Surrender to Jonathan! is an album by the American musician Jonathan Richman, released in 1996.[1][2] Richman was the first musician signed to Neil Young's Vapor Records.[3] Richman supported the album by touring with a full band.[4]
| Surrender to Jonathan! | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1996 | |||
| Label | Vapor | |||
| Producer | Andy Paley | |||
| Jonathan Richman chronology | ||||
| ||||
Production
editRecorded in Southern California, the album was produced by Andy Paley.[5][6] Richman recorded the album once he had enough songs, and during a break from his touring schedule; he does not record songs on a deadline.[7][8] Some of the album's songs were inspired by Richman's divorce.[9] Richman played an Epiphone Emperor guitar.[10] Richman used organ and horns on "I Was Dancing in the Lesbian Bar" and "Not Just a 'Plus One' on the Guest List Anymore".[11] "Egyptian Reggae" is a remake of an older Richman song.[12]
Critical reception
edit| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [13] |
| Calgary Herald | [14] |
| The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [12] |
| Entertainment Weekly | B[15] |
| MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide |  [16] |
| (The New) Rolling Stone Album Guide | [17] |
The Chicago Tribune deemed the album "typically blithe" and "a thoroughly swinging dose of tuneful good cheer."[18] The Vancouver Sun opined that "Richman concocts more odd choruses from things most of us couldn't say aloud, let alone sing."[19] The Calgary Herald determined that Richman's "simple rock 'n' roll has become increasingly simplistic and his cute musings increasingly moronic."[14]
The Globe and Mail noted that Richman has "managed to reach [age] 45 without sounding a single cynical note in his life."[20] Stereo Review determined that the "songwriting here is more consistent than usual, bringing the usual half-classic/half-throwaway ratio up to at least 60/40."[21] Trouser Press stated that "Surrender" "is one of the most touching songs Richman has ever written."[22]
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Just Look at Me" | |
| 2. | "Not Just a 'Plus One' on the Guest List Anymore" | |
| 3. | "That Little Sleeper Car" | |
| 4. | "French Style" | |
| 5. | "Surrender" | |
| 6. | "I Was Dancing in the Lesbian Bar" | |
| 7. | "To Hide a Little Thought" | |
| 8. | "Egyptian Reggae" | |
| 9. | "When She Kisses Me" | |
| 10. | "Satisfy" | |
| 11. | "Rock 'N' Roll Drummer Straight from the Hospy-Tel" | |
| 12. | "My Little Girl's Got a Full Time Daddy Now" | |
| 13. | "Floatin'" |
References
edit- ^ "A Master of Simple, Subtle Songs". Features Weekend. The Philadelphia Inquirer. 5 Apr 1996. p. 16.
- ^ Dickinson, Chris (24 Oct 1996). "Surrendering to the Song". Get Out. St. Louis Post-Dispatch. p. 7.
- ^ Catlin, Roger (10 Oct 1996). "Album Review". Calendar. Hartford Courant. p. 4.
- ^ "Surrender to Jonathan". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 11 Apr 1996. p. B7.
- ^ Gettelman, Parry (7 Feb 1997). "Inside Jonathan Richman's Head". Calendar. Orlando Sentinel. p. 7.
- ^ Bessman, Jim (Jul 27, 1996). "Jonathan Richman issues his 'Surrender' on Vapor". Billboard. Vol. 108, no. 30. p. 10.
- ^ Rodriguez, Kenn (8 Nov 1996). "Richman finds fortune on stage, not in studio". Albuquerque Journal. p. E18.
- ^ Sullivan, Jim (6 Mar 1997). "Roadrunner Returns". Calendar. The Boston Globe. p. 28.
- ^ Russell, Richard (7 Feb 1997). "Richman Makes Pointed Observations on Life". Ticket. Sarasota Herald-Tribune. p. 8.
- ^ Dalton, Nic (6 June 1997). "Richman, Quiet, Please". Metro. The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 6.
- ^ DeMarco, Jerry (22 Nov 1996). "The New Wave in Reconstruction". Previews. The Record. Bergen County. p. 8.
- ^ a b Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 7. MUZE. p. 15.
- ^ "Surrender to Jonathan Review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine". AllMusic. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
- ^ a b Muretich, James (29 Sep 1996). "New Releases". Calgary Herald. p. D2.
- ^ Schinder, Scott. "Surrender to Jonathan". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
- ^ MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1999. p. 942.
- ^ (The New) Rolling Stone Album Guide. Simon and Schuster. 2004. p. 690.
- ^ Reger, Rick (27 Sep 1996). "Jonathan Richman, Wednesday and Thursday at Lounge Ax". Friday. Chicago Tribune. p. O.
- ^ Monk, Katherine (28 Sep 1996). "The late-30s mellowing of three rockers". Vancouver Sun. p. C14.
- ^ Dafoe, Chris (18 Oct 1996). "Recordings". The Globe and Mail. p. C3.
- ^ Milano, Brett (Feb 1997). "Surrender to Jonathan!". Stereo Review. Vol. 62, no. 2. p. 136.
- ^ "Jonathan Richman (and the Modern Lovers)". Trouser Press. Retrieved 10 June 2023.