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Production

Recorded in Southern California, the album was produced by Andy Paley.⁵⁶ Richman recorded the album once he had enough songs, and during a break from his touring schedule; he does not record songs on a deadline.⁷⁸ Some of the album's songs were inspired by Richman's divorce.⁹ Richman played an Epiphone Emperor guitar.¹⁰ Richman used organ and horns on "I Was Dancing in the Lesbian Bar" and "Not Just a 'Plus One' on the Guest List Anymore".¹¹ "Egyptian Reggae" is a remake of an older Richman song.¹²

Critical reception

The Chicago Tribune deemed the album "typically blithe" and "a thoroughly swinging dose of tuneful good cheer."¹⁹ The Vancouver Sun opined that "Richman concocts more odd choruses from things most of us couldn't say aloud, let alone sing."²⁰ The Calgary Herald determined that Richman's "simple rock 'n' roll has become increasingly simplistic and his cute musings increasingly moronic."²¹

The Globe and Mail noted that Richman has "managed to reach [age] 45 without sounding a single cynical note in his life."²² Stereo Review determined that the "songwriting here is more consistent than usual, bringing the usual half-classic/half-throwaway ratio up to at least 60/40."²³ Trouser Press stated that "Surrender" "is one of the most touching songs Richman has ever written."²⁴

Track listing

References

1. "A Master of Simple, Subtle Songs". Features Weekend. The Philadelphia Inquirer. April 5, 1996. p. 16. ↩

2. Dickinson, Chris (October 24, 1996). "Surrendering to the Song". Get Out. St. Louis Post-Dispatch. p. 7. ↩

3. Catlin, Roger (October 10, 1996). "Album Review". Calendar. Hartford Courant. p. 4. ↩

4. "Surrender to Jonathan". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. April 11, 1996. p. B7. ↩

5. Gettelman, Parry (February 7, 1997). "Inside Jonathan Richman's Head". Calendar. Orlando Sentinel. p. 7. ↩

6. Bessman, Jim (July 27, 1996). "Jonathan Richman issues his 'Surrender' on Vapor". Billboard. Vol. 108, no. 30. p. 10. ↩

7. Rodriguez, Kenn (November 8, 1996). "Richman finds fortune on stage, not in studio". Albuquerque Journal. p. E18. ↩

8. Sullivan, Jim (March 6, 1997). "Roadrunner Returns". Calendar. The Boston Globe. p. 28. ↩

9. Russell, Richard (February 7, 1997). "Richman Makes Pointed Observations on Life". Ticket. Sarasota Herald-Tribune. p. 8. ↩

10. Dalton, Nic (June 6, 1997). "Richman, Quiet, Please". Metro. The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 6. ↩

11. DeMarco, Jerry (November 22, 1996). "The New Wave in Reconstruction". Previews. The Record. Bergen County. p. 8. ↩

12. Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 7. MUZE. p. 15. ↩

13. "Surrender to Jonathan Review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine". AllMusic. Retrieved June 10, 2023. https://www.allmusic.com/album/surrender-to-jonathan-mw0000180948 ↩

14. Muretich, James (September 29, 1996). "New Releases". Calgary Herald. p. D2. ↩

15. Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 7. MUZE. p. 15. ↩

16. Schinder, Scott. "Surrender to Jonathan". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved June 10, 2023. https://ew.com/article/1996/09/20/surrender-jonathan/ ↩

17. MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1999. p. 942. ↩

18. (The New) Rolling Stone Album Guide. Simon and Schuster. 2004. p. 690. ↩

19. Reger, Rick (September 27, 1996). "Jonathan Richman, Wednesday and Thursday at Lounge Ax". Friday. Chicago Tribune. p. O. ↩

20. Monk, Katherine (September 28, 1996). "The late-30s mellowing of three rockers". Vancouver Sun. p. C14. ↩

21. Muretich, James (September 29, 1996). "New Releases". Calgary Herald. p. D2. ↩

22. Dafoe, Chris (October 18, 1996). "Recordings". The Globe and Mail. p. C3. ↩

23. Milano, Brett (February 1997). "Surrender to Jonathan!". Stereo Review. Vol. 62, no. 2. p. 136. ↩

24. "Jonathan Richman (and the Modern Lovers)". Trouser Press. Retrieved June 10, 2023. https://trouserpress.com/reviews/jonathan-richman-and-the-modern-lovers/ ↩