What a great internet find for Jonathan Richman fans! The Laura Palmer Tape (no relation to the Twin Peaks character) is a love letter that Jonathan sang into a home recording device back in 1974. He talks directly to Laura throughout the session: He mentions having trouble with balancing his microphone, and my personal favorite is when he breaks a string, "Broke a string, pardon me, Laura." Then he proceeds to tell her he has to stop recording for a minute and repair the string otherwise "it's gonna sound terrible." This is love-struck Jonathan at his very best. I almost feel a little bit guilty peeking into this obvious private moment - after a few songs, and smiles, I get over my guilt rather quickly! Download the album and enjoy...after the jump.
Download the Laura Palmer tape HERE.
The website has a side note that may just be rock and roll mythology, but still a great story. It says that many years after Laura received this tape, and shelved it, she was visiting with a friend who was playing a Jonathan record, and she recognized his voice. She told her friend that she was sure that this singer was someone she had once dated. She found the tape, and I guess it has been traded within Jonathan Richman fan circles ever since.
Many thanks to the tape traders who keep gems like this alive through the years and to icecoldnugrape who posted these songs on his site!
Jonathan Richman on Amazon
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