is credited as only being a progenitor of one vague style of popular music.

Additionally, anyone that has listened to the first Modern Lovers albums will hear "rock and roll structures." The songs on that particular album diverge from "rock and roll structures" in such drastic ways that one could only say it was based upon, and not "rooted" in this style. Though the Modern Lovers have their own entry, separating Jonathan Richman from this album or discussing him without it is not only neglectful, it is insane.

Further, this introduction is a hack job paraphrase of this All Music Guide intro by Jason Ankeny.

"Jonathan Richman was one of rock's most eccentric and unpredictable cult figures, a performer whose eternally childlike public persona and seeming naiveté...tended to obscure the dexterity and craft of his music, which skirted from garage rock to country to Latin stylings and back"

http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:aifyxqr5ldje~T1 —Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.138.16.238 (talk) 03:17, 6 October 2007 (UTC)
 * So, what do you suggest ? We should collectively try to improve it, not just attack what's there now.Ghmyrtle 11:58, 7 October 2007 (UTC)
 * No, we should attack what is up right now so that it is improved. I know very little about Richman, but the introduction needs to be completely rewritten. - kevin  talk [mailto:kevinebaugh@gmail.com email] 00:50, 7 March 2008 (UTC)
 * Well, I've had a go, and deleted the tag (which I accept was a fair one), but it is difficult to describe the music of someone with so many unique qualities - and "outsider" doesn't quite cover it either. Anyone else want to have a go? Ghmyrtle (talk) 22:12, 7 March 2008 (UTC)

Non Chronology is confusing
When Treybien created a useful section called "Solo" on 31 January 2010, he moved a paragraph about Richman's brief mid-70's solo period to it. This served the unfortunate function of leaving discussion of Richman's first released work until relatively late in the article. I am going to move that paragraph back to its previous location. Sojambi Pinola (talk) 04:27, 18 January 2011 (UTC)

References go here, not in External links
These sources do not ever belong in External links. I have moved the link farm there to this talk page where they do belong. Warning: I didn't check them over, so be careful in choosing any references here. Thank you. --Leahtwosaints (talk) 08:03, 29 March 2012 (UTC)
 * Simes' Jonathan Richman pages - a comprehensive Jonathan Richman discography
 * Jonathan Richman - (in Spanish)
 * The Bostonians - article by Keith Gessen
 * Oh You're So Silent Jonathan Richman - article by Tony DuShane
 * "These sources do not ever belong in External links." That seems a trifle over-assertive.  Care to explain?  Ghmyrtle (talk) 08:05, 29 March 2012 (UTC)

Kenny Laguna needs own article
Currently the wikipedia search Kenny Laguna redirects to Joan Jett. Kenny was/is a significant session musician/writer/producer. I think he warrants his own article. I'm not sure how to change this "redirect". --Design (talk) 12:15, 15 August 2012 (UTC) 2009 Interview & some discography: http://www.musicpix.net/index.php/interviews/kenny_lagunas_life_of_music_-_joan_jetts_producer_and_partner_speaks/ 2009 interview: http://www.northjersey.com/arts_entertainment/78942247.html --Design (talk) 12:48, 15 August 2012 (UTC)
 * His offical site: http://www.lagunatunes.com/
 * 1979 Back in Your Life Jonathan Richman & the Modern Lovers Producer
 * 1982 "I Want Candy" (single) Bow Wow Wow Producer
 * 2002 Getting There Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen Producer
 * 2003 Fatherfucker Peaches Producer
 * An article on Laguna was created in 2013. Ghmyrtle (talk) 08:12, 6 March 2014 (UTC)

Why no mention of his Jewishness?
Hey why no mention of Jonathan Richman's Jewish connection? He is a proud Jewish musician? Why no mention of it? (120.149.121.200 (talk) 09:32, 4 June 2013 (UTC))

Ghmyrtle you're a creep! You skip and ignore my question, yet you answer everyone else's, real nice, ya jerk! (120.149.124.180 (talk) 02:41, 27 April 2014 (UTC))


 * Because I don't have a strong view on the matter. I'm not obliged to answer every question.  This never happened to Pablo Picasso.  Ghmyrtle (talk) 08:41, 27 April 2014 (UTC)

You're comparing yourself to Plabo Picasso? That my good sir, you are not. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 120.147.16.13 (talk • contribs) 05:59, 20 August 2021 (UTC)
 * Umm..... I'm so confused.  Ghmyrtle (talk) 07:11, 20 August 2021 (UTC)


 * The current version of this article covers his Jewishness. 98.123.38.211 (talk) 03:48, 22 April 2024 (UTC)

Why no mention of his pizza oven business?
As well as being a musician, Richman has a job building pizza ovens. It should be mentioned.--Mongreilf (talk) 16:59, 16 February 2014 (UTC)
 * That was reported, once, here. A casual mention in one review isn't really the greatest source.  Do you have a better one?  Ghmyrtle (talk) 19:40, 16 February 2014 (UTC)
 * I am Jonathan Richman, but obviously I'm not allowed to use myself.--Mongreilf (talk) 23:22, 5 March 2014 (UTC)
 * Looking at the articles you've edited previously, I sort of suspect that's not actually the case. If it is, I apologise, and I suggest you write a song about how inaccurate Wikipedia is.  I'd buy it.  Ghmyrtle (talk) 23:39, 5 March 2014 (UTC)
 * Revisiting this, it seems to be true. I've added a brief mention and a couple of sources including a 2016 interview - "Yes, I do stone and brick work. I build bread ovens, also patios and garden walls.. "   Ghmyrtle (talk) 09:32, 20 August 2021 (UTC)

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The Necessaries
Did Richman write many songs for The Necessaries (featuring Arthur Russell)? 98.123.38.211 (talk) 03:49, 22 April 2024 (UTC)

Spirituality
I first briefly interviewed Jonathan by mail ca. late 1980s.

I asked him if he was into Jane Roberts' "Seth" books.

He said yes.

Recently I asked him by mail how he learned of Jane's Seth.

His undated letter, rec'd July 2, 2024, in reply:

Mark,

I heard about the Jane Roberts books in a meditation circle I was a part of in the 70s.

--Jonathan

[He added:]

For the past 10-15 years or so I've studied the material put out by the Yogananda group in Los Angeles. (Self Realization Fellowship.) I get much from it. M.mk (talk) 01:28, 4 July 2024 (UTC)