So Alone (album)
So Alone | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | October 6, 1978 | |||
Recorded | January–June 1978 | |||
Studio | Basing Street Studios | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 32:16 | |||
Label | Real Records (UK) Sire Records (US) | |||
Producer | Johnny Thunders Steve Lillywhite with special thanks to Steve Jones and Peter Perrett Joe McEwen, Ira Robbins (reissue) | |||
Johnny Thunders chronology | ||||
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Singles from So Alone | ||||
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So Alone is the debut solo
Background and overview
After recording L.A.M.F. with the Heartbreakers, Thunders returned to the studio and recorded his first solo album, So Alone, from January to June 1978. The album contained a mix of original songs, tracks regularly performed live by the Heartbreakers, and covers, including the Chantays' surf classic "Pipeline," the Shangri-Las' "Give Him a Great Big Kiss", Otis Blackwell's "Daddy Rollin' Stone", and New York Dolls' "Subway Train".
The song "
The track "London Boys" was written as an
Reception
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [2] |
Classic Rock | [3] |
Mojo | [4] |
Q | [5] |
The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [6] |
Select | 5/5[7] |
Spin Alternative Record Guide | 8/10[8] |
Uncut | [9] |
So Alone was released in October 1978 to good reviews from critics.[10] Trouser Press noted that the album was "Thunders at his best", while Classic Rock called it "spectacular" and the pinnacle of Thunders' solo career.[11][12] Music critic Robert Christgau named the album one the few import-only records from the 1970s that he loved but omitted from Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies.[13]
Track listing
All tracks are written by
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
11. | "Dead or Alive" | 3:13 | |
12. | "Hurtin'" | Henri Paul Tortosa, Thunders | 3:06 |
13. | "So Alone" (Outtake) | 4:54 | |
14. | "The Wizard" (Outtake) | Marc Bolan | 3:22 |
Total length: | 46:51 |
Personnel
- Johnny Thunders – guitar (all tracks), vocals (track 2–10), producer
- Koulla Kakoulli – vocals (track 9)
- Patti Palladin – vocals (track 3, 9)
- Chrissie Hynde – vocals (track 9)
- Peter Perrett – guitar (track 2, 4, 8, 9), vocals (track 2, 4, 9)
- Steve Jones – guitar (track 1, 3, 5–7)
- Walter Lure – guitar (track 3)
- Henri Paul Tortosa – guitar (track 9)
- Phil Lynott – bass (track 1, 5–7, 12), vocals (track 6)
- Paul Gray – bass (track 2, 4, 8–11)
- Billy Rath – bass (track 3)
- Paul Cook – drums (track 1, 3, 5–7)
- Mike Kellie – drums (track 2, 4, 8, 9, 12)
- Steve Nicol – drums (track 10)
- John "Irish" Earle – saxophone (track 3, 8, 9)
- Steve Lillywhite – piano (track 3), producer, engineer
- Steve Marriott – harmonica, keyboards, piano, vocals (track 6)
- Technical
- Ira Robbins – producer (reissue), liner notes
- Joe McEwan – producer (reissue)
- Lee Herschberg – remastering
- Mike Beal – artwork
- Peter Gravelle – photography
- Molly Reeve-Morrison – project coordinator
- Bill Smith – art direction, design
References
- ^ "Sex Pistols Versus the New York Dolls - the Lyrics".
- ^ Claps, Andy. "So Alone – Johnny Thunders". AllMusic. Retrieved July 3, 2015.
- ^ Fortnam, Ian (July 6, 2016). "Johnny Thunders – So Alone album review". Classic Rock. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
- ^ Cameron, Keith (August 2016). "Johnny Thunders: So Alone". Mojo. No. 273. p. 108.
- ^ "Johnny Thunders: So Alone". Q. No. 104. May 1995. p. 134.
- ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
- ^ Perry, Andrew (November 1992). "Johnny Thunders: So Alone". Select. No. 29. p. 96.
- ISBN 0-679-75574-8.
- ^ "Johnny Thunders: So Alone". Uncut. p. 124.
So Alone is a narcotic Neverland, starring ex-New York Doll Thunders at his most defiantly derelict.
- ^ McStea, Mark (2022-11-10). "The life and times of Johnny Thunders: the New York Dolls and Heartbreakers guitarist who crystallized the essence of street-cool rock 'n' roll". Guitar World. Retrieved 2024-02-02.
- ^ Robbins, Ira. "Johnny Thunders". Trouser Press. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
- ^ Fortnam, Ian (2016-07-06). "Johnny Thunders - So Alone album review". Classic Rock. Retrieved 2024-02-02.
- ISBN 0-89919-026-X. Retrieved March 30, 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.