Johnny Thunders: So Alone (45th anniversary, red vinyl, indie exclusive) [RHINO]

Why you'll love it

This 45th anniversary indie exclusive comes on red vinyl with new liner notes by Lenny Kaye. Classic Rock called it the pinnacle of the former New York Dolls guitarist's solo career.

This edition

• 45th anniversary edition
• Red vinyl
• Indie exclusive
• New liner notes by Lenny Kaye
• Stereo mix

About the album

Fresh from making L.A.M.F. with the Heartbreakers, Johnny Thunders spent the first half of 1978 calling in friends. The guest list reads like a backstage pass: Phil Lynott, Steve Marriott, Chrissie Hynde, Peter Perrett, Patti Palladin, and Sex Pistols Steve Jones and Paul Cook, with Heartbreakers Walter Lure and Billy Rath along too. Steve Lillywhite co-produced and engineered.

It's a glorious mix of originals and covers. The Chantays' surf instrumental "Pipeline" kicks things off, the Shangri-Las' "Great Big Kiss" gets a sneering, joyful makeover, Otis Blackwell's "Daddy Rollin' Stone" features Lynott and Marriott on vocals, and the New York Dolls' "Subway Train" gets a second life. "You Can't Put Your Arms Round a Memory" is the heartbreaker, widely seen as Thunders' signature song and later covered by Guns N' Roses and by Ronnie Spector with Joey Ramone.

Trouser Press called it Thunders at his best, and Robert Christgau counted it among the 70s imports he loved most. "London Boys" was his answer to a Sex Pistols song that took a swipe at the Dolls, and Jones and Cook turned up to play on it anyway, which is either very sporting or extremely punk.

Also at Kops: more Johnny Thunders on vinyl · browse Punk

Tracklist

Listen

On Real / Rhino (cat# RCV1 26982), a reissue of the 1978 album.