Jonathan Richman And The Modern Lovers - Rock n' Roll With The Modern Lovers

 

Jonathan Richman had a surprise hit in the UK early in 1977, jumping on the Punk Rock bandwagon with a re-release of  Roadrunner ( Once ), backed with Roundrunner ( Twice ). The paean to Massachussetts Route 128 was was immediately heralded as a classic, and the B-side was a psychedelic version, with the organ playing of Jerry Harrison, later of Talking Heads, very much to the fore, and it sounded like The Velvet Underground. I subsequently purchased the single from a store that sold ex-Jukebox records cheap, and both sides are simply called Roadrunner, so it isn't obvious which side is which !

The quirky instrumental "Egyptian Reggae" was the follow-up single, and reached number 5 in the UK charts, aided by a famously cheesy dance routine performed by Legs And Co on Top of the Pops, with a fez wearing dancing pantomime camel, snake charming and Cleopatra outfits. It's brilliant and on YouTube !

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bv_I-6dJ9p8&list=RDBv_I-6dJ9p8&start_radio=1

The release of this album later in 1977 was a bolt from the blue, being totally different to Roadrunner, and NME described it as Rock n' Roll for the under  Fives. 

What you see on the cover is what you get.,with an upright bass and a bargain basement drum kit. You could say Richman invented Unplugged ten years before MTV. The production left a lot to be desired, but the record was apparently recorded in one take and with one microphone, and perhaps in a toilet as one critic suggested. Another said they sound like a garage band, and it sounds like it was recorded in a garage. The phrase lo-fi could retrospectively be applied to Rock n' Roll With The Modern Lovers.

Instead there were naive children's songs, folk instrumentals from different parts of the world, gospel, ska and one humourous classic in the mode of "Roadrunner". Musically, it was a throw back to the 1950s with doo-wop rock n'roll.

Charming and stupidly fun, with ramshackle playing as the Modern Lovers followed Richman's erratic directions for the backing vocals, for which they were gratefully thanked. I thought it was terrific, but not everyone got it, and you did feel a little bit for Richman's sanity. Despite a couple of songs being duds, the rest more than made up for them though.

Side One begins with "Sweeping Wind ( Kwa Ti Feng )", an achingly tender Chinese instrumental folk song, with a sweet acoustic guitar lead over a strummed guitar, a gong and coconuts for horse hoofs sounds

The tone changes with "Ice Cream Man" which Richman introduces with "Hi there everybody, we're the Modern Lovers, and we're gonna sing about the ice cream man for you" and Richman then sings about the joys of hearing the bells of the Ice Cream van. "Ice cream man upon my street. I heard your truck today, it was a-neat, a-neat, a-neat. Ice cream man upon my block, your chimes, your chimes, they reel and rock" The song ends with Richman requesting "one more time" and the verse is played again.

"Rockin' Rockin' Leprechauns" rocks with vigour as Richman delights that the Leprechauns have come back to rock and roll, although it begs the question as to why they stopped in the first place ! There is a fabulous jive sax solo in the middle "A-dadda-dum-da-da-da-da-da-la-da. Hum-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-la.Hum-da-da-da-da-da-la. They've come back to rock 'n' roll"

The pace slows with "Summer Morning" with a spoken introduction over gentle guitar for nearly a minute and a half, and a mention of bees buzzing is followed by the guitar making a buzzing sound. Eventually it breaks into a tender song.

"Afternoon" has a Chinese style guitar intro before leading into flamenco beat. Richman's best add-lib here is "walk them home".

"Fly Into The Mystery" closes side One and is introduced by Richman as "a slow dance, ladies' choice". "It's 8 o'clock in Boston, and some boyfriend has just lost his girlfriend. Funny now, she was just here a minute ago. She must have gone away."

Side Two begins with the instrumental "South American Folk Songs" which can best be described as Richman flamenco before the doo-wop/rockabilly returns with "Roller Coaster By The Sea". When you need cheering up simply take a roller coaster. "Hey roller coaster by the sea, thank you for helping me. And roller coaster by the water, made me feel more as I oughtta"

The Chuck Berry style "Dodge Veg-O-Matic" is full of classic wit. "Well, the brakes are made of glass and the tyres made of vinyl. You want to take it back but find all sales are final, yep that's the way" and in typical Richman fashion "let's do another verse !"

"Egyptian Reggae" is a perfect description of how it sounds. There can't be many people unaware of it's bass line, and there are more horses hoofs ( or maybe Camels ! ) and gongs.

The Ska "Coomyah" is a cover of Desmond Dekker song, but "The Wheel On The Bus" is the children's song but with catchy "town now, town now" chorus. Richman also adds "the a monster on the bus says I'm gonna scare you." but at the end of the song happily boasts "we got rid of that monster, ha ha ha !"

The album finishes with the traditional gospel "Angels Watching Over Me" which is sung a cappella and accompanied with just hand-claps and finger clicks. Its fair to say its not Richman's best vocal on the album.

47 years later Rock n' Roll with the Modern Lovers still brings a smile to my face !

Track Listing :

Side One :

1. Sweeping Wind ( Kwa Ti Feng )
2. Ice Cream Man
3. Rockin' Rockin' Leprechauns
4. Summer Morning
5. Afternoon
6. Fly Into The Mystery

Side Two :

1. South American Folk Songs
2. Roller Coaster By The Sea
3. Dodge Veg-O-Matic
4. Egyptian Reggae
5. Coomyah
6. The Wheels On The Bus
7. Angels Watching Over Me

Released 1977
UK Chart Position : 50

Singles :

Egyptian Reggae ( No 5 - 1977 )

The Mission - Children

 

"Children" was the second album released by The Mission. I bought it because I had liked their first offering but the sticker shows I paid a special price of £2.99 in Our Price Records, which suggests I didn't rush out and buy immediately upon its release.

At the time I thought the album was very similar to God's Own Medicine, both musically and with the lyrical themes, but not quite as good. However, whereas I could remember nearly all of "God's Own Medicine", the track listing for "Children" was all a blank except for the single "Beyond The Pale". Whilst I recognised the other three titles on side one, I couldn't remember too much of how they went, but nothing on side two rang any bells.

The album begins with the nearly 8 minute long "Beyond The Pale". There are children playground sounds for over a minute accompanied by a sad violin, before the guitar gently plays the melody. Its two minutes twenty before the bass and drums join and the tempo increases, it is a contender for the longest ever fade in, and there is a slightly Indian vibe to the guitar riff. "Sell me down the river and out to sea. Cast me adrift and set me to sail. Just one last kiss before raising hell. Beyond the pale". For me it remains the best track on the album.

"Wing And A Prayer" has a typical crooning vocal and a killer chorus. "Well I never, but the devil may care. I'm coming in on a wing and a prayer". I was still humming this a day after listening to it !

The slow and mournful "Heaven On Earth"has an acoustic guitar intro and is sounds like there is some mandolin. There is another big chorus."You give me heaven, and I'll promise you the earth"

Another eight minute song closes side one. The first single from the album "Tower Of Strength" begins with acoustic guitar intro reminiscent to the first refrain in "Close To The Edge" by Yes but the main riff is very similar to Led Zeppelin's "Kashmir". After all, the album was produced by Led Zep bassist John Paul Jones ! Despite being a hit single I barely recognised it. It has some heavy drumming, synths and whilst it plods along, its all a bit dull.

"Kingdom Come" opens side two with a gentle guitar intro, then some synths. It's almost an identi-kit Mission song, with a driving beat, decent riff, strong vocal, a rising chorus and mystical lyrics. It was supposed to be the third single from the album but that plan was discarded. "And we close our eyes, to dream a while. And we close our eyes to dream a while. Dream a while, with bated breath for the Kingdom come".

"Breathe" is a slower ethereal number with a gentle electronic guitar and synths, and is less than 90 seconds long.

"Child's Play" sounds like a possible track from Echo And The Bunnymen's "Porcupine" album. Its OK, but is a bit of a filler. 

The insubstantial instrumental "Shamera Kye"has a Celtic vibe and is only 34 seconds long. It sounds like there is some violin and harmonica in the mix.

"Black Mountain Mist" is a complete change of style, being a Celtic folk song with acoustic guitar, a nice melody,  and female backing vocals. It's short at just under three minutes. I was surprised I couldn't remember it !

"Heat" is standard The Mission fare. It has a decent guitar solo and musically it reminded me a little of "And The Dance Goes On" from "God's Own Medicine", but some of the lyrics are almost what you would write for a Mission parody. "Save for the asking, fortune favours the brave. Let me take strength from the child in your eyes. And between the lines, we dance into the mirror. And a grateful embrace lays in wait for the sun to rise". Its ends with some children reciting the "Fe Fo Fi Fum" nursery rhyme.

The album closes with the dreadful "Hymn ( For America )". It starts pleasantly with 50 seconds of plucked electric guitar before a Led Zeppelin style monster riff comes in, reminiscent of that from "The Immigrant Song". There is again also an Indian vibe with what sounds like a sitar. Unfortunately, I am not a fan of Led Zeppelin's heavy rock so it is my least favourite track on the album, and the tune is instantly forgettable. It also also has some children backing vocals, and the like the intro to Beyond The Pale, the long outro is the sound of children playground noises. I would be quite happy if I never heard this song again !

"Children" is over 50 minutes long so it is fair to say you get your money's worth, although it would probably benefit from some editing, and even the omission of a couple of tracks. 

The best songs were "Beyond The Pale", "Wing And A Prayer"," Kingdom Come" & "Black Mountain Mist". "Hymn ( For America )" is best avoided.

 

Track Listing :

Side One :

1. Beyond The Pale
2. Wing And A Prayer
3. Heaven On Earth
4. Tower Of Strength

Side Two :

1. Kingdom Come
2. Breathe
3. Child's Play
4. Shamera Kye
5. Black Mountain Mist
6. Heat
7. Hymn ( For America )

Released 1988
UK Chart Position : 2

Singles :

Tower Of Strength ( No 12 - 1988 )
Beyond The Pale ( No 32 - 1988 )

 

The Mission - God's Own Medicine

 

 

I purchased God's Own Medicine after "Wasteland" had become a hit single. I didn't know much about them, and had no idea that frontman Wayne Hussey had been in both Dead Or Alive and Sisters Of Mercy. The term Gothic Rock seemed to being applied to any group that predominately dressed in black so The Mission fitted that bill.

I really liked God's Own Medicine with its satisfying guitar patterns, the deep crooning vocals, and there were great well structured songs and melodies, although the flowery lyrics of love, death, rituals and religion were sometimes a little bit silly. It was consistently good, and there wasn't a bad track on it.

Looking at the track listing before playing again, I could remember all the songs, except perhaps ironically for "Stay With Me", the first hit from the album.

The album begins with the spoken line "I still believe in God but God no longer believes in me" before launching into the main riff and the great driving bass line of the mid-tempo "Wasteland", which has nothing to do with the TS Eliot poem. It has a searing guitar solo in the middle and a great chorus. The playing throughout is excellent and it is still a brilliant song. "You can touch, but please keep your distance. You're innocent and pure and with no shame. The spirit is willing, and the flesh is craved. You tease and you taunt with the pleasure of pain"

"Bridges Burning" is more frenetic but is spoiled for me by the screams and yelps over guitar for intro and screams at the end. The guitar intro reminds me of "She Sells Sanctuary" by The Cult.

The pace drops with "Garden of Delight ( Hereafter )" which features violins and cello. "Take my hand and lead me to the Garden of Delight". Listening now, its the best song on the album

"Stay With Me" is not to be confused the Faces hit from 1970 and I immediately remembered it once it started with what I refer to a downward reverse chord sequence. "One to the floor at dawn with lips tied and drawn. Sleepless nights spent, with angels heaven sent. Stay with me, lay with me, lay down by my side"

"Let Sleeping Does Lie" closes side one and is another slow number, with some synthesizer and a mournful vocal.

The side two opener "Sacrilege" starts with some frantic guitar before launching into the main riff. "Sacrilege, burning on the funeral pyre"

"Dance On Grass" has a slower pace and sounds a bit like The Cure from around that era, especially the drumming, and "And The Dance Goes On" is another strong track.

The third single "Severina" features dramatic operatic female vocals from All About Eve's Julianne Regan. When I first heard the song I thought they were singing "Semolina" !

"Love Me To Death" is a great closing number, with a slow plucked guitar into but the tempo soon picks up. It has a great chorus.

In conclusion, God's Own Medicine remains a very good album, and there still is not a bad track on it.

Track Listing :

Side One :

1. Wasteland
2. Bridges Burning
3. Garden Of Delight ( Hereafter )
4. Stay With Me
5. Let Sleeping Dogs Lie

Side Two :

1. Sacrilege
2. Dance On Grass
3. And The Dance Goes On
4. Severina
5. Love Me to Death

Released 1986
UK Chart Position : 14

Singles :

Stay With Me ( No 30 - 1986 )
Wasteland ( No 11 - 1987 )
Severina ( No 25 - 1987 )