Photo: Libertinus [CC BY-SA 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)]
and 1974’s Too Much Too Soon
are considered to be among the best albums in cult rock. Their line-up in the early years consisted of vocalist David Johansen, guitarist Johnny Thunders, bassist Arthur Kane, guitarist/keyboardist Sylvain Sylvain and drummer Jerry Nolan who had replaced Rick Rivets and Billy Murcia in 1972.
The New York Dolls were also known for their outlandish dress sense, which included wearing high heels and makeup. As a result of this, they have influenced many bands in the glam rock genre as well as punk. Groups who have cited them as an influence include the Sex Pistols, Kiss, The Ramones, Guns N’ Roses, The Damned and The Smiths, whose frontman Morrisey organized a reunion show for the surviving members in 2004. After this, they released three more albums, 2006’s One Day It Will Please Us to Remember Even This
, 2009’s Cause I Sez So
and 2011’s Dancing Backwards in High Heels
. After touring with Alice Cooper, they have since been inactive and the band’s touring guitarist Earl Sick stated that they decided to split up after the Alice Cooper tour.
10. Vietnamese Baby
Kicking of our Top 10 New York Dolls Songs list is this great track from the self-titled debut The New York Dolls
released in 1973. The band’s debut album was produced by legendary producer and artist Todd Rundgren. The New York Doll were not a band of very competent musicians. They were also a reckless bunch. The marriage of the New York Dolls and Todd Rundgren in the studio was like a school teacher trying to manage a rowdy bunch of students in class. Nonetheless, the result was a groundbreaking albums do to Todd Rundgren’s talents and The New York Dolls wild energy.
9. Stranded in the Jungle
The band released their second album, 1974’s Too Much To Soon
just a year after their first. It would be their last album for another thirty two years. “Stranded in The Jungle,” was a cover of the great Jayhawks song. It was also included on their 1994 compilation album Rock n Roll. Despite not being their own song, it was connected to the band so much that a biography about drummer Jerry Nolan was named after it. Also, Johansen included a live version of it on his 1982 album Live it Up.
8. Don’t Start Me Talking
The great cover version of “Don’t Start Me Talking,” was released on the album Lipstick Killers – The Mercer Street Sessions 1972. The release was based on early demos The song was originally recorded by blues artist Sonny Boy Williamson II who also composed the song. It was a number three hit for Sonny Boy Williamson II in 1955.
7. Teenage News
Teenage News was released on the 1984 live album, Red Patent Leather. The song Red Patent Leather was originally intended to be recorded for their third studio album. However the band’s excessive drinking and partying led to that third album never being recorded or released and the eventual breakup of The New York Dolls.
6. Seven Day Weekend
The title track from their 1992 demo collection album, its lyrics deal with not having a job. It is one of five tracks on the album, all of which were recorded in 1973 that did not end up on either of the band’s first two albums, another of which is “Great Big Kiss” which Thunders performed a version of on his 1978 album So Alone.
5. Courageous Cat Theme
One of only three previously unreleased tracks from their 1994 compilation Rock N Roll, which was a collection of most of their songs from the first album and selective tracks from the second, this is yet another cover version, albeit this time of a theme tune of an early 60’s children’s cartoon. It was recorded for a commercial during the recording sessions for the second album and as expected, is a distorted take on the original track which works rather well.
4. Gimme Love and Turn On the Light
From their long awaited third album from 2006 One Day It Will Please Us to Remember Even This, this track features none other than Iggy Pop on guest vocals. Pop was one of several guests on the album, others of which included R.E.M.’s Michael Stipe and Bo Diddley. It only features Johansen and Sylvian from the original line-up, with all of the others having died in the years since their original split. There was much speculation on how the record would fair with the band having been gone for so many years, however the album was met with a generally positive reception.
3. Trash
Although this song was originally on the first album, this is a different reggae-style version from 2009’s Cause I Sez So
. Given that the Doll’s are a band that have previously had nothing to do with reggae, it would seemingly not sound like a good idea for them to re-record one of their songs like this without it sounding a little bit lame. However, it actually works better than you would think.
2. End of Summer
The great track “End Of Summer,” was released on the bands final album, 2011’s Dancing Backwards in High Heels
. The album featured David Johansen on lead vocals Sylvain Sylvain on guitar on vocals, Frank Infante on guitar, Jason Hill on bass and vocals and Brian Delaney on drums. It was surprising and nice to have the New York Dolls back for a while. This track proves how much we really mean that.
1. Personality Crisis
Their best known song from their first album, “Personality Crisis” is a definitive glam-punk anthem that is rather reminiscent of the Rolling Stones. With it’s rocking riff and accompanying piano part, it marks a true footnote in rock history from which many more artists were to pick up from. It’s lyrics also make a statement, with it commenting on individualism and liberation which the band were also doing with their imagery.
