Surrender to Jonathan!

Last updated
Surrender to Jonathan!
Surrender to Jonathan!.jpg
Studio album by
Released1996
Label Vapor
Producer Andy 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]

Contents

Production

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

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [13]
Calgary Herald Star full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [14]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [12]
Entertainment Weekly B [15]
MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [16]
(The New) Rolling Stone Album Guide Star full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [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

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'" 

Related Research Articles

<i>Hanky Panky</i> (The The album) 1995 studio album by The The

Hanky Panky is the fifth studio album by English band The The, released on 14 February 1995. It consists of cover versions of country singer Hank Williams' songs. It reached No. 28 on the UK Albums Chart. Matt Johnson intended Hanky Panky to be the first of many albums he would record covering the work of iconic musicians. Johnson provided the liner notes to Alone and Forsaken, a compilation of Williams demos that was also released in 1995.

<i>Melting in the Dark</i> 1996 studio album by Steve Wynn

Melting in the Dark is an album by the American musician Steve Wynn, released in 1996. It was recorded with a band consisting of all the members of Come. Wynn supported the album by touring with a backing band that included members of Gutterball, Zuzu's Petals, and Love Tractor.

<i>Blast Off!</i> (Stray Cats album) 1989 studio album by Stray Cats

Blast Off! is an album by the American rockabilly revivalist band Stray Cats, released in 1989. It marked a reunion of the band, after three years of solo endeavors; the band's previous album, 1986's Rock Therapy, was produced to fulfill a record contract.

<i>Beatsongs</i> 1991 studio album by The Blue Aeroplanes

Beatsongs is an album by the English band the Blue Aeroplanes, released in 1991. Its B-sides were collected on Friendloverplane 2.

<i>Love Story</i> (Lloyd Cole album) 1995 studio album by Lloyd Cole

Love Story is the fourth solo studio album by the English musician Lloyd Cole, released in 1995. Cole supported the album with UK and North American tours.

<i>Diary of a Mod Housewife</i> 1996 studio album by Amy Rigby

Diary of a Mod Housewife is the debut album by the American musician Amy Rigby, released in 1996. It has been called a concept album about growing older in a music scene, marriage, motherhood, and romantic dissolution. Rigby supported the album with a North American tour.

<i>Selling the Sizzle!</i> 1996 studio album by the Smugglers

Selling the Sizzle! is an album by the Canadian band the Smugglers, released in 1996. "Especially You" was the first single.

<i>Funny Farm</i> (album) 1993 studio album by King Kong

Funny Farm is an album by the American band King Kong, released in 1993. The band supported the album with a North American tour.

<i>Forgery</i> (album) 1992 studio album by Monks of Doom

Forgery is an album by the American band Monks of Doom, released in 1992. It was the band's first album to be distributed by a major label, and their second after the breakup of the members' former band, Camper Van Beethoven. Monks of Doom supported the album with a North American tour.

<i>Sleeping Star</i> 1994 studio album by Epic Soundtracks

Sleeping Star is the second album by the English musician Epic Soundtracks, released in 1994.

<i>Musings of a Creek Dipper</i> 1998 studio album by Victoria Williams

Musings of a Creek Dipper is an album by the American musician Victoria Williams, released in 1998. The album cover artwork is a photograph of Williams in an Oxnard, California, creek. Williams supported the album with a short tour, which included playing the Calgary Folk Music Festival.

<i>Having a Party with Jonathan Richman</i> 1991 studio album by Jonathan Richman

Having a Party with Jonathan Richman is an album by the American musician Jonathan Richman, released in 1991. Richman supported the album with a North American tour.

<i>Hybrid Vigor</i> (album) 1989 studio album by Webb Wilder

Hybrid Vigor is the second album by the American musician Webb Wilder, released in 1989. Wilder supported the album by touring with the Georgia Satellites. The first single was "Human Cannonball", which was a hit on college radio.

<i>Cuts to the Chase</i> 1994 studio album by Richie Havens

Cuts to the Chase is an album by the American musician Richie Havens, released in 1994. It was distributed by Rhino Records.

<i>Tales of the New West</i> 1985 studio album by the Beat Farmers

Tales of the New West is the debut album by the American band the Beat Farmers, released in 1985. The band signed a one-album deal with Rhino Records. The album peaked at No. 186 on the Billboard 200. It had sold more than 40,000 copies by the end of 1985. An expanded edition of Tales of the New West was reissued in 2004.

<i>The American in Me</i> (Steve Forbert album) 1992 studio album by Steve Forbert

The American in Me is an album by the American musician Steve Forbert, released in 1992. Forbert was dropped by Geffen Records after the album's release. He supported the album with a North American tour.

<i>Candyland</i> (James McMurtry album) 1992 studio album by James McMurtry

Candyland is the second album by the American musician James McMurtry, released in 1992. McMurtry supported the album by participating in the "In Their Own Words: A Bunch of Songwriters Sittin' Around Singing" tour, with Marshall Crenshaw, Don Dixon, Jules Shear, and David Halley.

<i>Wishing Like a Mountain and Thinking Like the Sea</i> 1990 studio album by Poi Dog Pondering

Wishing Like a Mountain and Thinking Like the Sea is an album by the American band Poi Dog Pondering, released in 1990. The first single was "U-Li-La-Lu". The band supported the album with a North American tour.

<i>You Must Ask the Heart</i> 1995 studio album by Jonathan Richman

You Must Ask the Heart is an album by the American musician Jonathan Richman, released in 1995. Richman supported the album with a North American tour. He included a more up-tempo version of "To Hide a Little Thought" on 1996's Surrender to Jonathan!

<i>Her Mystery Not of High Heels and Eye Shadow</i> 2001 studio album by Jonathan Richman

Her Mystery Not of High Heels and Eye Shadow is an album by the American musician Jonathan Richman, released in 2001. It was his third album for Vapor Records. Richman supported the album with a North American tour.

References

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