Which is the best version of Roadrunner Roadrunner by Jonathan Richman?

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The more acousticy one where he says a lot of goofy stuff or the more rocking straight-up one?

― the next grozart, Sunday, 1 April 2007 22:27 (seventeen years ago) link

seriously?

― the next grozart, Monday, 2 April 2007 08:28 (seventeen years ago) link

Theres one great bootmix with the Sex Pistols version and both (i think) JR versions. Oh I mean Richman there not Rotten.

― Mark G, Monday, 2 April 2007 08:57 (seventeen years ago) link

For me, it comes down to the Cale- or Fowley-produced versions.

― QuantumNoise, Monday, 2 April 2007 11:50 (seventeen years ago) link

I like the Joan Jett one.

― Doctor Casino, Monday, 2 April 2007 16:04 (seventeen years ago) link

The original on the Modern Lovers is still the best. You can't top perfection.

― kornrulez6969, Monday, 2 April 2007 16:57 (seventeen years ago) link

the fowley one is the original though, isn't it? or the first time it was recorded. i'm no expert. i have both albums though. the fowley one and the cale one.

― scott seward, Monday, 2 April 2007 17:01 (seventeen years ago) link

maybe the later more well known one is better. fowley sessions has don't let our youth go to waste and regular album doesn't. this i'm pretty sure of. i should read a book or something.

― scott seward, Monday, 2 April 2007 17:03 (seventeen years ago) link

The self-titled debut album that eventually came out after they broke up was mostly taken from the Cale sessions, which was at least their second time recording most of those songs. I think one or two tracks are from the initial sessions with Kim Fowley. There's a website with pretty comprehensive info but I can't seem to find it right now...

― Hatch, Monday, 2 April 2007 17:09 (seventeen years ago) link

The Lovers recorded with Fowley before they recorded with Cale. But the record featuring the Fowley recordings -- the version most people have anyway -- was released after the Beserkeley LP, which are the Cale sessions.

― QuantumNoise, Monday, 2 April 2007 17:19 (seventeen years ago) link

I had a live version on a Beserkey single called "Roadrunner Thrice" or something that was kind of lackluster.

― James Redd and the Blecchs, Monday, 2 April 2007 17:20 (seventeen years ago) link

I think I actually prefer the live version from Precise Modern Lovers Order.

― C0L1N B..., Monday, 2 April 2007 18:12 (seventeen years ago) link

That whole album is pretty good. The live version I was talking about is a later edtion Modern Lovers.

― James Redd and the Blecchs, Monday, 2 April 2007 18:17 (seventeen years ago) link

The best one is the best known one that's from the Modern Lovers album.

Is the alternate version referred to in the original question the b-side of the single "Roadrunner twice"? It's okay but not as rockin'.

And I reckon the Fowley versions of these early songs are pretty poor in comparisson.

― everything, Monday, 2 April 2007 20:30 (seventeen years ago) link

"The best one is the best known one that's from the Modern Lovers album."

otm

― That one guy that quit, Monday, 2 April 2007 20:33 (seventeen years ago) link

Who is the backing band on the later version that's on the Beserkley Chartbusters album? Same as the band that plays on "The New Teller" and "It Will Stand?" I heard once that it was the Rubinoos but I don't know if that's right.

― Tim Ellison, Monday, 2 April 2007 20:37 (seventeen years ago) link

[Removed Illegal Link] of this topic

― James Redd and the Blecchs, Monday, 2 April 2007 20:39 (seventeen years ago) link

Here's the link I meant to post
http://www.stevehoffman.tv/forums/archive/index.php/t-43718.html

― James Redd and the Blecchs, Monday, 2 April 2007 20:40 (seventeen years ago) link

Whoever played on those later versions was never going to be anywhere near as "motorik" to really play it properly.

― James Redd and the Blecchs, Monday, 2 April 2007 20:40 (seventeen years ago) link

And I reckon the Fowley versions of these early songs are pretty poor in comparisson.

I'm not going to say the Fowley versions rule the roost. However, the Fowley recordings are the most punk of them all, I think. There's some truly unhinged, raw rock going down.

― QuantumNoise, Monday, 2 April 2007 20:43 (seventeen years ago) link

I'm pretty sure the "New Teller"/"Rock'n'Roll Will Stand" line-up is Leroy Radcliffe, Curly Keranen and David Robinson. Curly was in the Rubinoos too.

― everything, Monday, 2 April 2007 20:50 (seventeen years ago) link

That sounds about right.

― James Redd and the Blecchs, Monday, 2 April 2007 20:55 (seventeen years ago) link

This thread needs some pictures:

Not the very original Modern Lovers (with Rolf Andersen on bass) but close, circa '71: Jonathan Richman ,Ernie Brooks, David Robinson, John Felice, and Jerry Harrison
http://www.rockinboston.com/images/mlovers69.jpg

The classic Modern Lovers: David Robinson, Ernie Brooks, Jonathan,
Jerry Harrison.
http://www.punk77.co.uk/graphics/jonathanrichman/jr.jpg

Same again:
http://www.republika.pl/uktop40/obrazki%20b/jonathan%20richman%20&%20the%20modern%20lovers1.jpg

I can't actually find a photo of the mid to late 70's line-up with Leroy, Asa Brebner and D.Sharpe but here's a wacky video of Egyptian Reggae, possibly with Pan's People dancing:
possibly with Pan's People dancing.

The great "Jonathan Sings" line-up (without Jonathan)
http://www.mic.gr/%5CdbImages%5C24999_3.jpg

1985 - Jonathan, Johnny Avila (?), Brennan Totten
http://perso.orange.fr/vivonzeureux/Images/photosouvenir/jonathanrichman2.jpg

― everything, Monday, 2 April 2007 22:13 (seventeen years ago) link

Was I the only one who had a krush on Rockin' Robin Beth?

― James Redd and the Blecchs, Tuesday, 3 April 2007 00:09 (seventeen years ago) link

the jazz butcher recorded a great version, it's available on their long out of print "gift of music" rarities comp, which i've linked here:

http://rapidshare.com/files/18070437/jazz_butcher_-_1984_-_gift_of_music.zip.html

― rps, Tuesday, 3 April 2007 00:15 (seventeen years ago) link

Isn't that how he referred to his backing singers, as Rockin' Robins? I can't seem to find web confirmation.

― James Redd and the Blecchs, Tuesday, 3 April 2007 00:19 (seventeen years ago) link

In the book The Heebie-Jeebies at CBGB's: A Secret History of Jewish Punk by Steven Lee Beeber there's a chapter on Jonathan, and it says he got a few of the lyrical ideas for Roadrunner from driving around with his dad who was a traveling salesman of some kind.

― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 3 April 2007 12:55 (seventeen years ago) link

three months pass...

http://arts.guardian.co.uk/filmandmusic/story/0,,2129918,00.html

― koogs, Friday, 20 July 2007 13:06 (sixteen years ago) link

God, what a hideous excuse for an article.

― everything, Friday, 20 July 2007 13:32 (sixteen years ago) link

i haven't read it but yep, worst article ever by a mile.

― That one guy that hit it and quit it, Friday, 20 July 2007 13:34 (sixteen years ago) link

The article is fine!

― Mark G, Friday, 20 July 2007 16:12 (sixteen years ago) link

Next week: 500 words about purchasing a chocolate double malted ice cream Jonathan style.

"You know I don't want nuts don't you?" I said to the vendor. "Uh...okay" he replied somewhat nervously. "No Nuts. No nuts" I repeated to myself in my head. "This is from a song" I explained, pointing at the icy mess. "Do you want anything else" he asked.
"No thanks".

― everything, Friday, 20 July 2007 16:30 (sixteen years ago) link

twelve years pass...

Heard it on a car radio for the first time ever yesterday. (On CBC, the DJ Rich Terfry/Buck 65.) I was just pulling into a grocery store parking lot; sat there for the duration singing along, looking perfectly idiotic, I'm sure.

― clemenza, Wednesday, 4 December 2019 13:19 (four years ago) link

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