JOHNNY THUNDERS
"Well, there’s a little bit of whore In every little girl..."
By 1985, despite reuniting with the Heartbreakers for a legendary show at the London Lyceum, he had been written off by everyone but his most steadfast supporters -- and even they had to be shaking their heads at his relentless bid for oblivion. It was under these circumstances that Thunders and his band of the moment, the Black Cats (bassist Keith Yon and drummer Tony St. Helene), weaved into West 3 Studios in London to lay down tracks for his second solo album, Que Sera, Sera. Despite being plagued by a litany of chemically induced fits and starts, the album came together well. While not the end-to-end triumph of So Alone, Que Sera, Sera nonetheless had enough spark to convince those still listening that the weathered Doll wasn't about to go quietly into that good night. Bolstered by a revolving door of punk cronies -- including Patti Palladin, Glen Matlock, Stiv Bators, and Only Ones guitarist John Perry -- Thunders and band kick some New Yawk sneer into songs like the punk mission statement "Short Lives", "M.I.A.", "Little Bit of Whore," "Blame It on Mom," "Endless Party," and "Billy Boy," a searing instrumental ode to fallen original Dolls drummer Billy Murcia. The standout tracks, though, are "I Only Wrote This Song for You," with its delicately strummed chords and funereal piano figure, and a hilarious demolition of the Doris Day standard "Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be Will Be)." Replete with accordion and choral support by London's St. Theresa School Choir, the song suggests a drunken 3 a.m. singalong down the streets of Little Italy. Though not included on the original LP, "Que Sera, Sera" has been added here as a bonus track.Que Sera, Sera is a surprisingly solid effort, featuring tight playing and well-constructed melodies. With a little record-company backing and a fortuitous fall of the chips, it could've marked a new chapter in Thunders' career. Sadly, it stands as one of the last coherent gasps by a perennial contender. [AMG]
Hey Punks!Get this classicThundersslab and kick off with an Endless Party.Dig!
"My Baby went M.I.A.
Got lost on her way..."
Got lost on her way..."
"A million girls wanna take her place
a million girls get a kick in the face..."
a million girls get a kick in the face..."
