Johnny Thunders - Dead Or Alive

There is so much to say about 'Johnny Thunders' and so many have said so much already, it's difficult to know where to start.

I loved 'The New York Dolls' his first band, I loved the more punky 'Heartbreakers' and I have never stopped playing his debut solo album 'So Alone'

'Dead or Alive' was his debut solo single, and it is an all time classic. The b-side 'Downtown is also good, but in this case it is the a-side that stands out. When his album 'So Alone' was originally released, 'Dead Or Alive' was not on it, but for you it is now included alongside the classic b-side 'Hurtin' from his second single (I will post this sometime).

The label tells you to 'Play real loud' and so you should, its blasting out my speakers right now, and I have never got bored with this one.

Vic Goddard was also clearly a 'Johnny Thunders' fan and released a self-titled song which I have included as a secret freebie (as I was too busy to get a post out yesterday). from the start you will hear the classic 'New York Dolls' whistle and riff. Enjoy.

Artist: Johnny Thunders
Label: Real Records
Year: 1978
Tracks:
1. Dead Or Alive
2. Downtown
Secret Track
3. Johnny Thunders - Vic Goddard and the Subway Sect

Ripped from glorious scratched vinyl


If you like this go and buy this album now it is an all time classic.

So Alone

If any of you downloaded the classic 'Shangri La's' album from the excellent blog Thee Head Vein then you can compare their original 'Great Big Kiss' with the brilliant 'Johnny Thunders' cover - JT wins in my opinion.

Johnny Thunders and Patti Palladin - Crawfish

Question: What has Elvis Presley, Jowe Head, Joe Strummer, Johnny Thunders and Patti Paladin got in common?

Answer: They all recorded the outstanding 'Crawfish'.

The most famous version is most probably the Elvis Presley (with Kitty White) version from his classic from 'King Creole'., and the most obscure and strangest has got to go to brilliant 'Jowe Head' (no surprises there then) on two albums Pincer Movement and Strawberry Deutsche Mark.

Thunders and Palladin provide a faithful cover to the Presley version, but still manage to stamp that unique Thunders sound. The b-side is 'Tie Me Up' another Thunders/Palladin team up but this time taken from the Que Sera, Sera album. if you like Johnny Thunders you will love both of these tracks.

Artist: Johnny Thunders and Patti Palladin
Label: Jungle Records
Year: 1985
Tracks:
1. Crawfish
2. Tie Me Up

Ripped from glorious scratched vinyl

If you like Crawfish then go out and buy their excellent covers album Copycats here:

Copy Cats
and if you like 'Tie Me Up' then you can buy that plus loads more excellent Thunders stuff here:

Que Sera, Sera