Having a Party with Jonathan Richman

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Having a Party with Jonathan Richman
Studio album by
Jonathan Richman
Released1991
LabelRounder[1]
ProducerBrennan Totten
Jonathan Richman chronology
Jonathan Goes Country
(1990) 		Having a Party with Jonathan Richman
(1991) 		I, Jonathan
(1992)

Having a Party with Jonathan Richman is an album by the American musician Jonathan Richman, released in 1991.[2][3] Richman supported the album with a North American tour.[4]

Production[edit]

The album contains live and studio tracks, performed by Richman with just his guitar and voice, with occasional percussion.[5][6][7] It was produced by Brennan Totten.[6] The songs are mostly about relationships, with Richman writing in the liner notes that his musical style and methods remain unchanged.[8][9] The cover photo was taken near Richman's home, around Sacramento, California.[10]

Critical reception[edit]

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[11]
Robert Christgau(1-star Honorable Mention)[12]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[13]
Entertainment WeeklyB[14]
MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide[15]
Orlando Sentinel[6]
The Republican[16]
(The New) Rolling Stone Album Guide[17]
The San Diego Union-Tribune[9]
Spin Alternative Record Guide5/10[18]

Trouser Press wrote: "In a pensive frame of mind for much of the record, Richman reconsiders past times with new-found gravity."[19] Entertainment Weekly called the album "one of his most clear-eyed and least coy records... It’s chock-full of simplistic—but not simpleminded—songs about puzzling relationships."[14] The Columbus Dispatch praised "My Career as a Homewrecker" and "The Girl Stands Up to Me Now".[20] The Deseret News deemed Richman "the new wave Mister Rogers of folk."[21]

Robert Christgau described the album as the "confessions of a reluctant grownup."[12] The Christian Science Monitor determined that, "as soon as the disc starts spinning and the strings start twanging, Richman delivers enough energy and wit to stop a roomful of conversation."[22] The Republican noted that "he's one very funny guy, with an impressive ability to make the most out of the obvious."[16]

AllMusic wrote that, "without a band to support him, Richman grows more pensive than usual."[11]

Track listing[edit]

No.TitleLength
1."The Girl Stands Up to Me Now" 
2."Cappuccino Bar" 
3."My Career as a Homewrecker" 
4."She Doesn't Laugh at My Jokes" 
5."When She Kisses Me" 
6."They're Not Tryin' on the Dance Floor" 
7."At Night" 
8."When I Say Wife" 
9."1963" 
10."Monologue About Bermuda" 
11."Our Swingin' Pad" 
12."Just for Fun" 

References[edit]

  1. ^ Mendoza, Manual (25 Feb 1992). "Jonathan Richman 'Having a Party with Jonathan Richman'". The Milwaukee Journal. p. D6.
  2. ^ Buckley, Peter (June 29, 2003). The Rough Guide to Rock. Rough Guides.
  3. ^ Wilde, Jon (Jan 18, 1992). "Albums — Having a Party with ... by Jonathan Richman". Melody Maker. Vol. 68, no. 3. p. 29.
  4. ^ Righi, Len (13 June 1992). "Jonathan Richman Does It All at Godfrey's". The Morning Call. p. A72.
  5. ^ Gettelman, Parry (31 Jan 1992). "Jonathan Richman: Have Guitar, Will Travel". Calendar. Orlando Sentinel. p. 7.
  6. ^ a b c Gettelman, Parry (31 Jan 1992). "Records Jonathan Richman". Calendar. Orlando Sentinel. p. 8.
  7. ^ Maurstad, Tom (October 31, 1991). "Arts Day". The Dallas Morning News. p. 5C.
  8. ^ Armstrong, Gene (January 24, 1992). "Man-child Richman—in his prime—is eagerly awaited". Arizona Daily Star.
  9. ^ a b Blue, Buddy (January 17, 1992). "Ellington treasures – unchanging Richman". The San Diego Union-Tribune. p. C2.
  10. ^ Washburn, Jim (22 Jan 1992). "Richman's Party Open to Everyone". Los Angeles Times. p. F1.
  11. ^ a b "Jonathan Richman Having a Party with Jonathan Richman". AllMusic.
  12. ^ a b "Jonathan Richman". Robert Christgau.
  13. ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 7. MUZE. p. 15.
  14. ^ a b "Having a Party with Jonathan Richman". Entertainment Weekly.
  15. ^ MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1999. p. 942.
  16. ^ a b O'Hare, Kevin (November 3, 1991). "Jonathan Richman, 'Having a Party with Jonathan Richman'". The Republican. p. G6.
  17. ^ (The New) Rolling Stone Album Guide. Simon & Schuster. 2004. p. 690.
  18. ^ Spin Alternative Record Guide. Vintage Books. 1995. p. 257.
  19. ^ "Jonathan Richman (and the Modern Lovers)". Trouser Press. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
  20. ^ Eichenberger, Bill (November 7, 1991). "All-live folk rock". Weekender. The Columbus Dispatch. p. 8.
  21. ^ Vice, Jeff (April 23, 1992). "Jonathan Richman; 'Having a Party with Jonathan Richman'". Deseret News. p. C6.
  22. ^ "CD Review 'Having a Party with; Jonathan Richman'". The Arts. The Christian Science Monitor. 11 Oct 1991.
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