The Modern Lovers - recorded 1971, released 1976

One-two-three-four-five-six! I discovered “Roadrunner” on the Beserkley Chartbusters! compilation album in the WVSS-FM studios while in grad school at UW-Stout in 1975.  Jonathan Richman’s back-to-the-garage approach stuck out like a sore thumb in the pop-produced, discofied mid 1970s.  How could you not love it?  I was gratified when PBS featured Jonathan in its 1995 “Rock and Roll” documentary series, as a prime inspirer of punk music.  But this is much more than punk; it was no accident members of the Talking Heads and the Cars were graduates of his band. I saw Jonathan do a memorable solo show at a Madison venue in the early 2000s.