"Pablo Picasso" In retrospect a spectacular confluence -- past and future sidemen and principals of the Velvet Underground, Cars, and Talking Heads, with Jonathan Richman more or less in the starring role. Recorded years before it was released, and with legend claiming Richman was such a fanatic for the Velvet Underground that he attended more of their shows than they did, one really is left wondering almost painfully what could have been. There's not much trace here of the spritely elf that Richman would become. Instead, there's this adenoidal guy who keeps knocking them out of the park: "Roadrunner," "Astral Plane," "Old World," "Pablo Picasso," "She Cracked," "Girl Friend," "Modern World." I'm not like some who kick about what came after, but I can sure see how it's like Lou Reed's solo career without the Velvet Underground. Something vital is missing -- and missed. Which is all by way of seeing this is absolutely essential.buy from Amazon
A fine album! It was a minor musical bombshell among some friends in Cincinnati at the time. It seemed partly sincere and partly tongue-in-cheek, certainly rock 'n' roll and yet unlike anything else.
ReplyDeleteA few years later (early '80s), a friend of a friend from Boston was over and I had on a cassette I'd made that included some cuts from this album. He actually knew Richman personally, and was startled to discover that some guy in Cincinnati knew of this obscure local Boston musician.
That's a great story! Thanks for stopping by.
ReplyDeleteWhoa! Bought this album when it came out in Sweden in the mid to late 70s. It is for my money one of the most essential albums of the 70s. The simple lines about a museum in Boston, and about a g-i-r-l-f-r-aieee-end, are sheer beauty. This is far better than most of Reed's solo-work, and again in a totally different vein from the future Richman. Required further listening would be "the Velvet Underground" from "I, Jonathan (1992), Richman's duet with Moe Tucker on the 45 rpm "I'm Sticking with You" (1980), and the earlier Modern Lovers album of demo-recordings produced by Kim Fowley. Jerry Harrisons organ solo is lifted straight out of Cale's organ on Sister Ray.
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