Modern Lovers
Formed in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, the Modern Lovers revolved around the talents of uncompromising singer/songwriter Jonathan Richman (b. May 1951, Boston, Massachusetts, USA). The group, which included Jerry Harrison (b. 21 February 1949, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; guitar—later of Talking Heads), Ernie Brooks (bass) and future Cars drummer David Robinson, offered an inspired amalgamation of '50s pop, garage bands, girl groups and the Velvet Underground, a style which both engendered a cult following and attracted the interest of ex-Velvet member John Cale, then a staff producer at Warner Brothers. However, having completed a series of demos, a disillusioned Richman disbanded the line-up and retreated to Boston, although Cale marked their association by recording his protege's composition, Pablo Picasso, on HELEN OF TROY (1975). In 1976, the unfinished tracks were purchased by the newly-founded Beserkley label, which remixed the masters, added two new performances and released the package as THE MODERN LOVERS. The company also signed Richman, whose new album, JONATHAN RICHMAN AND THE MODERN LOVERS, was confusingly issued within months of the first selection. The second set revealed a less intensive talent, and his regression into almost child-like simplicity was confirmed on ROCK ‘N’ ROLL WITH THE MODERN LOVERS. Richman's new group—Leroy Radcliffe (guitar), Greg Curly Kerenen (bass) and D. Smart (drums)—was purely acoustic and featured a repertoire which, by including The Ice-Cream Man, Hey There Little Insect, The Wheels On The Bus and I'm A Little Aeroplane, was deemed enchanting or irritating, according to taste. The Modern Lovers nonetheless enjoyed two surprise UK hits with Roadrunner and Egyptian Reggae, which reached numbers 11 and 5, respectively, in 1977. However, as the unit was undeniably a vehicle for Richman's quirky vision, the Modern Lovers’ name was dropped the following year when the singer embarked on a solo tour. He has nonetheless revived the title on occasions, notably on IT'S TIME FOR JONATHAN RICHMAN AND THE MODERN LOVERS and MODERN LOVERS 88.