Seven Day Weekend

Performer: New York Dolls
Producer: Sylvain Sylvain
Distributor: Ryko Distribution

Notes: New York Dolls: Johnny Thunders (vocals, guitar); David Johansen (vocals); Sylvain Sylvain (guitar, background vocals); Arthur Kane (bass); Jerry Nolan (drums). Recorded at Planet Studios, New York, New York in 1973. This was recorded live in the studio, in the wake of the release of the Dolls' Todd Rundgren-produced eponymous debut album, not with an eye for release but more likely for radio broadcast. In any event, it's been bootlegged, at varying lengths, for years now, although this seems to be the complete set, and the sound here is actually quite good. Basically, this finds the Dolls at the top of their form before the drugs and lack of commercial success wore them down, with the buzzsaw guitars of Johnny Thunders and Syl Sylvain operating at peak unhinged efficiency, and frontman David Johanssen making the strongest possible case for the band's unique mix of R&B, '50s rock, proto punk, and glam. SEVEN DAY WEEKEND was recorded live in the studio, following the release of the New York Dolls' Todd Rundgren-produced eponymous debut album--not with an eye for release, but more likely for radio broadcast. In any event, it's been bootlegged, at varying lengths, for years, although this seems to be the complete set, and the sound here is actually quite good. Basically, this finds the Dolls at the top of their form before the drugs and lack of commercial success wore them down, with the buzzsaw guitars of Johnny Thunders and Syl Sylvain operating at peak unhinged efficiency, and frontman David Johansen making the strongest possible case for the band's unique mix of R&B, '50s rock, proto-punk, and glam.

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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