Having a Party with Jonathan Richman

Having a Party with Jonathan Richman is an album by the American musician Jonathan Richman, released in 1991.^[2][3] Richman supported the album with a North American tour.^[4]

Having a Party with Jonathan Richman
Studio album by Jonathan Richman
Released	1991
Label	Rounder[1]
Producer	Brennan Totten
Jonathan Richman chronology
Jonathan Goes Country (1990) Having a Party with Jonathan Richman (1991) I, Jonathan (1992)

Production

The album contains live and studio tracks, performed by Richman with just his guitar and voice, with occasional percussion.^[5][6][7] It was produced by Brennan Totten.^[6] The songs are mostly about relationships, with Richman writing in the liner notes that his musical style and methods remain unchanged.^[8][9] The cover photo was taken near Richman's home, around Sacramento, California.^[10]

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[11]
Robert Christgau	[12]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music	[13]
Entertainment Weekly	B[14]
MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide	[15]
Orlando Sentinel	[6]
The Republican	[16]
(The New) Rolling Stone Album Guide	[17]
The San Diego Union-Tribune	[9]
Spin Alternative Record Guide	5/10[18]

Trouser Press wrote: "In a pensive frame of mind for much of the record, Richman reconsiders past times with new-found gravity."^[19] Entertainment Weekly called the album "one of his most clear-eyed and least coy records... It’s chock-full of simplistic—but not simpleminded—songs about puzzling relationships."^[14] The Columbus Dispatch praised "My Career as a Homewrecker" and "The Girl Stands Up to Me Now".^[20] The Deseret News deemed Richman "the new wave Mister Rogers of folk."^[21]

Robert Christgau described the album as the "confessions of a reluctant grownup."^[12] The Christian Science Monitor determined that, "as soon as the disc starts spinning and the strings start twanging, Richman delivers enough energy and wit to stop a roomful of conversation."^[22] The Republican noted that "he's one very funny guy, with an impressive ability to make the most out of the obvious."^[16]

AllMusic wrote that, "without a band to support him, Richman grows more pensive than usual."^[11]

Track listing

No.	Title	Length
1.	"The Girl Stands Up to Me Now"
2.	"Cappuccino Bar"
3.	"My Career as a Homewrecker"
4.	"She Doesn't Laugh at My Jokes"
5.	"When She Kisses Me"
6.	"They're Not Tryin' on the Dance Floor"
7.	"At Night"
8.	"When I Say Wife"
9.	"1963"
10.	"Monologue About Bermuda"
11.	"Our Swingin' Pad"
12.	"Just for Fun"