New York Dolls- Montreal 1974: R.I.P. Sylvain Sylvain

 

 

There are few bands that have been as influential and important in the early punk scene in the early 70's. The first New York Dolls album debuted in 1973 to mixed reviews, in a Creem Magazine poll, they were elected the best and worst new band. Their look and musical style were all over the place, some called them proto-punk, they were basically a hard rock band with heavy metal, punk, glam and girl group influences mixed together for an original sound. Their glam look with spandex and platform boots set them apart, at the time, but their sound (to me) was like a sleazier (if that's possible), Rolling Stones. David Johansen definitely had a "Jagger"-thing happening and Johnny Thunders as the Keith Richards, with a sound not dissimilar to the Stones. Unfortunately, some good things don't last as the band only released two original albums during their original 1971-76 run, but the music from the members of the band continued with solo projects. Thunders left to form The Heartbreakers with drummer, Jerry Nolan, Johansen formed the David Johansen group and released many solo albums including reinventing himself with his Buster Poindexter alter-ego and Sylvain Sylvain had a solo career, and performing with others including the reunited New York Dolls in the 2000's.

On January 13th of this year, sadly Sylvain Sylvain passed away after a battle with cancer, he was 69. With his death, David Johansen remains the only living member of the original New York Dolls and though another New York Dolls incarnation may not be in the near future, the Dolls music is still prominently significant today.

 

I don't have many NY Dolls live recordings, so when I saw this one posted on Dime in tribute to Sylvain Sylvain, I jumped at the chance. It's an excellent sounding recording taken from a radio broadcast in Montreal and the post includes a newspaper review about the concert (included in the download folder), a photo and the ad for the show. This recording is too good not to share and it's proof the New York Dolls were a great live band. Too bad (according to the article) the turnout was so small, if they knew then what they know now, it should have been packed! Thank you to the person that recorded this concert off the radio, thanks to the original poster on Dime and to Borzage who re-seeded the post after Sylvain's death. A must-hear for any New York Dolls fans!

Enjoy!

Do NOT sell or profit from this recording!

Please do NOT convert to lossy formats, except for personal use.

Please share!

 

NEW YORK DOLLS

Palais du Commerce 

Montréal, QC
September 27, 1974
FM Broadcast

01 Lookin for a kiss
02 Mystery Girls
03 Something else
04 Pills
05 A Great Big Kiss
06 Subway Train
07 It's too late
08 Trash
09 Bad Girl
10 Chatterbox
11 Puss n Boots
12 Stranded In The Jungle(cut)

Broadcast by CKVL 96.9 FM radio on 28-Sep-74

(With Peter Jordan on bass, instead of Arthur and Buddy Bowser on saxophone)

NEW YORK DOLLS- 1974-09-27 Palais du Commerce, Montreal. QC FLAC. rar