Jonathan Richman's 'I, Jonathan' (out Aug. 14 from Craft Recordings)

1992 lo-fi masterpiece includes fan favorites “I Was Dancing in the Lesbian Bar,”
“That Summer Feeling” and “Parties in the U.S.A.”

Reissue comes as part of Rounder Records’ year-long 50th anniversary celebrations

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Click here to stream or pre-order I, Jonathan

Los Angeles, CA (June 24, 2020)—Craft Recordings is pleased to reissue I, Jonathan—the 1992 lo-fi masterpiece from singer-songwriter Jonathan Richman—on vinyl for the very first time. Set for release on August 14th, and available for pre-order today (6/24), I, Jonathan is a standout title from the offbeat artist’s solo catalog and features such fan favorites as “I Was Dancing in the Lesbian Bar,” “Parties in the U.S.A.” and “That Summer Feeling.” Originally released on Rounder Records, I, Jonathan is among several special reissues that will help commemorate the legendary roots label’s 50th anniversary.

Hailed for his authentic storytelling and candid observations about life, Jonathan Richman holds a unique place in modern musical history. The artist first emerged in the 1970s as the quirky frontman of the Boston proto-punk group, The Modern Lovers. Heavily inspired by the Velvet Underground, Richman and his bandmates soon built a cult following and garnered interest from a variety of record labels. While the founding members of the group disbanded in 1974, Richman relocated to the West Coast, where he assembled a new lineup (re-christened as Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers) and moved away from the harder, electric sounds of his earlier days. By the late ’80s, however, when he signed to Rounder Records, Richman was primarily a solo act.

1992’s I, Jonathan marks Richman’s fourth studio album as a solo artist and stands as one of the defining records of his career. While Richman made his return to a full-band setting in this album—engaging a variety of his musical friends to lend their talents—the songs’ arrangements remain beautifully sparse. Strongly influenced by vintage rock ’n’ roll, Richman’s catchy, lo-fi melodies are bolstered by handclaps and vocal harmonies, while his lyrics are simultaneously candid, charming, naïve and wise.

Highlights include “Velvet Underground,” in which the artist pays tribute to his musical heroes, and wonders out loud about their song “Sister Ray.” In “Parties in the U.S.A.,” Richman mourns the fact that nobody gathers for beach or block parties in the modern era of TV and stereos. “Twilight in Boston,” meanwhile, finds Richman recalling his many “Lonely walks in the twilight” around his hometown, walking past the city’s Public Gardens, the iconic swan boats, Beacon Street and Fenway Park. Perhaps the best-known song off I, Jonathan, however, is the exuberant “I Was Dancing in the Lesbian Bar,” in which he sings about the joys of letting go and dancing without the fear of uptight onlookers. Richman performed the song on Late Night With Conan O’Brien—becoming the show’s second-ever musical guest (following Radiohead). He would continue to make appearances on the popular variety show for years to come.

While Richman certainly had a fervent following of fans prior to I, Jonathan, the release brought him greater exposure and has become a standout title in his impressive catalog. AllMusic described the album as “a blast from start to finish,” while Pitchfork proclaimed the title to be “the highlight of Jonathan Richman’s rich and varied solo career.” The writer went on to say that “Richman’s work is about being fully present in the moment with other people, and that’s difficult to capture in a studio for all time. But I, Jonathan is as close as he’s come, and it’s a perfect gateway to all that his music promises.”

In the latter half of the decade, Richman’s public persona would continue to grow, as he appeared in popular Farrelly Brothers films like There’s Something About Mary, Kingpin and Fever Pitch. All the while, he continued to tour and record new material on a regular basis, including several Spanish-language LPs.

Throughout his five-decade-long career, Richman’s unique musical style has influenced multiple generations of artists. His songs have been covered by everyone from Joan Jett and the Sex Pistols, to Echo & the Bunnymen and Iggy Pop, while his work has paved the way for, and inspired, acts like Weezer, They Might Be Giants, Mac DeMarco, Frank Black, Jens Lekman and The Violent Femmes. To date, Richman has released 27 studio albums, both as a solo artist and with The Modern Lovers, including his most recent effort, 2018’s SA.

In addition to the wide standard vinyl release, Vinyl Me, Please. will be releasing an exclusive color variant (Summer Sky Blue) of I, Jonathan.

Click here to stream or pre-order the album on LP today. Special bundles are available exclusively at the Rounder reissue collection via the Craft Recordings store.

Tracklist – I, Jonathan:

Side A
1.   Parties In The U.S.A.
2.   Tandem Jump
3.   You Can’t Talk To The Dude
4.   Velvet Underground
5.   I Was Dancing In The Lesbian Bar

Side B
1.   Rooming House On Venice Beach
2.   That Summer Feeling
3.   Grunion Run
4.   A Higher Power
5.   Twilight In Boston

About Rounder Records:
Rounder Records is one of the world's most historic Americana and bluegrass record labels. Rounder’s rich catalog includes critically acclaimed offerings by iconic artists like Gregg Allman, Alison Krauss, and Steve Martin as well as rising stars Samantha Fish, Sierra Hull, I’m With Her, Sarah Jarosz, Ruston Kelly, the SteelDrivers, Billy Strings, and The War and Treaty.

Rounder has consistently demonstrated a commitment to nurture and develop careers over the long haul—a number of artists who got their start at Rounder are still recording with the label today, including Jerry Douglas, Béla Fleck, and George Thorogood. A leader in the preservation of precious historic recordings, Rounder has brought the music of the Carter Family, Woody Guthrie, Lead Belly, and Jelly Roll Morton back to vibrant life and released epic anthologies from the Library of Congress and the Alan Lomax Collection that have been universally acclaimed.

Rounder’s legacy will be celebrated throughout 2020 with an original podcast series, curated playlists, exclusive video content, limited-edition merchandise, and much more. Find out more at Rounder.com.

About Craft Recordings
Craft Recordings is home to one of the largest and most prestigious collections of master recordings and compositions in the world. Its rich and storied repertoire includes legendary artists such as Joan Baez, Ray Charles, John Coltrane, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Miles Davis, Bill Evans, Vince Guaraldi, John Lee Hooker, Little Richard, Nine Inch Nails, Thelonious Monk, Otis Redding, R.E.M. and Traveling Wilburys, to name just a few. Renowned imprints with catalogs issued under the Craft banner include Concord Records, Fania, Fantasy, Fearless, Milestone, Musart, Nitro, Prestige, Riverside, Rounder, Specialty, Stax, Sugar Hill, Vanguard, Vee-Jay and Victory, among many others. Craft creates thoughtfully curated packages, with a meticulous devotion to quality and a commitment to preservation—ensuring that these recordings endure for new generations to discover. Craft Recordings is the catalog label team for Concord Recorded Music. For more info, visit CraftRecordings.com and follow on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Spotify. 

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