Retired Boxer

Retired Boxer was Johnston's first album recorded in Austin, Texas, a location where he found much success. During the recording of 'Hi, How Are You' the previous year, Johnston was living with his sister Margie but disappeared in April of 1984[2] after his mother suggested institutionalizing him.[3] He only told his parents where he was on Fathers Day of that year. He had purchased a moped and rode it to the local carnival where he began working at the Corn Dog Stand.[2] Six months later[4] the carnival arrived in Austin, and Johnston had upset someone with how long he was taking on the porta-potty resulting in Johnston being punched. The assault left Johnston badly hurt, and he began searching for a nearby Church for help, eventually arriving at the Austin University Church of Christ. The staff at there took Johnston to a doctor and leased him an apartment.[2] Whilst in Austin, Johnston also began working at McDonalds.[4] His assault is referenced in the song 'Bye-Bye Barbie', with the lyric 'A knock in the skull sure changes a man'.

Most of the album features Johnston playing the piano, save for the final track, 'True Love Will Find You In The End', where he plays acoustic guitar. Johnston was influenced to start playing the guitar by the legacy of Austin based guitar players.[2]

As had been done with 'Hi, How Are You', Johnston began to give away copies of Retired Boxer to anyone he could. Since he was now living in Austin, these often ended up in the hands of influential figures in the local music scene, such as Louis Black of the Austin Chronicle, who was also given copies of Hi, How Are You, and Yip/Jump Music. Black began playing the material for other music writers as well as musicians, whilst Johnston himself continued to hand out copies, inciting a local interest.[2]

"True Love Will Find You in the End" was later re-recorded for Johnston's first studio album 1990, and has become one of Johnston's most well-known songs,[5] covered by many notable artists, such as the Reivers, Beck, Wilco,[6] The Flaming Lips,[7] Kate Davis,[8] and Basia Bulat who has performed the song frequently in concert. [9] Jeff Mangum has also performed the song live as well. Matthew Good recorded a version for his 2007 album Hospital Music, as did Mates of State on their 2010 album Crushes (The Covers Mixtape). Johnston's original "True Love Will Find You in the End" was used in a 2012 commercial for a men's hair care product.[10]

As a benefit for the mental health charity Hi How Are You Project, American singer-bassist Kate Davis released her own re-recording of the album, titled Strange Boy, which was released on January 29th, 2021, with "Oh No" acting as the album's lead single, released to Soundcloud in November of 2020.[8] Davis' appreciating for the album comes from the DIY aspects of it as well as it's lyrical themes, saying Johnston's music was 'complete, while leaving room for you to take it wherever you want it to go'. Johnston's death, which took place during production of the album, was influential on her performance of it, in particular for the song 'Too Young To Die', which was also dedicated to her deceased father.[11]

All tracks are written by Daniel Johnston. All tracks produced by Johnston.