I'm A Human Being

Performer: New York Dolls
Distributor: Ryko Distribution

Notes: Recorded in 1975. Any (or all) of the following would be a fitting description of the New York Dolls live on-stage -- sloppy, loud, drunk, and trashy. Over the years, countless Dolls' bootlegs have appeared, some worthwhile, others that should have remained in someone's attic. But overall, I'm a Human Being is a keeper. Including selections from one of the Dolls' best-known bootlegs, Red Patent Leather, tracks from another show, reportedly from Vancouver during 1974, are featured as well. The sound quality is surprisingly good (what appears to be soundboard recordings), and is loaded with tracks that never appeared on any of the Dolls' two studio albums. Included are such covers as "Hoochie Coochie Man" and "Don't Mess With Cupid," as well as tracks that would later appear on post-Dolls albums by Johnny Thunders ("Pirate Love," "Down Down Downtown") and Syl Sylvain ("Teenage News"). But not all the selections are oddities, as some of the Dolls' best-known tracks are included -- "Personality Crisis," "Jetboy," the title track. While it may not be a complete show, I'm a Human Being is a good live sampling of latter day Dolls. ~ Greg Prato

With inspiration from British glam and US proto-punks like the Stooges, the New York Dolls were the originators of the NYC trash aesthetic that inspired subsequent generations of punk bands. Churning out garage riffs that tipped their hat to 1960s R&B, they were the Stones of the first punk generation. Their outrageous image and brash sound gained them attention, but failed to make them stars, and David Johansen, Johnny Thunders, and Syl Sylvain all went on to solo careers after just two Dolls albums. In 2004, the Dolls reunited, with surviving members Sylvain, Johansen, and Arthur Kane making a triumphant festival appearance. Sadly, Kane died shortly after, but Johansen and Sylvain played another show dedicated to the memory of all the deceased dolls (Kane, Thunders, Jerry Nolan, Billy Murcia). In 2006, the remaining band members recorded their third official studio album to almost universal acclaim.

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