... LP, Vinyl record album

"I need a fix – and a kiiiiiiiiiissssssss!" What can we say? Johnny Thunders, David Johansen and the boys reinvented the wheel with the of wildly hedonist glam skronk spun on this still incredible debut record. Both records they made for Mercury are incredible, but this is the bonafide masterpiece. It's a classic purely on a primal rock 'n' roll level, but it's also one of rock's greatest examples of style equaling substance! The Dolls brought glammer to the gutter and vice versa, and this is no doubt their greatest moment! Includes "Personality Crisis", "Looking For A Kiss", "Trash", "Frankenstein", "Pills", "Bad Girl", "Private World" and "Jet Boy". Produced by Todd Rundgren and engineered by Jack Douglas – the former a legend in his own right, the latter whose name appears on so many great records that range from other proto-punk and punk-era classics (Patti Smith Group, The Runaways) to the trashier side of the mainstream (prime early Cheap Trick, Aerosmith and Alice Cooper). LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

A seminal album from The New York Dolls – one that has the quintet really sharpening up their sound from before, but also laying the groundwork for other amazing New York music to come! It might be a stretch to call the set the harbinger of punk – at least the bigger-label type like The Ramones or Voidoids – but The Dolls are definitely focused on their groove here, and tie together strands of early rock and nascent rawness, all with a mode that seems to ignore any of the overindulgence of the past decade or so. Things are super tight – with a great verse/chorus/verse approach to the tunes – and titles "Babylon", "Who Are The Mystery Girls?", "Puss 'N Boots", "Bad Detective", "Don't Start Me Talking", and "Human Being". LP, Vinyl record album

David Johansen wipes off the lipstick and kicks off his heels for this first solo set –sans drag, we're left with a normal looking dude – and one hell of a great, still glammy sounding record that's right up there in excellence with his New York Dolls canon! Wow, is this ever underrated. David would go on the tweak his style and persona in a bunch of different ways, to varying creative and commercial success. Here he's just out to make a kickass rock and roll record as he'd done with the dolls, sans the wardrobe and junkie hijinks, but with all the blistering rock guitar and gritty R&B influences. This one really blazes! Includes "Funky But Chic", "Girls", "Not That Much", "Donna", "I'm A Lover" and "Frenchette". LP, Vinyl record album

David Johansen's second post-New York Dolls solo record – and the first one where he really sheds the feral rock vibe – but with Mick Ronson on board as co-producer, it's still got plenty of pomp! David would go on to take many creative detours – but in this first real stretch, he's bringing in some Motown influences – with some R&B backing vocals here and there, along with ome sax, piano and other smoothed out touches. That said, it's not that huge of a jump – with some ruggedness and grit reminiscent of his earlier work –and it's got a bunch of really good songs. Titles include "Melody", "She", "Big City", "She Knew She Was Falling In Love", "Swaheto Woman", "Wreckless Crazy", "Flamingo Road" and more. LP, Vinyl record album

The fantastic lost legacy of The Harlots Of 42nd Street – a cross-dressing group who were Manhattan contemporaries of the New York Dolls, but who never got their best shot at fame! If anything, the group's lyrics are grittier than the Dolls – more in the streetwise/street scene mode of early solo Lou Reed, with plenty of tales from the gutter on up – and although their sound may be a little less punkish, their overall approach is still nice and raw, and completely unique! The group only issued one single back in the day, and this set is the first full-length document of their music – with titles that include "S&M", "Refuse To Be Misused", "Cool Dude & Foxy Lady", "Mother Nature", "Polyethylena Purebred", "Spray Paint Bandit", and "Double Bubble Bustin Baby". LP, Vinyl record album

A still-searing moment of genius from Johnny Thunders – a record that captures the New York giant at a time when he still retained all the best intensity he brought to his work in the New York Dolls and Heartbreakers – yet at a level where he's also almost ready to burst out as a bigger solo act on his own! As has been well-documented elsewhere, Thunders habits always managed to get in the way of his path to success – but here, he's definitely moving forward with a nice sense of focus – heading up the set himself, but opening the door to a whole host of well-chosen guests – including Phil Lynott, Chrissie Hynde, Steve Jones, and Paul Cook. The set begins with a surprising take on "Pipeline" – then rolls into tracks that include "Great Big Kiss", "Ask Me No Questions", "Subway Train", "Downtown", "London Boys", and "Daddy Rollin Stone". LP, Vinyl record album