Important In Your Life: A Jonathan Richman Fancast

Follow Important In Your Life: A Jonathan Richman Fancast
Share on
Copy link to clipboard

Affection! Jonathan Mann and Carolyn Petit (and friends!) listen to and talk about every single Jonathan Richman song.

Jonathan Mann + Carolyn Petit


    • Apr 28, 2020 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 14m AVG DURATION
    • 3 EPISODES


    Search for episodes from Important In Your Life: A Jonathan Richman Fancast with a specific topic:

    Latest episodes from Important In Your Life: A Jonathan Richman Fancast

    Old World

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 28, 2020 9:37


    Old World is the young Jonathan Richman's ode to the people and things that came before: parents, 1950s apartment houses, and the whole traditional world they represent. At first listen, it might sound like a deeply conformist tune, but in our conversation, we argue that it's actually quite the opposite. There's almost something radical about a young person singing lines like "I still love parents" so openly, especially in the highly countercultural historical context of the moment Jonathan was living in. Old World can be seen as an act of cultural rebellion, one so deeply uncool that, as co-host Jonathan Mann puts it, it sees Richman "swing back around to being the coolest ever.” Listen to Old World.

    Astral Plane

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 21, 2020 7:29


    This week, your hosts Jonathan and Carolyn accompany Jonathan Richman on a journey to the astral plane! After acknowledging that this song might sound a bit "problematic" to contemporary listeners, we also talk about the importance of art that makes space to acknowledge and process impulses that aren't entirely appropriate or socially acceptable. Carolyn argues that the intensity of Richman's youthful yearnings goes hand in hand with Astral Plane's concerns with the supernatural, and Jonathan shares some thoughts on the musical touches that lend Astral Plane some delicious emotional complexity and flavor. Listen to Astral Plane.

    Roadrunner

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 6, 2020 25:37


    In this inaugural episode of Important In Your Life, your hosts Jonathan Mann and Carolyn Petit start the show with a showstopper! Yes, we begin our exploration of Jonathan Richman's career with "Roadrunner," arguably his most legendary song, and one which was covered by Joan Jett, the Sex Pistols and many others. Our conversation starts with a quick look at our personal introductions to Jonathan's music, and some thoughts on why some people become such lifelong, devoted fans. We then discuss what makes "Roadrunner" a quintessential Jonathan tune, one that contains, even at that early stage, some of the qualities that would go on to define him as an artist. We also discuss his uneasy relationship with the possibility of mainstream success, how his love of the modern world has evolved, and the numerous versions of "Roadrunner" that Jonathan recorded and released. Listen to "Roadrunner": 1971 demo tape version album version UK chart version 1977 B-side version Listen to "Sister Ray" by The Velvet Underground Read There's Something About Jonathan by Tim Mitchell

    Claim Important In Your Life: A Jonathan Richman Fancast

    In order to claim this podcast we'll send an email to with a verification link. Simply click the link and you will be able to edit tags, request a refresh, and other features to take control of your podcast page!

    Claim Cancel