David Johansen: Live It Up (1982) *** David Johansen is quite the guy. I mean, who else can become well-known for 2 totally distinct personalities. Compare: lead singer of The New York Dolls and then the over-the-top (is he serious? of course not) Buster Poindexter.
This live album came out after a couple of solo albums as a more trad rocker. Well, in comparison to the Dolls how could it not be more trad??? I remember at the time, it was quite difficult to get his 1st (and best) self-titled solo album. I ended up finding it on 8 track! Remember 8 tracks kids? All my 8 tracks are long gone...God, weren't 8 tracks crap! I had some awesome releases on 8 track though. Off the top of my head, I can remember having the classic "Modern Lovers" album on 8 track, I had Mott the Hoople's "Rock 'n' Roll Queen" compilation, Neil Young ("On the Beach" & "Time Fades Away" which still isn't released on cd!) and of course, the 1st "Boston" record...you can still find 8 tracks in your finer pawn shops and value villages. My advice: cassettes are better, and cassettes are still shit.
Oh yeh...we were talking about this record which I just picked up at our fav record store "Rock Your World"...which is closing Jan. 15th, but good news! He's still going to sell records out of his home and hopefully, open up a store in a different place this summer. Good luck, Steve! You know, I'll be supporting you.
Just to show you how great this place is. I picked up this record, Mott the Hoople "The Hoople", Julian Cope "My Nation Underground", Thin Lizzy "Johnny the Fox" and a Graham Parker live bootleg all for $25. What can you say? 5 bucks each for some hard to get stuff.
Um...I seem to be all over the place. Let's talk about this record shall we? It sure doesn't "rock" like The Dolls did, but it's really not fair to compare. This is definitely more mainstream, but you can feel the enjoyment and excitement of David and the band. They sound like they're having fun, which is vital for "good" live albums. There's an awesome "Animals" medley, which completely suits his voice. I sorta wish it wasn't a medley, but rather full versions of the songs; however, it's done very well. Frenchette, Reach out I'll Be There (made famous by The Four Tops), Funky But Chic, Bohemian Love Pad (which has a bit of a Dolls feel to it), Stranded in the Jungle and Personality Crisis are all good.
Thinking about it---the best thing about this live album is how it builds up to a rocking second side.
Oh, I forgot. David Johansen also released an album of blues songs as "David Johansen & the Harry Smiths". I've heard a few songs from it, and it sounds great! I can't believe there doesn't seem to be any New York Dolls or David Johansen official web sites out there. Weird. 2000 interview with David Johansen.
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I saw Johnny Thunders live (sort of) in Toronto. He was backed by Hamilton's own Teenage Head, doing the old Chuck Berry routine of not touring with a band, instead grabbing a local band that knows New York Dolls and Johnny Thunders songs. God knows, every major city will have a band like that. Hey, if they didn't would Johnny have noticed anyway?
The Viletones opened the show and they were hardcore punk. Steve Leckie, the singer, was flashing a knife a little too often, and was in fine punk form. Personally, I was a mess. During The Viletones set Leckie threw a guitar onto the empty dance floor and after the next song started berating the crowd for not smashing it to bits! So, being in fine "alcoholic punk" form myself, I got up and started stomping on it and proceeded to fall on my ass. Literally. That was pretty funny.
Johnny Thunders came on and the place all of a sudden seemed to magically get packed. I was staggering around and got into some kind of "non-violent" confrontation, sweated an incredible amount and loved the show. Johnny was barely there, and looking at him, it's a surprise he lasted almost another 10 years! He certainly had lots of charisma and rocked pretty good for a heroin addict.
An old but good site of Johnny Thunders info.
***
An old poem.
sitting around a cafe table
spilt wine the only tablecloth,
words slurred from cheap red wine,
sighing at the skirts that pass us by,
we lie to each other about
our sexual proficiency,
stumbling out of chairs
to take a piss
and brush the waitress' ass.
Oh yes, we are a brave lot.
brave faces putting up a brave front,
"The future's ours!" someone slurs
and we bang the table
with our half filled glasses,
"More wine! More wine!"
the waitress rushes over
and places the bottle
in front of our salivating mouths,
flies buzz around oblivious
to the chatter of loud drunks.
Oh yes, we talk a good game.
eyes become droopy and the conversation
stalls frequently like
Jimmy Stewart's famed oratory prowess,
some stagger and leave
mumbling about goddamned work,
others stay and focus blurry eyes
wondering where all the wine went.
the lights dim and we weave
towards the exit
wondering where all the girls went.
in the morning,
hungover and sweaty and shaking
we avoid our bosses and look forward
to another night of drinks
and bullshit and half-assed aspirations
which are flying out of our grasp
as we become older
and become the drunks we once
made fun of.
Oh yes, it's a wonderful life.
By: John Harvey
***
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