So Alone

by Johnny Thunders

Overview

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

Product Details

Release Date:	01/06/2023
Label:	Rhino
UPC:	0603497837793

Tracks

1. Pipeline
2. You Can't Put Your Arms Round a Memory
3. Great Big Kiss
4. Ask Me No Questions
5. Leave Me Alone
6. Daddy Rollin' Stone
7. London Boys
8. (She's So) Untouchable
9. Subway Train
10. Downtown

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Johnny Thunders   Primary Artist,Guitar,Vocals,Guitar (Acoustic)
Steve Nicol   Guest Artist,Drums
Paul Cook   Guest Artist,Drums
Peter Perrett   Guest Artist,Guitar,Vocals,Guitar (Electric)
Chrissie Hynde   Guest Artist,Vocals
Steve Marriott   Guest Artist,Piano,Vocals,Harmonica,Keyboards
Phil Lynott   Guest Artist,Bass,Vocals
Steve Jones   Guest Artist,Guitar
Paul Gray   Bass,Drums
Patti Palladin   Vocals
Steve Lillywhite   Piano,Keyboards
Billy Rath   Bass
John Earle   Saxophone
Walter Lure   Guitar
Mike Kellie   Drums
Henry Paul   Guitar
Koulla Kakoulli   Vocals

Technical Credits

Molly Reeve-Morrison   Project Coordinator
Tony Hatch   Composer
Steve Lillywhite   Engineer,Producer
B.B. King   Composer
Bob Spickard   Composer
Bill Smith   Design,Art Direction
Billy Rath   Composer
Joe McEwen   Producer
David Johansen   Composer
Walter Lure   Composer
Johnny Thunders   Composer,Producer
Marc Bolan   Composer
Sonny Thompson   Composer
Lee Herschberg   Remastering
Otis Blackwell   Composer
Brian Carman   Composer
Henry Paul   Composer
Ira Robbins   Producer,Liner Notes
Peter Gravelle   Photography
Michael Beal   Collage