While part of the Nike Missile of punk with his debut album, Jonathan Richmond eventually became the Beaver Cleaver of the genre, with a boy next door innocence that as alluring in its guilelessness.
His 1978 “Live” album with Leroy Redcliffe/g, D. Sharpe/dr and Asa Brebner/b is a camp fire joyful affair, with sweet tunes like “I’m A Little Airplane” and “Hey There Little Insect” a perfect fit for the Raffi crowd. “Ice Cream Man” gets one grabbing for the insulin, while “Egyptian Reggae” is a hoot.
Next year Richman is back in the studio, revisiting doo wop classics like “Buzz Buzz Buzz” and even taking on the Groucho Marx classic “Lydia”. Richman rides the waves on a Ventures-ish “Lover Please” and oozes next door neighborliness on “Affection” and “Emaline”. The rebellion of purity.
The adolescently enthused Jonathan Richman is caught in a 1983 concert with Ken Forfia/key, Greg Keranen/b, Michael Guardabascio/dr and Ellie Marshall-Beth Harrington/voc for a mix of Pollyanna Punk. His optimistic worldview covers raising a family in “Not Yet Three” as well as being a travel guide on “Give Paris One More Chance” . There are still silly love songs like “Somebody To Hold Me”, with the whole concert seeming like a summer camp evening by the fire. Pass the Smores!