There's Something About Jonathan: Jonathan Richman and The Modern Lovers

by Tim Mitchell

This is the first biography of the unique American musician and songwriter Jonathan Richman whose career has spanned three decades. Achieving worldwide recognition for his musical commentary in the recent hit film There's Something About Mary, Richman had already been a pop star in the mid-1970s with hits such as 'Roadrunner' and 'Egyptian Reggae', while earlier he was a proto-punk hero with his band the Modern Lovers and associated with the Velvet Underground and Andy Warhol.
Meticulously researched, with exclusive interviews with former members of his band the Modern Lovers, ex-members of the Velvet Underground and others who have known him intimately, and with detailed descriptions of concerts and recordings, this unauthorized biography gives an insight into the creative genius of one of the USA's true musical originals.

Genres: Music, Nonfiction, Biography

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 6, 1999

Reviews

[Kari · Rating 5 out of 5]

So valuable, but would love an update since Jonathan’s had two more decades of life and career since the book’s publication!

[Brian Sawyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I devoured this book and finished it on the same day I started it. My only real criticism is that it’s too short, stops too soon, but I guess you can’t really complain about the author’s decision to publish in 1999. Would love a volume 2, though. Tommy Larkins isn’t even mentioned until the last 25 pages, and the two have been playing together ever since!

[Peter Lehu · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice biography of a brilliant and enigmatic songwriter that refreshingly focuses as much on the music as on the person. Lots of interesting discussion on lyrical content and instrumentation. Richman has so many songs on so many albums and this book can help guide you to the best stuff.

[Logan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yeah, I know I only gave it three stars, but in terms of info about Jonathan it's priceless. To date, the only book ever written about him and The Modern Lovers.

[Chimaerandi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is about Jonathan Richman- Thus, I will read it. However, there was very little in here that I didn't already know, or that couldn't have been easily inferred from his music. However, writing a book about someone with zero cooperation from them is a hell of an undertaking, and something I would never do. So a for effort!

[Matthew · Rating 2 out of 5]

Reads like a Wikipedia entry. Jonathan Richman deserves a better biographer.