Surrender to Jonathan!

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Surrender to Jonathan!
Studio album by
Jonathan Richman
Released1996
LabelVapor
ProducerAndy Paley
Jonathan Richman chronology
You Must Ask the Heart
(1995) 		Surrender to Jonathan!
(1996) 		I'm So Confused
(1998)

Surrender to Jonathan! is an album by the American musician Jonathan Richman, released in 1996.[1][2] Richman was the first musician signed to Neil Young's Vapor Records.[3] Richman supported the album by touring with a full band.[4]

Production

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Recorded in Southern California, the album was produced by Andy Paley.[5][6] Richman recorded the album once he had enough songs, and during a break from his touring schedule; he does not record songs on a deadline.[7][8] Some of the album's songs were inspired by Richman's divorce.[9] Richman played an Epiphone Emperor guitar.[10] Richman used organ and horns on "I Was Dancing in the Lesbian Bar" and "Not Just a 'Plus One' on the Guest List Anymore".[11] "Egyptian Reggae" is a remake of an older Richman song.[12]

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[13]
Calgary Herald[14]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[12]
Entertainment WeeklyB[15]
MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide[16]
(The New) Rolling Stone Album Guide[17]

The Chicago Tribune deemed the album "typically blithe" and "a thoroughly swinging dose of tuneful good cheer."[18] The Vancouver Sun opined that "Richman concocts more odd choruses from things most of us couldn't say aloud, let alone sing."[19] The Calgary Herald determined that Richman's "simple rock 'n' roll has become increasingly simplistic and his cute musings increasingly moronic."[14]

The Globe and Mail noted that Richman has "managed to reach [age] 45 without sounding a single cynical note in his life."[20] Stereo Review determined that the "songwriting here is more consistent than usual, bringing the usual half-classic/half-throwaway ratio up to at least 60/40."[21] Trouser Press stated that "Surrender" "is one of the most touching songs Richman has ever written."[22]

Track listing

[edit]
No.TitleLength
1."Just Look at Me" 
2."Not Just a 'Plus One' on the Guest List Anymore" 
3."That Little Sleeper Car" 
4."French Style" 
5."Surrender" 
6."I Was Dancing in the Lesbian Bar" 
7."To Hide a Little Thought" 
8."Egyptian Reggae" 
9."When She Kisses Me" 
10."Satisfy" 
11."Rock 'N' Roll Drummer Straight from the Hospy-Tel" 
12."My Little Girl's Got a Full Time Daddy Now" 
13."Floatin'" 

References

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  1. ^ "A Master of Simple, Subtle Songs". Features Weekend. The Philadelphia Inquirer. April 5, 1996. p. 16.
  2. ^ Dickinson, Chris (October 24, 1996). "Surrendering to the Song". Get Out. St. Louis Post-Dispatch. p. 7.
  3. ^ Catlin, Roger (October 10, 1996). "Album Review". Calendar. Hartford Courant. p. 4.
  4. ^ "Surrender to Jonathan". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. April 11, 1996. p. B7.
  5. ^ Gettelman, Parry (February 7, 1997). "Inside Jonathan Richman's Head". Calendar. Orlando Sentinel. p. 7.
  6. ^ Bessman, Jim (July 27, 1996). "Jonathan Richman issues his 'Surrender' on Vapor". Billboard. Vol. 108, no. 30. p. 10.
  7. ^ Rodriguez, Kenn (November 8, 1996). "Richman finds fortune on stage, not in studio". Albuquerque Journal. p. E18.
  8. ^ Sullivan, Jim (March 6, 1997). "Roadrunner Returns". Calendar. The Boston Globe. p. 28.
  9. ^ Russell, Richard (February 7, 1997). "Richman Makes Pointed Observations on Life". Ticket. Sarasota Herald-Tribune. p. 8.
  10. ^ Dalton, Nic (June 6, 1997). "Richman, Quiet, Please". Metro. The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 6.
  11. ^ DeMarco, Jerry (November 22, 1996). "The New Wave in Reconstruction". Previews. The Record. Bergen County. p. 8.
  12. ^ a b Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 7. MUZE. p. 15.
  13. ^ "Surrender to Jonathan Review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine". AllMusic. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  14. ^ a b Muretich, James (September 29, 1996). "New Releases". Calgary Herald. p. D2.
  15. ^ Schinder, Scott. "Surrender to Jonathan". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  16. ^ MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1999. p. 942.
  17. ^ (The New) Rolling Stone Album Guide. Simon and Schuster. 2004. p. 690.
  18. ^ Reger, Rick (September 27, 1996). "Jonathan Richman, Wednesday and Thursday at Lounge Ax". Friday. Chicago Tribune. p. O.
  19. ^ Monk, Katherine (September 28, 1996). "The late-30s mellowing of three rockers". Vancouver Sun. p. C14.
  20. ^ Dafoe, Chris (October 18, 1996). "Recordings". The Globe and Mail. p. C3.
  21. ^ Milano, Brett (February 1997). "Surrender to Jonathan!". Stereo Review. Vol. 62, no. 2. p. 136.
  22. ^ "Jonathan Richman (and the Modern Lovers)". Trouser Press. Retrieved June 10, 2023.