A really good recording and something of rarity from this time. Tonight's and the following nights recording are solo performances, a lot of fun, and full of spontaneity. An added bonus too is the inclusion of  a rare recording of 'I Don't Want No Nuclear Power Plants (in My Life)', a song once planned to be released as a single with the Beserkley label. This release never came to be and the song quickly dropped from Jonathans live shows.

1979 Jul 13 Chicago USA Gaspars

JR Fan 1

JR is the man!  He lives near my family.  I want to wear his socks

Jerry

1979 Jul 14 Chicago USA Gaspars

Said to have been recorded in Jonathans apartment in Cambridge. With Leroy Radcliffe, Andy Paley, Ellie Marshall, and  another backing singer, Liz Does.

The Paley Sessions (1979)

The Paley Sessions

Pol Dodu

The proper title for this one is "At my front door", although on stage in 1979 in Paris for the Chorus show, Jonathan himself first introduced it as "Crazy little Mama", before correcting himself. It's a cover of the biggest hit by The El Dorados, from 1955...

Highly recommended! Previously listed here as 'Unreleased Lost Elpee, 1980'. These seem be better identified as the eight-track demos that were recorded at Perfect Crime Studios during late summer of 1979 (see Tim Mitchell's book 'There's Something About Jonathan' - page 124). 

The Lost LP (1979)

The Lost LP

Boston TV (1980)

Boston TV

Previously listed as 'Studio Session 1982/3'. This looks better identified as the session recorded at Capitol Recording Studios, Los Angeles, in late 1980 (see Tim Mitchell's book 'There's Something About Jonathan' - page 130). By the way, there's a short CD circulating, called 'Jonathan Goes Funky' which is made up of six tracks from this session. 

Studio Session Late 1980 (Jonathan Goes Funky) (1980)

Studio Session Late 1980 (Jonathan Goes Funky)

Also known as "I Can't Stand To See People With Their Feeling's Hurt"

With Curly Keranen, Michael Guardabascio and Ken Forfia, plus 'The Rockin' Robins' : Ellie Marshall and  Beth Harrington.Yoyos On Parade' & 'Creeps On The March' aren't really songs they're just a few lines while Jonathans messing about for a minute or two.

1981 Feb 14 Providence USA

A solo show in the main, except for a few songs with 'the Rockin Robins' on each set, joined by Andy Paley on piano for 'Up In The Sky Sometime'.

1982 Mar 2 Boston Cambridge USA Jonathan Swifts

With the Modern Lovers. The first track here doesn't sound quite right, but the sound on rest of the recording is pretty good.

1982 Sep 23 New York City USA Lone Star Cafe

One of the best sounding shows I have of The Modern Lovers from the early 1980's.Jonathan doesn't introduce all the band members so can't be sure of the full line-up tonight, but the performers included 'The Rockin' Robins' (Beth and Ellie), Curly Keranan, and Carla Brownlee on Saxophone. Carla's Sax is put to full use throughout and some of the songs have never sounded better

"This Kind of Music", and "Hospital" are cut

1983 Oct 10 Boston USA Jonathan Swifts

The very first JR song I ever heard. I heard Hospital on the radio around 1976 or so. That got me hooked for life.

Not a weak track here. 14 solid songs. One of his best easily.

After years of deliberating with myself...this one always ends up being my favorite JR album. Favorite song: "Now Is Better Than Before"

Rockin' & Romance (1985)

Rockin' & Romance

1987 Aug 21 Davis USA

This song was written in the studio during the recording of "Modern Lover's 88"

The single version of this song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMmSH-628jI

1987 Oct 20 Boston Cambridge USA Nightstage

With Johnny Avila and Brennan Totten. Brennan's doing the singing on 'Born to be Wild'.

"When I'm Walkin'" and "The Fenway" are performed a capella

Ramon

My copy doesn't have "When I Dance" (it shows up on the track listing as a medley with "This kind of music" but there is no sign of it on the track.  Is your copy different?

Thanks Ramon, I removed that track listing

http://haystackpudding.com/MP3/de27e37a.html

1988 Feb 12 Mezzago Italy Bloom

1988 Mar 3 Brussels Belgium Ancienne Belgique

Jonathan's pretty chatty tonight... inviting questions from the audience, etc, more so during the first set than the second. There's an interesting explanation of why 'Roadrunner' doesn't get performed much anymore and also an early embryonic version of You Can't Talk to the Dude'.

"Roadrunner" is a short instrumental version

1988 Nov 14 Columbus USA Staches

VinnieQ

i always wanted to hear the full version of CornerStore from the film Kingpin, but i never found it..

A fairly quiet recording this one ,Jonathan is joined on stage towards the end of the show by the Rockin' Robin's: Beth Harrington and Ellie Marshall.

1992 Oct 11 Boston Cambridge USA Nightstage

I love it when JR writes songs about real people. Velvet Underground,Pablo Picasso,Walter Johnson, etc.

A strange JR song. Dark and almost evil sounding at times. Unless I'm missing the point of the song entirely. It wouldn't be the first time!

Yeah, this one and The Neighbors are both dark. Still not completely sure if I really get them...and I've heard them both countless times!

A top-quality recording with the full Bermuda Monologue and a great sounding 'Velvet Underground', including snatches of 3 songs by the Velvets - Sister Ray, What Goes On & Foggy Notion -  and some nice chat too.

1992 Oct 26 Bloomington USA Jakes

Last night of a 3 night stand at Yab Yum's. Very intimate shows. you can hear the door to the coffee house or whatever it was opening and closing...

1994 Feb 13 Orlando USA Yab Yum's

She's not so scary she's got all of my records! 

The term "Vampire Girl" has entered into my natural dialect because of this song

1994 Nov 1 Providence USA

The recording's a bit quiet unfortunately. It includes though a great version of 'You're crazy for taking the Bus' - A very funny and extended tale of life on the bus!

1994 Nov 10 Alexandria USA The Birchmore

1995 Apr 4 Boston USA Lansdowne Playhouse

A pretty good one this: especially so on 'Pablo Picasso' and 'Let her go into the Darkness' both of which have some great and extended guitar playing. Great performance!

1998 Jul 26 Boston Cambridge USA The Middle East

1998 Aug 7 New York City USA Knitting Factory

Andy Kershaw Radio Session, BBC Radio 1 (1999)

Andy Kershaw Radio Session, BBC Radio 1

Five songs and some chat from a recording for Andy Kershaw's show on the BBC, aired on the 26th of February 1999.

1999 Feb 16 USA

With a bit of a muffled sound unfortunately...

2000 Jun Boston USA Somerville Theatre

How is JR able to point out things that rarely get pointed out in such a lucid way?

The instrumental is funky (Funky Goodtime?)