The Modern Lovers


Main image

Boston-based band (1970–1974) formed by Jonathan Richman, recorded two studio albums (actually demos) which remained unreleased until 1976 and 1981.

For the reunited band with different line-up that existed from 1976 to 1988, see Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers.

After graduating from high school in 1969, Jonathan Richman relocated to New York City. Totally infatuated with the sound of the Velvet Underground, Richman made his entrée to New York with a couple of weeks sleeping on Velvets manager Steve Sesnick’s sofa, and afterward moved into the rodent-infested Hotel Albert. After nine months in New York, Richman decided he’d had enough. Back home, Richman swiftly organized a band with childhood friend John Felice (guitar), David Robinson (drums, later of The Cars), and Rolfe Anderson (bass). The Modern Lovers played their first date in September 1970, barely a month after Richman’s return.

ALBUMS


APPEARANCES +


Answering Machines
Live or Acoustic
2022, Cass, Immeasurable Equation
Garbage Bags
Live, Smelly & Drunk
2019, 7", Num, Not On Label
Radioset
Demos And Other Such Things
2012, 3xCDr + Box, Not On Label, ,
Alternative Rock/Grunge/Indie Rock
Head On
Blind Kiss
2012
The Minus 5
Butcher Covered
2009, CD, Comp, Ltd, Promo, Book Records, ,
Alternative Rock/Power Pop
Suspect Parts
Maneater / She Cracked
2009
The Voltarenes
Anagrams 7"
2007, 2xFile, MP3, 192, Kinokoma
Various
Wearing Our Punk Rock Hearts On Our Sleeves
2007, CDr, Comp, RP, Yellow Mica Recordings, ,
Indie Pop/Indie Rock/Punk
Catholic Discipline
Underground Babylon
2004, ,
Punk
The Microwave Orphans*
Microwave Orphans 1995-2002
2002, CD, Comp, Eiffel Trousers Records, ,
Punk/Garage Rock/Ska/Hardcore/New Wave
Space Robot Scientists
At Home With Machines
1998, CD, Album, Eiffel Trousers Records
Pumice
Performance
1997, Cass, Album, Ltd, Stabbies And The Rocket Recordings
The New Bomb Turks
Pissing Out The Poison (Singles & Other Swill '90-'94)
1995, ,
Garage Rock/Punk
The New Bomb Turks
I Wanna Sleep
1993, 7", Demolition Derby
Various
Hot August Night
1992, Cass, Comp, Ltd, Sonic Enemy
Various
Blank Generation (A Story Of U.S. / Canadian Punk & Its Aftershocks 1975-1981)
2023, 5xCD, Comp, Cherry Red, ,
Punk/Power Pop/Post-Punk/New Wave/Garage Rock
Various
Memorable But Not Honorable Mix Tape Vol. 6
2021, Cass, Mixtape, Memorable But Not Honorable
Various
50 Ans De FIP
2021, ,
Synth-pop
Tocotronic
Coming Home
2017, CD, Comp, Stereo Deluxe
Various
Spurts! - Punk & Post-Punk From the '70s & Beyond
2016, 4xCD, Comp, Warner Music Australia, ,
Punk/New Wave/Post-Punk/Hardcore/Alternative Rock/Pub Rock
Winternationale
Eulogies / Shadows
2016, M/Stick + 2xFile, WAV + 2xFile, MP3, Mixtape, 160 , Not On Label (Winternationale Self-released), ,
Alternative Rock/Indie Rock/Post-Punk
Tim Burgess
Vinyl Adventures From Istanbul To San Francisco
2016, ,
New Wave/Classical/Chicago Blues/Pop Rock
Various
Mastermix Issue 344
2014, 2xCD, Comp, Mixed, P/Mixed, Music Factory, ,
Ballad/Acoustic/Disco/Contemporary R&B
Various
Bowie Heard Them Here First
2014, ,
Beat/Vocal/Alternative Rock
Zombie Zombie
ZZ Dub
2013, File, MP3, Mixed, 320, Vice Italia
Blvck Ceiling
Diamond Death
2012, File, MP3, Mixed, 320, TXTBK's CHVяCH XV BяXK3N 7ANGvAG3, ,
Experimental/Synth-pop/Industrial/Hip Hop/Trap/Thug Rap/New Wave/Electro/Punk/Witch House
John Cale
Conflict & Catalysis (Productions & Arrangements 1966-2006)
2012, ,
Acoustic/Alternative Rock/Ambient/Art Rock/Avantgarde/Chanson/Experimental/Garage Rock/Goth Rock/Leftfield/Noise/Indie Rock/Disco/Power Pop/Pop Rock/Punk/Rock & Roll/Psychedelic Rock/Soft Rock/Synth-pop
Various
40 Hits Incontournables - New Wave Vol. 2
2012, ,
Synth-pop/New Wave
Various
LateNightTales (TheDecadeBox)
2011, 27xCD, Comp, Mixed + Box, Ltd, Num, LateNightTales, ,
Downtempo/Trip Hop/Breaks/Dub/House/Leftfield/Experimental/Alternative Rock
Various
Anarchy For The UK
2011, CD, Comp, Spectrum Music (2), Universal UMC, ,
Punk
Various
The Other Side Of Summer
2010, Cass, Comp, Mississippi Records,
Various
The Whole World Is Gay
2010, Cass, Comp, Mississippi Records,
Various
Theme Time Radio Hour Seasons 1, 2 & 3 With Your Host Bob Dylan
2008, Box + 2xCD, Comp + 2xCD, Comp + 2xCD, Comp, Ace, ,
Rock & Roll/Blues Rock/Country/Punk/Soul/Doo Wop/Rocksteady/Rhythm & Blues/Ska/Swing/Cajun/Chanson/Big Band/Rockabilly/Mambo/Piano Blues
Various
Theme Time Radio Hour With Your Host Bob Dylan
2008, 2xCD, Comp, pro + Box, Ace
Various
Theme Time Radio Hour With Your Host Bob Dylan
2008, ,
Rock & Roll/Blues Rock/Country/Punk/Soul/Doo Wop/Rocksteady/Rhythm & Blues/Ska/Swing
Various
Babylon's Burning - The Rough'n'Ready Rise Of PUNK RAWK 1973-1978
2007, Box + 4xCD, Comp, Castle Music, ,
Punk/Post-Punk
Various
Punk Generation
2007, 2xCD, Comp, La Musica Di Repubblica - L'Espresso, ,
Punk/New Wave/Post-Punk/Garage Rock/Power Pop/Mod
Various
From The Velvets To The Voidoids - U.S. Punk Rock Roots 1970-1978
2007, 2xCD, Comp, Rhino Records (2), Sire, ,
Punk/New Wave
Fatboy Slim
LateNightTales
2007, ,
Folk Rock/Reggae/Spoken Word/Afrobeat/Soul/Big Beat/Easy Listening/Afro-Cuban/Psychedelic Rock/Funk/Classic Rock
The Paddingtons
Back To The Bus
2006, ,
Punk/Indie Rock
Various
Punk Crazy - Anarchy In The UK
2006, ,
Punk
Various
Classic Cuts 66 - Punk/New Wave
2006, ,
Punk/New Wave
Various
The Record Shop - 30 Years Of Rough Trade Shops
2006, ,
Alternative Rock/Folk Rock/Indie Rock/Punk/Electro/Experimental
Various
Teenage Kicks
2005, 2xCD, Comp, Sanctuary TV, ,
New Wave/Punk/Synth-pop/Ska/Mod
Various
The Roots Of The Sex Pistols (15 Tracks That Inspired A Revolution)
2005, CD, Comp, Mojo Magazine, ,
Garage Rock/Punk/Glam
Various
1976 (Ein Jahr Und Seine 20 Songs)
2005, CD, Comp, Süddeutsche Zeitung, ,
Alternative Rock/Pop Rock/Punk/Disco/Hard Rock/Experimental
Various
Les Trésors Cachés - 50 Ans De Rock
2004, CD, Comp, Les Inrockuptibles, ,
Leftfield/Garage Rock/Pop Rock/Indie Rock/Conscious/Punk/Ambient
Various
Death Disco Ltd
2004, CD, Comp, Discotheque (2), ,
Reggae/Pop Rock/Punk/Soul/Heavy Metal
Various
Heroes The Anthems
2004, 2xCD, Comp, Sony Music,
Various
The Most Fun You Can Have With Your Clothes On! The Beserkley Story
2004, 2xCD, Comp, Beserkley, Castle Music,
Various
Let's Get Loud
2004, 3xCD, Comp, Box, Disky, ,
New Wave
Various
L'odyssée Du Rock
2004, 4xCD, Comp, Box, Sony Music Media,
Various
No Thanks! The '70s Punk Rebellion
2003, 4xCD, Comp, RM + Box, Rhino Records (2), ,
Punk
Various
Hanging With The Strokes
2003, CD, Comp, New Musical Express, ,
Indie Rock/Classic Rock
Various
Sniffin' Glue
2003, ,
New Wave/Punk/Garage Rock
Various
CBGB's And The Birth Of U.S. Punk
2002, CD, Comp, Ocho, ,
Garage Rock/Punk/New Wave/Psychedelic Rock/Synth-pop/Experimental
Various
Rare Trax Vol. 24 - First Wave Part One - 14 Post-Punk Greats
2002, CD, Comp, Promo, Rolling Stone, ,
Alternative Rock/Garage Rock/New Wave
Echoboy
Music Session
2002, CDr, Mixed, Promo, Mute, ,
Alternative Rock/Folk Rock/Trip Hop/Blues Rock
Various
Rough Trade Shops Rock And Roll 1
2002, ,
Alternative Rock/Garage Rock/Grunge/Prog Rock/Rock & Roll/Blues Rock/Punk/Surf/Psychedelic Rock/Hardcore/Experimental
Various
Lammbock - Original Soundtrack
2001, CD, Comp, Enh, ZYX Music, ,
Alternative Rock/Soundtrack/Pop Rap/Downtempo
Various
Was Het Nu 70, 80 Of 90? File 3
2001, 2xCD, Comp, Virgin, Studio Brussel, ,
Alternative Rock/Pop Rock/Hip Hop/Synth-pop
Various
LP3 - Munster Records Classic Rock'N'Roll Vinyl Releases Collection
2000, CD, Comp, Promo, Sinedín Music, Munster Records
Various
Unconditionally Guaranteed Volume 11 December 1999 (Uncut's Guide To The Month's Best Music)
1999, CD, Comp, Promo, Uncut (2),
Various
I Was Punk Before You
1998, CD, Comp, P-Vine Non Stop, ,
Punk
Various
Last Call's Happy Hour
1997, CD, Comp, Last Call Records, ,
Folk Rock/Garage Rock/Country Rock/Blues Rock/Southern Rock/Power Pop/Rockabilly
Various
Born To Lose (Soundtrack From The Motion Picture)
1997, CD, Comp, BOMP!, Alive Records, ,
Soundtrack/Punk
Various
Slam Jams Vol. 1
1997, CD, Comp, Tommy Boy, ,
Punk/Power Pop/Post-Punk/Pop Punk/New Wave
Various
Slam Jams Vol. 1
1997, ,
Glam/Classic Rock/New Wave/Punk/Rock & Roll/Hard Rock/Surf/Chanson/Leftfield/Ska/Heavy Metal
Various
Hits Of The 70's
1996, 2xCD, Comp, Pulse (3),
Various
Backtrackin' To The Seventies
1995, 4xCD, Comp, Castle Communications
Various
This Is Not A Love Collection
1994, CD, Comp, Connoisseur Collection, ,
Punk/Alternative Rock/Indie Rock/New Wave/Post-Punk/Garage Rock/Power Pop/Mod
Various
Back To The 70's
1994, 4xCD, Comp, Castle Communications,
Various
Destination: Bomp!
1994, ,
Garage Rock/Power Pop/Punk/Psychedelic Rock
Various
Rebellious Jukebox
1993, CD, Comp, Promo, Melody Maker, ,
Classic Rock
Various
Beserkley's Best (Home Of The Hits Revisited)
1993, CD, Album, Comp, Blackheart Records, ,
Alternative Rock/Garage Rock/Indie Rock
Various
Sounds Of The Seventies - Punk And New Wave
1993, ,
New Wave/Pop Rock/Punk/Psychedelic Rock/Garage Rock
Jonathan Richman And The Modern Lovers*
23 Great Recordings By Jonathan Richman And The Modern Lovers
1990, ,
Garage Rock/Indie Rock/Punk
Various
Line - Der Sampler 39
1989, CD, Smplr, Line Records, Line (7), Line Records, Line (7)
Various
The Rounder CD Single
1988, CD, Mini, Single, Rounder Records, Rounder Records
Various
Line - Der Sampler 23
1987, LP, Smplr, Line Records, ,
Pop Rock/Soul/Blues Rock/Psychedelic Rock/Garage Rock/Folk Rock/Doo Wop
Various
Newslines Volume 3
1981, 7", Comp, Line Records
Various
Troublemakers
1980, ,
New Wave/Pop Rock/Punk/Avantgarde/Rock & Roll/Post-Punk/Hard Rock
Various
Mad Magazine Presents 'Up The Academy' - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
1980
Jonathan Richman
Roadrunner Once
1977
Various
The Best Of The 80's Vol.2
DVD-V, Comp, PAL, MCP (7)
various
Waar Is Da Feestje? Hier Is Da Feestje! 6
3xCD, Comp, Waar Is Da Feestje? Hier Is Da Feestje!, ,
Schlager/Vocal
The Zillions
Home Taping Is Music
CDr, Comp, Music For Ears,
Various
Spoonful Volume 13 - The Hits & Then Some
CDr, Comp, Spoonful,
Various
Valentine's Day Mixtape
2024, Cass, Comp, Unofficial, Popular Affliction Records
Pûtin kills
LIVE IN JACKSONVILLE
2022
Various
LL❤ KK: March 24,2012
2012, Cass, Comp, Unofficial, Burger Records
Fatboy Slim
LateNightTales
2007, ,
Folk Rock/Reggae/Spoken Word/Afrobeat/Soul/Big Beat/Easy Listening/Afro-Cuban/Psychedelic Rock/Funk/Classic Rock
Modern Lovers*
Songs Of Rememberance
1997, CD, Unofficial, Punk Vault
Modern Lovers*
Modern Lovers
7", EP, Unofficial, Blu, Not On Label (The Modern Lovers)
Various
Komfort
CD, Comp, Unofficial, Komfort Recordings
R.E.M.
Cover Me, Don't Cover Me
CDr, Comp, Unofficial, Not On Label (R.E.M.), ,
Alternative Rock