Johnny Thunders So Alone CD

Following the drug-fueled implosion of the Heartbreakers, Johnny Thunders bounced back with this first solo outing. The featured players include a veritable who's who of '70s punk and hard rock - Chrissie Hynde, Phil Lynott, Paul Gray & Steve Nichol (Eddie & The Hot Rods), Peter Perrett & Mike Kellie (Only Ones), Steve Marriott, Paul Cook and Steve Jones (Sex Pistols) and more. Much like Thunders' best work with the Dolls and Heartbreakers, "So Alone" is a gloriously sloppy amalgam of R&B, doo-wop, and three-chord rock & roll. A cover of the Chantays' classic instrumental "Pipeline" leads things off and is a teasing reminder of what a great guitarist Thunders could be when he put his mind to it. The record's indisputable masterpiece is "You Can't Put Your Arms Around a Memory," a wrenching, surprisingly literate ballad in which Thunders seems to acknowledge that his junkie lifestyle has doomed him to the abyss.

Personnel: Johnny Thunders (vocals, acoustic & electric guitars); Pat Palladin, Koulla Kakoulli (vocals); Walter Lure, Henri Paul (guitar); John Irish Earle (saxophone); Steve Lillywhite (piano); Billy Rath, Paul Gray (bass); Mike Kellie (drums).
Producers: Johnny Thunders, Steve Lillywhite (all tracks).
Reissue producers: Joe McEwen, Ira Robbins.
Includes liner notes by Ira Robbins.
Digitally remastered by Lee Herschberg.
Personnel: Johnny Thunders (vocals, guitar, acoustic guitar); Peter Perrett (vocals, guitar, electric guitar); Steve Marriott (vocals, harmonica, piano, keyboards); Chrissie Hynde, Koulla Kakoulli, Patti Palladin, Phil Lynott (vocals); Henry Paul, Walter Lure, Steve Jones (guitar); John Earle (saxophone); Steve Lillywhite (piano, keyboards); Steve Nicol, Mike Kellie, Paul Cook , Paul Gray (drums).
Audio Remasterer: Lee Herschberg.
Liner Note Author: Ira Robbins.
Photographer: Peter Gravelle.
Following the drug-fueled implosion of the Heartbreakers, Johnny Thunders bounced back with his first solo outing, So Alone. Featuring a veritable who's who of '70s punk and hard rock -- Chrissie Hynde, Phil Lynott, Peter Perrett, Steve Marriott, Paul Cook, and Steve Jones, among others -- the record was a testament to what the former New York Dolls guitarist could accomplish with a little focus. Much like Thunders' best work with the Dolls and Heartbreakers, So Alone is a gloriously sloppy amalgam of R&B, doo wop, and three-chord rock & roll. Despite the inevitable excesses that plagued every Thunders recording session, Steve Lillywhite's solid engineering job and a superb set of songs hold everything together. A cover of the Chantays' classic instrumental "Pipeline" leads things off, and is a teasing reminder of what a great guitarist Thunders could be when he put his mind to it. The record's indisputable masterpiece is "You Can't Put Your Arms Round a Memory," a wrenching, surprisingly literate ballad in which Thunders seems to acknowledge that his junkie lifestyle has doomed him to the abyss. Songs like "Leave Me Alone," "Hurtin'," and the chilling title track continue the theme of life inside the heroin balloon. Fortunately, all this back-alley gloom is leavened by some memorably animated moments. "London Boys" is a scathing reply to the Sex Pistols' indictment of the New York punk scene, "New York." The funky "Daddy Rolling Stone" features the inimitable Lynott on background vocals, while the rave-ups "Great Big Kiss" and "(She's So) Untouchable" are terrific examples of Thunders' raunchy take on classic R&B. Sadly, Johnny Thunders never followed up on the promise of his solo debut. His subsequent records were a frustrating mix of drug-addled mediocrity and downright laziness. But for one brief moment, he seemed to put it all together. That moment is So Alone. ~ Andy Claps
Thunders' classic debut album remains his magnum opus. Recorded after his post-New York Dolls band, the Heartbreakers, imploded, SO ALONE features a surprisingly eclectic bunch of backing musicians. It's noQ (5/95, p.134) - 3 Stars - Good - "...the album is stuck somewhere between punk, pub rock and glam sleaze, though there is enough to make SO ALONE his one bearable solo showing..."
Uncut (p.124) - 4 stars out of 5 - "SO ALONE is a narcotic Neverland, starring ex-New York Doll Thunders at his most defiantly derelict."