The Modern Lovers

Live recordings of half-crazy poet Jonathan Richman freaking out college kids in the early '70s. With a level of honesty that never really sat well with the mainstream listener, Richman drops his tales of pure loneliness and want while the band tries to keep up. At times this is the definitive Modern Lovers document.

Live Harvard '71 and Berkeley '73, back when Jonathan thought cute was pretending he couldn't spell "girlfriend" ("A Plea for Tenderness," "The Mixer [Men and Women Together]," "I'm Straight") (Grade - ***)