Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers-The Best of Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers (1986)

 


Artist: Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers

Title: The Best of Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers

Label: Rhino

Format: CD

Cat #: R2 75889

Year of Release: 1986

Country and Year of Edition Issue: US 1986

Listed Condition: VG+/VG+

Sell Date: 1/29/21

Sell Price: $5.99

Discogs Last Sold: 1/6/21 $6.02 NM/VG+

Low: $3.00

Median: $6.51

High:  $8.37

Current low price: $5.00 NM/NM

Current Number on Sale at Discogs: 12

Have/Want: 244/10

Where Sold:  Portland, OR

Time it took to sell: 10 years

Where and When Bought: Worcester Strawberries in '86 or '87 new for $15.99

Gwiz-gau Letter Grade: A-

Sad To See It Go: No

The early era of the Compact Disc brought forth compilations of artists that were deemed unworthy of a normal reissue campaign by the major label powers that be.  Rhino specialized in reissues and had already issued The Modern Lovers on vinyl.  I remember being deeply disappointed that wasn't available on CD at the time, but found a reissue of the Rhino edition around the same time for $2.99 at my local used record store.

This compilation starts with a few tracks from The Modern Lovers, then goes into the career that Jonathan evolved into.  It's a good selection of the Beserkley years just like the cover says.  Those albums were time worn at WICN at the time particularly the cover of Rock 'n Roll With The Modern Lovers which imprinted itself into my brain, never to be bought by me.  The best tracks after the opening 4 for me are from Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers from 1976.  "Here Come The Martian Martians" and "New England" were regulars for me.

"Roadrunner" is the Massachusetts state song, but "Astral Plane," has  isolated boredom, "Government Center" is the ode to where they put stamps on the letter and the ultimate art critique "Pablo Picasso" just make one want to hear this great classic album start to finish.  

You could say Jonathan Richman and Alex Chilton did a similar sort of left turn from the bands that made them influential beyond their commercial influence.   Left turns that were distinctive, quality laden but ultimately inferior.

Time doesn't stand still after all.

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