Reviewer Dr. Wesley Britton: Dr. Britton is the author of four non-fiction books on espionage in literature and the media. Starting in fall 2015, his new six-book science fiction series, The Beta-Earth Chronicles, debuted via BearManor Media.
In 2018, Britton self-published the seventh book in the Chronicles, Alpha Tales 2044, a collection of short stories, many of which first appeared at a number of online venues.
For seven years, he was co-host of online radio’s Dave White Presents where he contributed interviews with a host of entertainment insiders. Before his retirement in 2016, Dr. Britton taught English at Harrisburg Area Community College. Learn more about Dr. Britton at his WEBSITE
ASIN: B005IGVTHE
ASIN: B005IGVTHE
In the summer of 1973, I was reading rock magazines seeking reviews of what new LPs I should be buying. In July, I was shocked, shocked to read critics panning Eric Claptons new Rainbow Concert. How could this be, thought I? EC, Pete Townshend, Stevie Winwood and the rest of the all-stars live? How bad can it be? I ignored the critics, bought the album, and was crushed. So I wondered—if the reviewers were spot on with Clapton, who were they praising? Without exception, they liked the debut album from the New York Dolls. So I went back to the record store and brought home an album based on reviews alone. Within a few bars of “Personality Crisis,” I was hooked. Bowie had opened the door—for me, the ‘70s had finally left flower power behind.
Four years later, a friend
popped by with his new discovery, the Sex Pistols Never Mind the
Bullocks. It didn’t take me long to start laughing. “I’ve heard
all that before,” I said, pulling out an old friend to make my
point. It would take me years to really appreciate the Pistols, and I
now agree with the critic who dubbed the Dolls the missing link
between the Stones and Johnny Rotten and the boys. You can call the
Dolls “proto-punk” if you like, but they’re “proto” only in
historical terms.
And that’s what this DVD captures, the Founding Fathers of Punk when they were still calling their music “Glam-Rock.” The package is 70 minutes primarily of performances with short interviews interspersed throughout. Film makers Bob Gruen and Nadya Beck, who’ve produced similar assemblies before, have collected grainy, mostly black-and-white concert footage. The substandard visuals are, considering the subject, completely appropriate. Likewise the raw, dirty audio mixes including amp squeals and squawks and unintended feedback. Most of the attention is focused on front man David Johansen, but, after all these years, I was delighted to see the rest of the band were quite capable on stage without the guidance of Todd Rundgren in the studio. This DVD is all about a band apparently on the rise, having a good time, and delighted with the attention they were getting.
Virtually their entire
recorded catalogue is included from “Personality Crisis,” “Human
Being,” “Trash,” “Private World” to “Frankenstein.” The
one missing favorite I spotted was the band’s version of Bo
Diddley’s “Pills.” The one bonus is a 9 minute interview by
rock writer Lisa Robinson outside of CBGBs in 1978 with Johansen and
guitarist Johnny Thunders. By that time, the Dolls story was over,
the hot new groups included The Ramones and the Sex Pistols. Thunders
was unhappy Tom Petty had beaten him to the punch using the name
Heartbreakers. Had the original New York Dolls gotten together that
year, they would have been perfectly timed to join in on the wave
they had started not so long ago.
The New York Dolls, in this rather primitive presentation, is for those who were there, those who’ve heard the legend, and for listeners who like their music loud, hot, and aggressive. Show it to your grand-children who won’t believe rock was like this before their parents were born.
