Pablo Picasso (song)

"Pablo Picasso" is a song written by Jonathan Richman for Richman's proto punk group The Modern Lovers.

The song was recorded in early 1972, at Whitney Studios in Los Angeles, with producer John Cale, but was not released until 1976, on the Modern Lovers' self-titled debut album. The recording featured Richman (lead guitar, vocals), Ernie Brooks (second guitar), Jerry Harrison (bass) and David Robinson (drums), with Cale playing the repetitive hammered piano part. [cite book
last = Mitchell
first = Tim
authorlink = Tim Mitchell
coauthors =
title = There’s Something About Jonathan
publisher = Peter Owen
date = 1999
location =
pages = p.50
url =
doi =
id =
isbn = 0-7206-1076-1]

The central character of the song is the charismatic 20th Century artist Pablo Picasso. The phrase "Pablo Picasso was never called an asshole" is repeated throughout the song. [ [http://wc04.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=33:difwxqqaldje Allmusic.com "Pablo Picasso" review] . Accessed August 15, 2007.]

elected list of recorded versions

*1972 The Modern Lovers, not released until 1976 on "The Modern Lovers"
*1975 John Cale, on his album "Helen of Troy"
*1984 Burning Sensations on the "Repo Man" soundtrack
*1991 Phranc's version of the song substitutes Gertrude Stein as the central character; it appears on her album "Positively Phranc"
*2001 Arms of Kismet, on the album ""
*2003 David Bowie, on his album "Reality"; a live version recorded at Riverside Studios, Hammersmith, London on 8 September 2003 was released on the 'Tour Edition' of "Reality"
*2007 John Cale, on his live album "Circus Live"

Appearances in popular culture

*British indiepop band, The Television Personalities, on a song entitled "An Exhibition By Joan Miró", pay tribute to the Richman song, with the lyrics, "Better than Picasso/Picasso was an asshole."

Notes