11 July 2025
Jonathan Richmond (now 74) who penned the classic 1976 cracker Roadrunner
remembers the early days. That rock ‘n’ roll band was named The Modern Lovers.
He just released his 18th album,
named Only Frozen Sky Anyway.
.
16 May 2023
JONATHAN MICHAEL RICHMAN was born on 16 May, 1951 in Boston, MA.
Happy 72 to the tunesmith who fronted Modern Lovers (1970-1974, 1976-1988).
A proto-punk rock band, that featured Jerry Harrison (who became the keyboardist
of Talking Heads in 1975) and drummer David Robinson, who later joined The Cars.
He released 3 LPs with the Modern Lovers, 7LPs as Jonathan Richman
and The Modern Lovers and multiple solo albums. He’s still active.
Richman: “I don’t write, really. I just make up songs.”
Two of his famous crackers.
– ROADRUNNER –
– EGYPTIAN REGGAE –
JONATHAN RICHMAN: Bio – Discography
Great concert posters from the past
BELLE AND SEBASTIAN
JONATAN RICHMAN
Warfield Theatre, San Francisco
8 September 2001
Back in time
25 August 2021
Band: THE MODERN LOVERS fronted by Jonathan Richman
Active: Since 1970, still going (solo) / 8 studio LPs with the band
and 17 solo ones.
Anniversary album: THE MODERN LOVERS
Released: 25 August 1976 – 45 years ago
Pitchfork said: “What reads as contradiction is simply one effect of Richman’s
irresistible inclusiveness. It’s what sets him apart from the Velvets, the Ramones,
the Stooges and the like acts attracted to themes that matched their ragged sounds.
Richman’s music is tough, but he is not. Richman’s music is tough, but he is not. He
loves the old world, he loves the modern world. He loves rock’n’roll, he loves girls, he
loves America, and most importantly, he loves you.” Full review here. Score: 9/10.
Turn Up The Volume: The roadrunner’s awesome Velvet Underground-like (but
more fun) debut longplayer marked the start of a very long career and still going.
Full album…
.
THE MODERN LOVERS: History
16 May 2021
Jonathan Michael Richman was born 16 May 1951 in Boston, Massachusetts.
Happy 70 to the charming and down-to-earth frontman of The Modern Lovers.
He started his musical journey back in 1970 and is still active solo.
You certainly know these two JR classics…
– EGYPTIAN REGGAE – (1977)
– ROADRUNNER – 1972
JONATHAN RICHMAN: Discography – Website
The best of the past…
Every week Turn Up The Volume jumps into the past! Relive 25 Crackers and
3 Top Albums per year/per week. Here’s the first year punk showed up: 1976.
Here’s the 25 KILLER TRACKS selection…
.
Here are 3 TOP ALBUMS…
– Self-titled RAMONES debut LP –
Stream here…
.
– Self-titled BLONDIE debut LP –
Stream here…
.
– ‘Stupidity‘ – Live LP by DR. FEELGOOD –
Stream here…
.
..