Jonathan Richman — Roadrunner
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bokey wrote:
Sure he was unless he didn't have any friends who cared about him because we are all assholes sometimes and need to be dragged back from sphincterdom.
Of course I have no idea how any of that applies here but OK.
All meant in good fun, from a line in one of his songs. You can hear it in the background of Repo Man when Otto is driving along.
Man I'm dating myself.
You also saw Jonathan walking around with his guitar in Something About Mary
iTuner wrote:
Pablo Picasso was never called an asshole, not like…
Sure he was unless he didn't have any friends who cared about him because we are all assholes sometimes and need to be dragged back from sphincterdom.
Of course I have no idea how any of that applies but OK.
bokey wrote:
Maybe he's a genius.I wouldn't know because I can't stand his voice.He could be singing tonights lottery numbers and I'd have to turn it down.
Pablo Picasso was never called an asshole, not likeĀ
Got really listen to him for a while and get into the whole Jonathan thing.
A really big bowl helps in the beginning.
Woo Hoo
Roadrunner once
Roadrunner twice
Got the radio on!
As a uprooted Bostonian I love hearing this song.
Jonathan Rocks.
Maybe he's a genius. I wouldn't know because I can't stand his voice. he could be singing tonights lottery numbers and I'd have to turn it down.
HFS I finally heard it! :guitar:
kcar wrote:
Whatever happened to Jonathan Richman?
He's on Vapor.
Brings back memories of Charles Laquidara (aka "Chahls Lockindoora" aka "Duane Ingalls Glasscock" ) on the old WBCN.
Yeah, I have a lot of good memories of MA and the Boston area, having grown up there. I just don't know if I could ever go back. NE can be pretty parochial.
I'll say this for Boston: the people there aren't always the friendliest, but by and large they have far more integrity than most people in Washington, DC, home of the two-legged weasel.
Whatever happened to Jonathan Richman?
ScottFromWyoming wrote:
The Jazz Butcher's version of this is fairly tight, IIRC.
Very true! And his version preserves the humor of Jonathan's original quite a bit.
This rocks and I will Greco-Roman wrestle anyone who says different. And win.
18 years later; I don't miss Rt.128 I-90, I-95, Rt.24 Rt.1 or this song one little bit.
a boston classic! i live right off of rt. 128. love the modern lovers. good alternative version, too.
God, I really miss living in New England, New Hampshire in particular. I'm so sick of Seattle and it's over-rated opinion of its soggy, excessively generic self. 2 1/2 more years, NH here I come!
I know where right on 128/95 in Mass they're talking about.
Despite having the Big Dig, traffic is better in goofy Mass than Seattle. Go figure.
I wish I was driving down 128 N. towards Portsmouth right now...
Namgev wrote:
alright! 
Oh this takes me back. Jonathan can never suck if you've got the memory of being toasted, blasting down Rte 128 (NOT 95!) out by the powerlines in your brother's '70 Nova, pounding the (cracked) dashboard, shouting, "...drivin' by the Stop 'n' Shop with the.....Radio On!"
alright!
ScottFromWyoming wrote:
Only if that's also the point of "Louie, Louie," "Psychotic Reaction," and most of the Velvet Underground's stuff.
The Jazz Butcher's version of this is fairly tight, IIRC.
Good point Scott. But those songs seem more smile inducing whereas at this song, least to me, just induces annoyance.
I think it is because the songs you mentioned (and least some portion of VU) have less dependance on the vocals for their entertainment value. Indeed for a long time there was great debate as to what the words of Louie Louie actually were. But it didn't matter because the song was so fun, you'd just slur out loud right a long with it.
By contrast The instrumentation and beat are so background in this song that it forces your attention on the rambling lyrics which just aren't worth it. That's how I contrast them anyway. Haven't heard the Jazz Butcher version though.
Glad to hear Jonathan on RP after trying in the past to upload a few for listening our listening pleasure.
Don't judge this too quickly, there's so much more to experience from this character; Jonathan Richman. Though I have to admit, not too many people concur.
Typesbad wrote:
Everyone who does this song does it hap-hazzardly to the point that it ...well...sucks. I'm beginning to think that is the point of doing the song in the first place. Is it?
Only if that's also the point of "Louie, Louie," "Psychotic Reaction," and most of the Velvet Underground's stuff.
The Jazz Butcher's version of this is fairly tight, IIRC.
Oh this takes me back. Jonathan can never suck if you've got the memory of being toasted, blasting down Rte 128 (NOT 95!) out by the powerlines in your brother's '70 Nova, pounding the (cracked) dashboard, shouting, "...drivin' by the Stop 'n' Shop with the.....Radio On!"
Yeah! All of a sudden I remember a high school graduation party (83) with this blasting! I decided it would be on my soundtrack for the summer that year. It was brash and captured my new freedom ( car + no school! ) Thanks for bringing that back!
Everyone who does this song does it hap-hazzardly to the point that it ...well...sucks. I'm beginning to think that is the point of doing the song in the first place. Is it?
A classic from the underrated Jonathan Richman with the Modern Lovers. These guys sounded so much fresher than most of the over-produced dreck from the 70's, they totally blew us away. Come to think of it, that assessment hasn't changed in the '00s. Thanks for giving me a reason to keep the "radio on". 
utopiapark wrote:
This sucks!
It does. It really does.
Badly.
Thanks, Bill! Hope I didn't apply too much pressure ;)
This sucks!
Yeah! "128 Needham, by the power lines". Heading down that way later this afternoon...with the radio on, of course.
Great to hear Jonathan again, a big underground hit in Boston in the FM stations, big hit that captures the highways and roads of Boston so well. like 128 the highway from hell!!!
Thanks for bringing it back again.
I had to look to see who this is... has a Cornershop-like feel to it. A good thing.
The perfect driving song - reminds me of being in university- but during the summer months.
not in new york...