Since the New York Dolls’ return, David Johansen has emerged a consummate showman, seasoned raconteur and cutting lyricist. Forty years in the business has marinated his initial rock cartoon character into a towering figure, recalling the immortal blues and soul singers he reveres.
After the Dolls disintegrated in early 1977, Johansen secured a deal with Steve Paul’s Blue Sky label, releasing his self-titled debut album in the middle of the punk explosion he’d been credited with pioneering. With the ever-faithfull Sylvain still among his shiny new band, the album showed a new maturity and polish which incurred criticism at the time. Over 30 years later it can be judged properly and takes a beautiful new hue, Johansen vibrant and in command on robust Dolls-style rockers Girls and Funky But Chic, while emerging a powerful balladeer in the classic New York tradition on the likes of Donna and the glorious Frenchette.
Johansen released five albums on Blue Sky, the third being this feisty live set recorded at Boston’s Paradise Theatre in February 1982, which mixes astute 60s homages (Animals, Four Tops, even Marianne Faithful’s Is This What I Get For Loving You?) with solo material and fullthrottle Personality Crisis. Further evidence that he was born to rule a stage.
