Rockin' and Romance explained

Rockin' and Romance is the fifth album by American rock band Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers, released in 1985 as part of a two-album deal for Richman with Geoff Travis's Rough Trade Records label in the UK. Originally planned for release in the U.S. by Sire Records, it was issued there by Twin/Tone Records.

Reception

John Leland of Spin wrote, "On an album of absolutely no musical sophistication, Richman uses eight backup singers. Behind his lovably clumsy and tuneless singing, they harmonize on oohs, ahhs, and other exquisite nonsense syllables. The rest of the sound is Richman's cheaply recorded and sometimes out-of-tune acoustic guitar."^[1]

Track listing

All songs written by Jonathan Richman.

Side one

1. "The Beach" – 2:19
2. "My Jeans" – 3:17
3. "Down in Bermuda" – 3:04
4. "The U.F.O. Man" – 3:22
5. "I Must Be King" – 2:40
6. "Vincent van Gogh" – 2:25
7. "Walter Johnson" – 2:21

Side two

1. "I'm Just Beginning to Live" – 2:53
2. "The Fenway" – 2:30
3. "Chewing Gum Wrapper" – 3:21
4. "The Baltimores" – 3:01
5. "Up in the Sky Sometime" – 2:52
6. "Now Is Better Than Before" – 2:17

Personnel

• Jonathan Richman – vocals,^[2] guitars
• Ellie Marshall – first female singer
• Debbie Edwards – additional female singer
• Jeanette Sartain – additional female singer
• Michael Guardabascio – male singer, drums
• Ned Claflin – male singer
• Tom Nelson – male singer
• Scot Woodland – male singer
• Andy Paley – male singer, drum solo on "I'm Just Beginning to Live", toy piano

Technical

• Andy Paley – producer
• Carol Fondé – cover photo

Notes and References

1. . Spins. John Leland. October 1985. 6. 30.
2. Web site: Rockin' & Romance - Jonathan Richman & the Modern Lovers - Credits . . July 11, 2022.