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An ultra-rare live performance from one of rocks' most romantic, enduring, uncompromisingly optimistic singer-songwriters.

An ultra-rare live concert in San Francisco with one of rocks' most loveable, if not irreverent pre-punk friendly icons makes its DVD debut.

For the past three decades Jonathan Richman has enjoyed cult status amongst the lonely, misunderstood, sentimental and melancholy romantics amongst us. Take Me To The Plaza is an engaging live concert filmed at The Great American Music Hall in San Francisco during December 2002.

Romantic

This DVD-only release features 18 songs, seven of which are taken from his 2001 studio album, Her Mystery Not Of High Heels And Eye Shadow. Other classic Richman songs include Pablo Picasso (recently covered by David Bowie on his Reality album) and the stunning Girlfriend, from his Modern Lovers days.

The DVD also boasts brand new tunes; My Baby Love Love Loves Me, the life-affirming I Love The World, the unusually topical – FOR Richman - Not In My Name, the jaunty Take Me To The Plaza, and The World is Showin' Me Its Hand.

Also featured is the track Let Her Go Into The Darkness, which featured on the Farrelly Brother's smash hit comedy There's Something About Mary movie soundtrack - and in the film (as did Richman himself) starring Cameron Diaz.

Intimate

This intimate concert, which besides Jonathan Richman himself on guitar and vocals also features Tommy Larkins on drums and percussion, comes with 32 minutes of essential bonus features. These include two candid home video interviews with Richman himself, a complete discography and two bonus songs - You Can't Talk To The Dude and Nineteen In Naples.

Jonathan Richman is one of rock's undisputed eccentric and unpredictable cult figure; a performer who's eternally childlike public persona and naiveté - typified by songs like Roadrunner, Ice Cream Man, Hey There Little Insect and I'm a Little Aeroplane - obscured the dexterity and craft of his music, which ranged from garage rock, country and Latino.

Velvet Underground

Born 1951 in Boston, Massachusetts, Richman began playing guitar at the age of 15, and within a year was making his first public appearances. In 1969 he relocated to New York, the home of his lifelong musical influence, the Velvet Underground – where he was such an acolyte that he’s famously alleged to have claimed to have been at more Velvets concerts than the members of the band.

In 1970 he moved back to his hometown of Boston, where he formed the first incarnation of the influential proto-punk band 'The Modern Lovers' with guitarist John Felice, drummer David Robinson (who then left to form the new wave pop combo The Cars), and bassist Rolfe Anderson.

Within a few months, Anderson had been replaced by Ernie Brooks, and keyboardist Jerry Harrison - the latter eventually joined Talking Heads and from there The Casual Gods - stepped in for Felice.

After recording some demos with the legendary Kim Fowley during the spring of 1971 - unissued until 1981 - in 1973, the Modern Lovers (with production being handled by no less than former Velvet Underground member, Welshman John Cale) recorded the demos which comprised their seminal self-titled debut. Featuring what were to become long-standing Richman favourites The Modern Lovers included Roadrunner, Pablo Picasso and I'm Straight. The LP were eventually released in 1976.

In 1975, Richman became one of the first recording artists to sign to Matthew Kaufman's then fledgling - now legendary - Beserkley Records label. Along with label mates Greg Kihn, Earthquake, and the Rubinoos, Richman helped carve the label's sound - melodic pop with a strong '60s pop sensibility - a refreshing alternative to the bloated progressive rock of the time.

The Modern Lovers

Richman formed a new, acoustic version of the Modern Lovers with guitarist LeRoy Radcliffe, Rubinoos bassist Greg Kernaen and drummer Robinson. In 1977 they released the album Jonathan Richmond and the Modern Lovers. The album was the perfect vehicle for the pure pop melodies that were so evident throughout his recording career. Later that year, the group issued Rock & Roll with the Modern Lovers on the Beserkley record label, and had a hit in Europe with the instrumental Egyptian Reggae. In 1979 Richman released the solo album Back In Your Life.

Four years later, in 1983 Richman released the studio album Jonathan Sings! A series of impressive pop albums ensued, including Rockin' and Romance (1985), It's Time For Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers (recorded with Andy Paley, 1986), and Modern Lovers 88 (1988). In 1990, Richman unleashed the self-explanatory Jonathan Goes Country. He then celebrated Latin themes with his album Jonathan, Te Vas a Emocionar! (1993).

There's Something About Mary

Although Richman has dabbled in different styles of music, his dedicated cult following remains loyal. In 1998, he was prominently featured in the Farrelly Brother's hit comedy movie There's Something About Mary. During that same year, Richman called in the Cars front man, Ric Ocasek, to produce his I'm So Confused solo album for Vapor Records (through Warner).

The full track listing shapes up like this:

1. Let Her Go Into The Darkness
2. My Baby Love Love Loves Me
3. Springtime In New York
4. Pablo Picasso
5. I Was Dancin' In The Lesbian Bar
6. I Love The World
7. Yo Tengo Una Novia
8. My Love For Her Ain't Sad
9. Couples Must Fight
10. Give Paris One More Chance
11. Not In My Name
12. Take Me To The Plaza
13. Her Mystery Not of High Heels And Eye Shadow
14. El Joven Se Estremece
15. Girlfriend
16. The World Is Showing Me Its Hand
17. The Night Is Still Young
18. You Can't Talk To The Dude
19. Nineteen In Naples.

Other Jonathan Richman DVDs available include: Jonathan Richman And The Modern Lovers - Roadrunner and The Modern Lovers - The Modern Lovers. Both are available from Sanctuary Entertainment.

Jonathan Richman - Take Me To The Plaza is out now – with an E certificate - in 16:9 ration widescreen format, Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound, with a running time of around 94 minutes, from Sanctuary Visual Entertainment.

All Jonathan Richman photos above - Dennis Keeley.

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