the lyres, “don’t give it up now’
from: Live you tube, 1984
Jonathan Richman was inspired to write The Modern Lovers “Road Runner” as a teenager driving on Route 128 and the Mass Pike in and around Boston in 1970. The song endures on its own merit despite a failed attempt to make it the official rock song of Massachusetts. Richman didn’t help matters by commenting, “I don’t think the song is good enough to be a Massachusetts song of any kind”.
I was recently listening to “Road Runner” in my car, on the road, with the radio on, paying special attention to the organ playing. The player is Jerry Harrison, an original member of the band, later to become a long time member of Talking Heads. (Harrison’s wiki bio is a great read.) Apparently he and Richman split over the musical direction of the band in 1974. Imagine arguing over music with Jonathan Richman. Or anything else for that matter. (For ML fans, I guess Jonathan Richman was, unlike Pablo Picasso, called an asshole.)
There’s great organ playing on so many “garage” classics. Holding notes and keeping rhythm. Kids raised playing piano finding a spot in the band. I guess the broader reference is “keyboards”.
One of my favorites is Jeff Conolly of the Lyres. The “monoman” (still with us) would front the band playing organ with his right hand, slapping a tambourine with his left. Some call it “garage punk” or “proto punk” or some other bullshit label. It’s just great music for some. Generally not an acquired taste.
-Steve Hart-
Jerry Harrison of Modern Lovers and Talking Heads fame
“Wait has almost always meant never”