Copy Cats [Import]

Johnny Thunders | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 7, 2007)
• Original Release Date: 2007
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Freud / Jungle
• ASIN: B000025A8X
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #233,291 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

UK reissue of this album out of print for nearly a decade. New Yorkers Johnny Thunders, (formerly of the Heartbreakers and the New York Dolls) and Patti Palladin (Snatch) were both exiled in London. They recorded this affectionate tribute to the American songs of the `50s and `60s, with covers of The Seeds, Screaming Jay Hawkins, The Shangri-La's, Dion, Chambers Brothers, Roy Head, Elvis, The Shirelles, etc. Recorded authentically using real brass, strings and many fine musicians, with Patti's meticulous production extending sessions over many months. Radio DJs John Peel and Charlie Gillett both described it as being ''better than the originals!'' Featuring Chrissie Hynde, John Perry, Jayne County, Bob Andrews and numerous others. Jungle. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars They Go Together, August 13, 2007

By 

Timothy Cole (Chapel Hill, North Carolina) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Copy Cats (Audio CD)

There is so much joy in this cd, and it is almost reassuring to know that Johnny Thunders could still reach that emotion in the late 80's. At the time of recording, the poor man had loved and lost big time. And even if he was more notorious than Keef, Thunders delivered an authentic and
polished performance that even the Stones would have loved to phone in from France at the time.

The collaboration with Patti Palladin is perfect, innocently romantic and street sexy at the same time. I hope she loved him.

In thinking more on this subject, I can readily identify only three duet partners of any consequence in rock and roll - Johnny and June, Elvis and Ann-Margaret, John Travolta and Olivia Newton John (I'm serious!) These two - Johnny and Patti, have the chemistry of the others, while creating something entirely original.

Maybe this was as close as Thunders ever got to that New Orleans dream band he was finally ready to assemble on the eve of his death. Because here, in this cd, lies that swamp rock sound with a cherry on top and a smile on the side.

Perhaps Thunders was the last of a rock breed, able like Elvis to terrify your parents one day, and then turn around and sing a ballad that made them think twice the next. Such diversity of delivery is no longer so easy to find.

I am very thankful that this cd is now easy to find, and I sincerely thank Amazon for making it available.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Like Mickey & Sylvia, But Different, October 10, 2009

By 

Katherine McCarthy "kath e. miller" (Forest Hills, NY United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Copy Cats (Audio CD)

The previous reviewer noted, correctly, this is not the lurching buzzsaw guitar slinger Thunders. This is akin to the second NY Dolls album pop kulcher mashup. David Johansen wasn't the only Doll with encyclopedic knowledge of pop tunes from back in the day. Johnny matched him with love for the girl groups, classic R&B, and obscure Top 40 ditties. So if you're craving Johnny's raucous excess and careening off the rails riffing, stop reading and look elsewhere.

He became notorious for all the wrong reasons. But only a musicologist could've dug up Marc Bolan's "The Wizard," or the obscure "I'd Rather Be With The Boys" by the Rolling Stones, to cover.

His loopy version of Roy Head's "Treat Her Right" had me smiling; I went digging through my record closet to find the '60's original Chambers Brothers "Uptown to Harlem." Ditto Elvis' "Crawfish" from one of his better films, "King Creole."

Patti Palladin is Johnny's perfect foil. She has that Shangrilas catch in the back of the throat so necessary to deliver "He Cried," an over-the-top teenage angst fest. Their voices sound so good together. Patti inspires Johnny to actually sing. It's not his usual whining sneer. He really cuts loose here.

Their combined attitude is so New York BBQ, so Bridge & Tunnels. This is not Manhattan music. This is Queens, NY comin' at you, sitting on the stoop with an AM radio circa WMCA Good Guys era. Drinking a cold, frosty in a paper bag checking out the comings & goings in the neighborhood. These are songs from a simpler time. Maybe Johnny was nostalgic for lost innocence?

Copy Cats can sit proudly next to So Alone as something Johnny could've been proud of. Two albums with the Dolls; one with the Heartbreakers; three solo studio albums; a gazillion bootlegs from live shows ranging from spectacular to shambolic. A legendary dope fiend. Limitless unrealized potential. Johnny, I loved you. RIP.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Duets and covers, December 1, 2006

By 

StrawberryFields360 - See all my reviews

This review is from: Copycats (Audio CD)

This is a nice album for fans of Johnny Thunders more ..well "sensitive" side. Its not the destroying riffs most fans know. Its a more subdued but no less potent Thunders, and his voice in contrast to Patti on some tracks is very interesting. The Album's real highlights would have to be Two time loser; a soul filled pleading between the two, Uptown Harlem poppy and upbeat song, born to cry, treat her right and the odd Crawfish. This Cd is Thunders with a full backing band, I do mean full: maracas, violins, castanets, saxophone. I give it a three because while not my favorite by far it's a nice listen ranging from blues to pop tunes. A definitely different listen then the normal Thunders' tunes.