The MODERN LOVERS S/T LP NM/NM Reissue, 180g 2016 Blue Vinyl #002994 JOHN CALE

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The Modern Lovers Review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Compiled of demos the band recorded with John Cale in 1973, The Modern Lovers is one of the great proto-punk albums of all time, capturing an angst-ridden adolescent geekiness which is married to a stripped-down, minimalistic rock & roll derived from the art punk of the Velvet Underground. While the sound is in debt to the primal three-chord pounding of early Velvet Underground, the attitude of Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers is a million miles away from Lou Reed's jaded urban nightmares. As he says in the classic two-chord anthem "Roadrunner," Richman is in love with the modern world and rock & roll. He's still a teenager at heart, which means he's not only in love with girls he can't have, but also radios, suburbs, and fast food, and it also means he'll crack jokes like "Pablo Picasso was never called an asshole...not like you." "Pablo Picasso" is the classic sneer, but "She Cracked" and "I'm Straight" are just as nasty, made all the more edgy by the Modern Lovers' amateurish, minimalist drive. But beneath his adolescent posturing, Richman is also nakedly emotional, pleading for a lover on "Someone I Care About" and "Girl Friend," or romanticizing the future on "Dignified and Old." That combination of musical simplicity, driving rock & roll, and gawky emotional confessions makes The Modern Lovers one of the most startling proto-punk records -- it strips rock & roll to its core and establishes the rock tradition of the geeky, awkward social outcast venting his frustrations. More importantly, the music is just as raw and exciting now as when it was recorded in 1973, or when it was belatedly released in 1976.

The Modern Lovers – The Modern Lovers

Label:

BMG – MOVLP1681, Music On Vinyl – MOVLP1681

Format:

Vinyl, LP, Album, Reissue, 180g

Country:

Europe

Released:

2016

Genre:

Rock, Pop

Style:

Garage Rock, Art Rock, Rock & Roll

A1 Roadrunner

A2 Astral Plane

A3 Old World

A4 Pablo Picasso

B1 She Cracked

B2 Hospital

B3 Someone I Care About

B4 Girl Friend

B5 Modern World

Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Sanctuary Records Group Ltd.

Copyright © – Sanctuary Records Group Ltd.

Manufactured By – Music On Vinyl B.V.

Distributed By – Music On Vinyl B.V.

Licensed From – Sanctuary Records Group Ltd.

Recorded At – Intermedia Sound, Boston

Pressed By – Record Industry – 15789

Bass, Backing Vocals – Ernie Brooks

Coordinator [LP Co-ordination] – Jim Blodgett

Drums, Backing Vocals – David Robinson (3)

Mastered By [Original Mastering] – G. Horn*

Mixed By [Remix] – Gary Phillips, Glen Kolotkin

Mixed By [Remix], Compiled By – Matthew King Kaufman

Piano, Organ, Backing Vocals – Jerry Harrison

Producer – John Cale (tracks: A1, A2, A3, A4, B1, B3)

Recorded By – Alan Mason (3) (tracks: B4, B5), Robert Appère (tracks: B4, B5)

Vocals, Guitar, Written-By – Jonathan Richman

"Hospital" donated by Jerry Harrison

Originally released ℗ & © 1976 Sanctuary Records Group Ltd. a BMG company

Made in the EU. MOVLP1681

Barcode: 8719262001381

Rights Society: BIEM/STEMRA

Matrix / Runout (Runout Side A, variant 1): 15789 1A MOVLP1681

Matrix / Runout (Runout Side B, variant 1): 15789 2B MOVLP1681

Matrix / Runout (Runout Side A, variant 2): 15789 2A MOVLP1681

Matrix / Runout (Runout Side B, variant 2): 15789 1B MOVLP1681

Matrix / Runout (Runout Side A, variant 3): 15789 1A MOVLP1681

Matrix / Runout (Runout Side B, variant 3): 15789 1B MOVLP1681

Matrix / Runout (Runout Side A, variant 4): 15789 2A MOVLP1681

Matrix / Runout (Runout Side B, variant 4): 15789 2B MOVLP1681

GOLDMINE GRADING

MINT ---- It should appear to be perfect. No scuffs or scratches, blotches or stains, labels or writing, tears or splits. Mint means perfect.

NEAR MINT ---- Otherwise mint but has one or two tiny inconsequential flaws that do not affect play. Covers should be close to perfect with minor signs of wear or age just becoming evident: slight ring-wear, minor denting to a corner, or writing on the cover should all be noted properly.

VERY GOOD PLUS ---- The record has been handled and played infrequently or very carefully. Not too far from perfect. On a disc, there may be light paper scuffs from sliding in and out of a sleeve or the vinyl or some of the original luster may be lost. A slight scratch that did not affect play would be acceptably VG+ for most collectors.

VERY GOOD ---- Record displays visible signs of handling and playing, such as loss of vinyl luster, light surface scratches, groove wear and spindle trails. Some audible surface noise, but should not overwhelm the musical experience. Usually a cover is VG when one or two of these problems are evident: ring wear, seam splits, bent corners, loss of gloss, stains, etc.

GOOD ---- Well played with little luster and significant surface noise. Despite defects, record should still play all the way through without skipping. Several cover flaws will be apparent, but should not obliterate the artwork.

POOR ---- Any record or cover that does not qualify for the above "Good" grading should be seen as Poor. Several cover flaws.