143: The Modern Lovers - The Modern Lovers (1976)
"I think what I did was just jump in without knowing or caring what anyone else thought music was."
—Jonathan Richman
In the early 1970s, Jonathan Richman assembled a band that recorded a groundbreaking set of songs fusing garage-rock sensibilities with his own entirely unique worldview. Unfortunately, before The Modern Lovers managed to complete a proper album, Richman’s musical interests drifted into an entirely different direction, ultimately leading to the dissolution of this version of the band. The collection of recordings that finally saw release as 1976’s The Modern Lovers stands as a snapshot of a band at a specific moment in time and has served as an endless source of inspiration for punk and indie artists ever since. Take a spin past the Stop and Shop and join us with the radio on for a chat about this groundbreaking classic.
Miscellany
Tim Mitchell’s 1999 Jonathan Richman biography There’s Something About Jonathan was a valuable source of information for this episode and is well worth reading, though used copies can go for upwards of $25 USD at this point, so check your local library first.
This piece by Oscar Zambuto of The Spinoff is a good example of the analog way interviews with Richman are currently conducted, including photos of his handwritten responses.
Jonathan Richman’s stylistic 180 following the breakup of the Modern Lovers was the subject of Frank Black’s 1998 song “The Man Who Was Too Loud.”
Other links
Jonathan Richman's Bandcamp (Bandcamp.com)
Richman interviewed in 1980 (Boston Groupie News)
Live “Pablo Picasso” with updated lyrics (YouTube)
Discord & Rhyme’s merch store (TeePublic)
Discord & Rhyme Roll Call
Dan Watkins (host)
Rich Bunnell (moderator)
Phil Maddox
The Modern Lovers tracklist
Roadrunner
Astral Plane
Old World
Pablo Picasso
She Cracked
Hospital
Someone I Care About
Girl Friend
Modern World
Other clips used
The Modern Lovers/Jonathan Richman:
There’s Something About Mary
Government Center
Velvet Underground
Roadrunner (alternate version)
New England
Old World (2008 version)
The Fading of an Old World
Pablo Picasso (live)
I’m Straight
Monologue About Bermuda
Someone I Care About (live 1972)
The Wheels on the Bus
I Was Dancing in the Lesbian Bar
Our Party Will Be on the Beach Tonight
Rockin' Shopping Center
When Harpo Played His Harp
Egyptian Reggae (live)
Others:
David Bowie - Modern Love
The Sex Pistols - Roadrunner
The Velvet Underground - Sister Ray
M.I.A. - Bamboo Banga
The Doors - Love Street
Guided by Voices - Hot Freaks
John Cale - Pablo Picasso
Burning Sensations - Pablo Picasso
Can - Nineteen Century Man
David Bowie - Pablo Picasso
Siouxsie & the Banshees - She Cracked
Biz Markie - Just a Friend
Can - Uphill
Band/album personnel
Ernie Brooks – bass guitar, background vocals
Jerry Harrison – piano, organ, background vocals, musical director (6)
Jonathan Richman – vocals, guitars
David Robinson – drums, background vocals
John Cale – producer (1–5, 7)
Robert Appère – co-engineer (8–9)
Allan Mason – co-engineer (8–9)
Gary Phillips – remixing
Matthew King Kaufman – remixing, compilation
Glen Kolotkin – remixing
Jim Blodgett – LP co-ordination
T. Lubin – LP assistance
George Horn – mastering
Credits
“Discord & Rhyme (theme),” composed by the Other Leading Brand, contains elements of:
Duran Duran - Hungry Like the Wolf
Amon Düül II - Dehypnotized Toothpaste
The Dukes of Stratosphear - What in the World?? ...
Faith No More - Midlife Crisis
Herbie Hancock - Hornets
Kraftwerk - Autobahn
Talking Heads - Seen and Not Seen
The Modern Lovers - Pablo Picasso (this episode only)
You can buy or stream The Modern Lovers at your local record store, or the usual suspects such as Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, and Amazon. Follow Discord & Rhyme on Instagram @DiscordPod for news, updates, and other random stuff. Editing and production is by Rich Bunnell, and special thanks to our own Mike DeFabio for our theme song. See you next album, and keep as cool as you can.