Having a Party with Jonathan Richman

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]

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]