Talk:Jonathan Richman

Untitled

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

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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

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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...

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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)

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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 [1] ? 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_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)

• His offical site: http://www.lagunatunes.com/

2009 Interview & some discography: http://www.musicpix.net/index.php/interviews/kenny_lagunas_life_of_music_-_joan_jetts_producer_and_partner_speaks/

• 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

2009 interview: http://www.northjersey.com/arts_entertainment/78942247.html --Design (talk) 12:48, 15 August 2012 (UTC)

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))

I inquired by postal mail on this with Jonathan and received a reply postmarked 22 Jul 2024.

He wrote:

"Yah, I'm Jewish and I say so when it's appropriate. But I don't care about other singers' ethnicity. At least not in a way that I want anybody to say, 'I'm Irish-American' 'I'm this' 'I'm that.' So why should I mention it?

"It's the song I'm there to sing....

"But I don't like people just out-of-the blue talking about their 'roots' or whatever. I'm there to hear them sing. Know what I'm saying?"

[signed] Jonathan

(See topic below titled "Spirituality.") M.mk (talk) 16:05, 1 October 2024 (UTC)

Jonathan to my friend who rec'd his undated letter on Aug 19, 2024:

"I don't know why Wikipedia would mention peoples' religious background on there. I mean, would they say Buddy Holly, from Lubbock, Texas, born 1939 [sic], Protestant (right?)"

[Actually, they would! or just might. Buddy was born in 1936 per Wikipedia.] M.mk (talk) 16:22, 1 October 2024 (UTC)

In Jonathan's reply to me, postmarked 22 Jul 2024, he made two passing references as follows:

He'd been to Israel "a few times" and he has "family in Israel." M.mk (talk) 17:34, 1 October 2024 (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)

Jonathan states in correspondence that this article has errors...

Jonathan asserts in correspondence with me and also a friend of mine, summer 2024, that he was once shown a print-out of this Wikipedia article on him and that it has errors.

But he did not give an example of an error.

Jonathan wrote to my friend, undated, received August 19, 2024, "I don't know how to run a computer and don't want to find out."

So I offered to him that I would print the article out, double-spaced, send it to him and make any corrections he indicates.

His undated (and the PO didn't postmark the envelope) reply received Monday, Sep 30, 2024:

"I don't want to get involved in any of it; people might just be aware that ya can't just accept anything you read. That's all."

Posting this as an FYI. M.mk (talk) 03:14, 1 October 2024 (UTC)

From a letter postmarked 22 Jul 2024:

"Don't believe always this 'Wikipedia.' Someone once handed me a page about myself from there. 1/2 of it was stuff they just copped from other articles that they never fact-check and it was mostly all incorrect -- by a lot."

Jonathan to my friend who rec'd his undated letter on Aug 19, 2024:

"I once did a radio interview here in the States somewhere and the handed me 'my' Wikipedia page. Lots of it was just rumors that they read somewhere else.

"No, I don't hate this type of thing. It's just gotta be seen for what it is. A collection of peoples' contributions that's not checked up on by anybody." M.mk (talk) 16:16, 1 October 2024 (UTC)

As an editor and a RIchman fan, this is interesting - but we can't really do very much about it. We do republish stuff that's been printed elsewhere, and if its factual accuracy is questioned we would review it, exclude it, give caveats, etc... We can't do that if we don't know what's wrong - but of course we could remove stuff that is not supported by any sources deemed to be "reliable". I repeat my request that he should write a song about it, to clue us in on what the errors are. Ghmyrtle (talk) 16:36, 2 October 2024 (UTC)

Right, unless he points out the errors, there's nothing to be done. Him writing a song about it is a good idea! M.mk (talk) 17:25, 2 October 2024 (UTC)

Wide-eyed, unaffected and child-like outlook?

Somebody more familiar with Richman and/or Wikipedia in general needs to edit this intro. It's embarrassing. 178.174.137.127 (talk) 15:59, 6 October 2024 (UTC)

Jonathan and the Viet Nam draft, FYI, from personal correspondence

In a letter postmarked 5 Nov 2024, Jonathan answered my question asking what he did about the draft:

"My draft notice came soon after my rock band got together. Two guys in the band introduced me to their friend, a local criminal defense lawyer at an afternoon block party at which our band played."

He told the lawyer who offered to help, "I'm not sure I'm a conscientious objector. I just don't believe in this one."

"So we tried to compose a letter to the local draft board, but it didn't come out too good because I couldn't say outright that I was a conscientious objector. I mean I'd have enlisted for WW II.

"The local draft board ignored this letter and labeled me 1A....

"My draft lottery number came in the mail; it was 183 and they only got up to 60 that year. So I could continue to sing off key in public." M.mk (talk) 03:21, 13 November 2024 (UTC)

Revolution Summer film

Besides writing the soundtrack, the Internet Movie Database entry for the film says:

Jonathan Richman ... executive producer

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0476007/fullcredits/?ref_=tt_cst_sm M.mk (talk) 02:27, 29 November 2024 (UTC)