Remembering that wicked David Johansen tune I used to crank in college

By Steve Newton

The passing of former New York Dolls frontman David Johansen last week got me remembering all the great songs that the Dolls released on their amazing debut album of 1973.

Tunes like “Personality Crisis”, “Frankenstein”, “Pills”, and “Vietnamese Baby” were a potent part of the soundtrack to my mid-’70s teenage years back in my hometown of Chilliwack, when vinyl ruled my world and visits to the local Kelly’s Stereo Mart–or road trips to binge at Vancouver’s A&B Sound–were the highlight of my existence.

When I moved to the big city to attend UBC at the dawn of the ’80s I would frequent the used record stores on 4th Avenue like Black Swan and Quintessence, and I believe it was at one of those magical music depots where I scored a second-hand copy of Johansen’s self-titled debut album of 1978.

I just searched my album stacks and discovered I still have it, typically encased in plastic, so I tossed it on the old Yamaha YP-701 and cued the needle to Track 4 on Side One, “Not That Much”.

That was the three-minute ditty I used to blast in my old Spanish Banks basement suite when I needed a break from my studies.

The sound production isn’t anything to scream about–they coulda cranked up the drums, for starters–but Johansen’s band at the time–guitarists Johnny Rao and Thomas Trask, bassist Buz Verno, and drummer Frankie LaRocka–kicked ass.

To me, the song kinda melds the punky vibe of the New York Dolls circa 1973 with the grit of Draw the Line-era Aerosmith, which makes sense since special guest Joe Perry handles rhythm guitar.

R.I.P. David Johansen.

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