Surrender to Jonathan!

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
Released1996
LabelVapor
ProducerAndy Paley
Jonathan Richman chronology
You Must Ask the Heart
(1995)
Surrender to Jonathan!
(1996)
I'm So Confused
(1998)

Production

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Recorded 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

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [13]
Calgary Herald     [14]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music     [12]
Entertainment WeeklyB[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

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No.TitleLength
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

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  1. ^ "A Master of Simple, Subtle Songs". Features Weekend. The Philadelphia Inquirer. 5 Apr 1996. p. 16.
  2. ^ Dickinson, Chris (24 Oct 1996). "Surrendering to the Song". Get Out. St. Louis Post-Dispatch. p. 7.
  3. ^ Catlin, Roger (10 Oct 1996). "Album Review". Calendar. Hartford Courant. p. 4.
  4. ^ "Surrender to Jonathan". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 11 Apr 1996. p. B7.
  5. ^ Gettelman, Parry (7 Feb 1997). "Inside Jonathan Richman's Head". Calendar. Orlando Sentinel. p. 7.
  6. ^ Bessman, Jim (Jul 27, 1996). "Jonathan Richman issues his 'Surrender' on Vapor". Billboard. Vol. 108, no. 30. p. 10.
  7. ^ Rodriguez, Kenn (8 Nov 1996). "Richman finds fortune on stage, not in studio". Albuquerque Journal. p. E18.
  8. ^ Sullivan, Jim (6 Mar 1997). "Roadrunner Returns". Calendar. The Boston Globe. p. 28.
  9. ^ Russell, Richard (7 Feb 1997). "Richman Makes Pointed Observations on Life". Ticket. Sarasota Herald-Tribune. p. 8.
  10. ^ Dalton, Nic (6 June 1997). "Richman, Quiet, Please". Metro. The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 6.
  11. ^ DeMarco, Jerry (22 Nov 1996). "The New Wave in Reconstruction". Previews. The Record. Bergen County. p. 8.
  12. ^ a b Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 7. MUZE. p. 15.
  13. ^ "Surrender to Jonathan Review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine". AllMusic. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  14. ^ a b Muretich, James (29 Sep 1996). "New Releases". Calgary Herald. p. D2.
  15. ^ Schinder, Scott. "Surrender to Jonathan". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  16. ^ MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1999. p. 942.
  17. ^ (The New) Rolling Stone Album Guide. Simon and Schuster. 2004. p. 690.
  18. ^ Reger, Rick (27 Sep 1996). "Jonathan Richman, Wednesday and Thursday at Lounge Ax". Friday. Chicago Tribune. p. O.
  19. ^ Monk, Katherine (28 Sep 1996). "The late-30s mellowing of three rockers". Vancouver Sun. p. C14.
  20. ^ Dafoe, Chris (18 Oct 1996). "Recordings". The Globe and Mail. p. C3.
  21. ^ Milano, Brett (Feb 1997). "Surrender to Jonathan!". Stereo Review. Vol. 62, no. 2. p. 136.
  22. ^ "Jonathan Richman (and the Modern Lovers)". Trouser Press. Retrieved 10 June 2023.