16 illinoisentertainer. com february 2026
Although these B-sides are not included on the 2xLP set, they are among the 45 tracks on the 3xCD 40th anniversary version of Songs from the Big Chair. The B-sides mentioned also appeared on the 1996 odds and sods collection Saturnine Martial & Lunatic. In any case, Songs from the Big Chair maximizes the vinyl record ' s side length. Adding two more songs would have hampered the audio quality, given that the format was still more popular than CD in 1985.
The anniversary reissue arrives on translucent red vinyl, housed in a new cover that reflects the colorful handdrawn art concept originally planned, before opting for Tim O ' Sullivan ' s iconic black-and-white close-up of Orzabal and Smith.
– Jeff Elbel
10
JONATHAN RICHMAN Only Frozen Sky Anyway( Blue Arrow)
Although newcomers may be challenged by any new album from Jonathan Richman, Only Frozen Sky Anyway will delight those who have taken his unrefined but joyful music to heart. The performances here can be ramshackle, but the sound of capturing fresh ideas before the cement is fully dried is what has made much of Richman’ s music so endearing. For that matter, Richman’ s modus operandi seems to be capturing ideas as the cement is first being poured. Longtime drummer Tommy Larkins’ restrained but cheerful dance rhythms tether the songs to earth while Richman takes an almost improvisational approach to song structure. Richman tries vocal asides, melodic twists, and new guitar flourishes in the moment and keeps that spontaneity as part of the permanent record. The sparse arrangements are built around Richman’ s wavering tenor and the breezy zing of his nylon-string acoustic guitar. Spanish strums and flamenco fills dart through songs like“ The Dog Star,” a loopy and irresistible love song with a call-andresponse chorus. Aboard as co-producer and occasional keyboardist is Richman ' s former Modern Lovers bandmate Jerry Harrison, who occasionally conjures sounds reminiscent of“ Slippery People”
or“ This Must Be the Place( Naive Melody)” as he deployed them on Talking Heads’ Stop Making Sense film soundtrack. The album ' s thematic depth may surprise fans of the songwriter ' s often lighthearted fare. Richman projects a reliably upbeat and welcoming spirit, even when ruminating on heavier topics. True to the form of past songs like“ He Gave Us the Wine to Taste It,” he combines monk-like wisdom with childlike openness. With“ I Was Just a Piece of Frozen Sky Anyway,” Richman imagines himself as insignificant as a snowflake and pairs that notion with thoughts about his own mortality. In his view, the transition is just a change of form, like sublimation from ice crystal to water to vapor.“ But We May Try the Weird Stuff” contends that we learn and grow from moving into untested territory.“ Some things, we ' ll keep. That ' s a good one. Some stuff, we won ' t. That didn ' t work,” he speak-sings. A pair of gospel singers join Richman as he sings about being willing to experiment without shame.“ Night Fever” co-opts and interpolates the Bee Gees’ disco anthem, relocating it from its urbane New York City setting and imbuing it with a European flair. The song recalls the thought behind“ I Was Dancing in the Lesbian Bar,” as Richman embraces his environment and, without passing judgment upon others who just want to“ do their thing.” Here and there, he slips into a faux-French accent just for fun.“ You Need Me Too” is a song to the cosmic, suggesting that we may need guidance, support, and love from above, yet each of us has an important role to play in the divine relationship.“ That Older Girl” evokes a youthful memory of a 14-year-old boy, smitten with a girl a year older, knowing he had little to offer someone so mature.“ Little Black Bat” is a simple expression of wide-eyed fascination for the subject mammal.“ O Guitar” is a song of praise and thanks for an instrument that can express a player’ s feelings when words fail. Set to a bright reggae-pop pulse,“ David & Goliath” presents the biblical story as a fable championing the power of plucky spirit over brute strength and hubris. Richman sings that even if David committed atrocious acts as an adult, his teenage example against steep odds and oppression gave“ hope to the underdog forevermore." Richman ' s liner notes make dedications to departed friends David Johansen and Andy Paley. He singles out“ Se Va Pa’ Volver”( Spanish for " He ' s leaving to