Trash

 

Can't believe that it is 50 years ago when a band appeared on the scene that visual and with it sound was groundbreaking. The music scene in these days was filled with dinosaurs of the rock age playing the same thing over and over again. But the New York Dolls changed everything with the release of their debut. Filled with short guitar driven songs and a cover version of a song by Bo Diddley. Not only that they brought a very fresh wind into music their outfit was extraordinary. Dressed in glam outfits with platform shoes and all done up they was the sensational thing in this year. I remember a lot of people hating them for their outfit and music but very soon you could see all the glam bands in Great Britain doing the same. And that they were punk before punk started was an another story.

New York Dolls - Trash

New York Dolls - Pills

New York Dolls - Personality Chrisis

The Bible Belt

 

The recent days I rediscovered Nikki Sudden's second album The Bible Belt while I searched for another LP in my collection. I have to admit that I almost forgot this little gem from the early 80's. After the Swell Maps disbanded Sudden forced his solo career with a different sound. When the Maps were a arty punk band he was now more or less a singer/songwriter but still with roots in the music of The New York Dolls, T. Rex and Dylan. This album is full of great songs showing Sudden's abilities about writing songs. It is also the first collaboration with guitarist Dave Kusworth before the formed The Jacobites, a band that started to carry up the flag of British bands like The Faces - but this is another story to be told. Nikki Sudden had a big fan crowd over in Germany and I was lucky enough to see him several times before he died 14 years ago.

Nikki Sudden - Missionary Boy 

Nikki Sudden - Six Hip Princes

Nikki Sudden - The Only Boy In Heaven

Nikki Sudden - Bethlehem

So Alone

40 years ago now Johnny Thunders released his first album after L.A.M.F. with The Heartbreakers. I got into his music after his work with the New York Dolls as the forerunner of punk. This record hit me like less other records in these days. Thunders was a drug wreck at these times but he collected his energy to make a testament of his abilities. So Alone was the highlight of his output. A lot of songs with energy and also fragile. This is one of those records that guided me into the new music that came from Britain and across the Atlantic ocean. On this record he was supported by another great musicians from this time like Phil Lynott, Steve Marriott and Chrissie Hynde - and this shows his credit in the London scene in the late 70's.

Johnny Thunders - London Boys
Johnny Thunders - Subway Train
Johnny Thunders - You Can't Put Our Arms Around A Memory
Johnny Thunders - Pipeline

L.A.M.F.

Even if you may not favour it, Christmas will come. At this time become also regular presenting us tons of best-of records and Christmas editions of albums. During the last weeks I have observed, that more and more albums was released on a 40th-anniversary edition. The most I welcome with a smile on my face and grab out my original ones. A few days ago the message arrived that there will be a 40th anniversary of Johnny Thunders and his one and only album with The Heartbreakers. Johnny Thunders is the link between mid 70's New York trash and the upcoming punk movement. In these days the New York Dolls were the ones who played the real rock music. Filled with glamour, hot guitars and songs with hooks. Johnny was one of them and after visiting UK he turned into a solo career. He was one of them who guided me into new and exciting music. Short songs with strong guitars and melodies made this record a classic. I don't know if I will get this new record added with outtakes and demos but this record is still worth to listen to.

Johnny Thunders and The Hearbreakers - Born To Lose
Johnny Thunders and The Hearbreakers - I Wanna Be Loved
Johnny Thunders and The Hearbreakers - Pirate Love
Johnny Thunders and The Hearbreakers - Do You Love Me

Spent The Night With ... Cheena

A few weeks ago I located Cheena's first record and from the first listening I was excited by this sound. These songs took me back to times decades ago when New York brought us bands like New York Dolls. It sounds like 70's-inspired punk rock with a lot of glam in it. Most of the songs were fast, enthusiastic and pure with a great rhythm section. I've never been there but I think this music would be similar to the CBGB's sound of the late 70's. Sometimes they add a slide-guitar to their sound or have a country-blues-rock influence in their sound. In another way they remind me a lot of the early Gun Club. I listen to this record since a few days and have to say that it doesn't get boring.

Cheena - Cry For Help
Cheena - Fever
Cheena - Tarzan
Cheena - Liberated Animals
Cheena - M.E.
Cheena - Electric Snoopy

Continental Tuesday # 6

Once again I feature Herman Brood in this series. It was in the late 70's when Herman Brood came across the border from the Netherlands to our place with a drug influenced mixture of classic blues-rock / new wave sound. He brought us true and sweaty rock with full live performance. It was pre-punk like European New York Dolls on speed and a lot of lads I knew agreed to this sound almost 40 years ago. And I have to agree that this sound feels fresh and alive nowadays. Hermann Brood died 15 years ago.

Twanging Tuesday # 76

Today an accumulation of a song by Eddie Cochran. Something Else was covered during the last 50 years by a lot of bands and artists and became a standard for a lot of band playing Rock 'n' Roll. Here are few versions by a couple of bands that played this song in their very own way.

Pills and Trash

On my way to work New York Doll's 'Pills' shuffled up on my mobile phone. I really forgot how good this song was. I am not sure if I should call them proto-punks, travesty queens or kings of glam-rock or just the best of all. Anyway, David Johansen and Johnny Thunders was a main influence to the upcoming punk-rock scene. I really love their short and simple songs with them magic riffs. I found this life appearance in German television shortly after the release of their first record.

Enjoy.