I am late to Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers. Richman, the leader of the group has been around since the late 1960’s. He followed the siren call of the Velvet Underground and moved to New York, while still in high school, to be in a band. Which seems to confirm Brian Eno’s famous quote, “The first Velvet Underground album only sold 10,000 copies, but everyone who bought it formed a band”

I stumbled across Richman when I went searching for new music. When I am in the mood for new music, I usually go other people’s favorite songs list. These lists remind of a song or group I liked in the past and I can add it to my collection. These lists are surprisingly diverse as everyone and their brother can create them. This how I first encountered the Modern Lovers and Jonathan Richman. I was blown away. I couldn’t understand how I missed them in the 1970’s when I was really listening to music and going to concerts on a weekly basis. Though a little stunned that I have spent 40 years unaware of Richman, I am happy to say I found him now.

Below is a video of Roadrunner

Soon after learning about Roadrunner, I came upon another Richman song while watching the Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. The song was I Was Dancing in the Lesbian Bar. At first, the song seemed a little silly but I liked it enough to investigate it further and I soon discovered that this was a Jonathan Richman song. What I like about this song is it is both fun and danceable.

So if you are ever gazing up at our house on Curlew Street and see an old man dancing wildly (or as wild as I can at this age) know that there is a good chance that Roadrunner or I Was Dancing at a Lesbian Bar is playing.