New York Dolls Albums Ranked
The New York Dolls were an American hard rock band formed in New York City in 1971. Along with the Velvet Underground and the Stooges, they were one of the first bands of the early punk rock scenes. Although their original line-up fell apart quickly, the band’s first two albums—New York Dolls (1973) and Too Much Too Soon (1974)—became among the most popular cult records in rock. The line-up at this time comprised vocalist David Johansen, guitarist Johnny Thunders, bassist Arthur Kane, guitarist and pianist Sylvain Sylvain, and drummer Jerry Nolan; the latter two had replaced Rick Rivets and Billy Murcia, respectively, in 1972. On stage, they donned an androgynous wardrobe, wearing high heels, eccentric hats, satin, makeup, spandex, and dresses. Nolan described the group in 1974 as “the Dead End Kids of today”.
According to the Encyclopedia of Popular Music (1995), the New York Dolls predated the punk and glam metal movements and were “one of the most influential rock bands of the last 20 years”. They influenced rock groups such as the Sex Pistols, Kiss, the Ramones, Guns N’ Roses, the Damned and the Smiths, whose frontman Morrissey organized a reunion show for the New York Dolls’ surviving members in 2004. After reuniting, they recorded and released three more albums—One Day It Will Please Us to Remember Even This (2006), Cause I Sez So (2009), and Dancing Backward in High Heels (2011). Following a 2011 British tour with Alice Cooper, the band once again disbanded. Here are all of the New York Dolls albums ranked from worst to best.
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9. 20th Century Masters – The Millennium Collection: The Best Of New York Dolls (2003)
“But this compilation serves them grandly. Taking five songs from each record and one rarity, it gives you a fine 11 song overview of the Dolls at their madcap and raunchy best. You can hear the Girl Group/50’s rock roots in “Showdown,” the blues in “Trash,” plus their own ahead of the times originality on their best song, “Personality Crisis.” Lead singer David Johansen had the swagger of Jagger and the campiness of too many nights in Manhattan Bars, best shown in the Dolls’ cover of “Stranded In The Jungle.” Johnny Thunders and Syl Sylvain made twin guitar thunder and the late Arthur Kane played his bass like a mad bomber, while Jerry Nolan was probably one of the best drummers of the NYC Scene.”
8. Seven Day Weekend (1992)
“I find this to be there best one, it has amazing energy and I find it has some of there best songs like Seven Day Weekend, Frankenstein, and Jet Boy. A must have if your a dolls fan or if your not”
7. Dancing Backwards In High Heels (2011)
“This is a truly awesome collection of songs. From the upbeat “Funky but chic” and “I’m so fabulous”, to the more subdued, bluesy sound of “kids like you”. David Johansen has skillfully mixed the hard rock of The New York Dolls with the R&B sound of his solo music. This album is a MUST HAVE!”
6. Rock ‘N Roll (1994)
“NEW YORK DOLLS-ROCK ‘N ROLL: This aptly titled collection reigns in most of the NEW YORK DOLLS’ initial two album career, a swaggering, staggering mash-up of sleazoid garage, brash white boy soul, and greasy glam rock…the very foundation of future punkers everywhere. This motley assemblage of rude ‘n crude cross-dressers spotlighted gravel-gargling growler DAVID JOHANSEN, who later forged a kitschy career as pompadoured jumpin’ jiver BUSTER POINDEXTER. His bloozey, bronto stomp bellow rode shotgun over the cockfighting guitars of JOHNNY THUNDERS and SYLVAIN SYLVAIN, anchored by JERRY NOLAN and KILLER KANE’s slop bucket rhythm section. Strangely, the band’s unhinged covers of BO DIDDLEY’s PILLS and THE CADETS’ cult classic STRANDED IN THE JUNGLE are missing in action, ignoring the muddy RNB vibe that was an essential part of their makeup. Original sonic slabs of sludge TRASH, PERSONALITY CRISIS and WHO ARE THE MYSTERY GIRLS, while too confrontational for early seventies FM radio, were an obvious influence on outrageous groups like KISS and THE RAMONES. Love ’em or loathe ’em, ROCK ‘N ROLL is smeared with the indelible, glorious mess that was the NEW YORK DOLLS.”
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5. Cause I Sez So (2009)
“”Come fly with me, what are you waiting for”, Todd Rundgren is back at the helm producing the Dolls again. Excellent results. What A great Rock album. Favorite cuts: This Is Rediculous,Better Than You,My World,Coz I Sez So.Lonely So Long. Watch for David’s extra-special playing of the mouth/organ. He could suck the chrome off a bummer hitch. I have a fantasty involving him, Carly Simon,Mick Jaggers and Steve Tyler,somebody stop me.More than one needs to know.”
4. One Day It Will Please Us To Remember Even This (2006)
“I loved the Dolls from the very beginning, in the Oscar Wilde room at the Mercer Arts Center, when nobody came to see them & Billy was still the drummer. I was there at the Little Hippodrome for the Red Patent Leather finis. I saw their triumphant return at Little Steven’s Underground Garage, with tears in my eyes when David sang Lonely Planet Boy & You Can’t Put Your Arms Around A Memory. Tears for lost Dolls & lost youth. The ’70’s Dolls were something to see. If you saw them in their hey day you know they were touched by greatness. Like the early Rolling Stones. Gonna be bigger than the Beatles! The rest, as they say, is history.”
3 . Lipstick Killers (1981)
“Originally released only on cassette tape in 1972 (yes, back in the day cassette tapes were just as popular as vinyl records & before the invention of the compact disc) and then in N.Y.C. in limited quantity. This is a great record…..it’s measured, it’s tight and it’s the only known recording with original drummer Billy Murcia. Oh! to have seen them then!”
2. Too Much Too Soon (1974)
“This Paper Sleeve edition is a great tribute to a great band. The sound is great and loud (for your mp3 player), effortlessly highlighting the spectacular interplay between Thunders’ buzz saw leads and Sylvain’s joyously chunky train-kept-a-rolling rhythm guitar. Consult other five star reviews here on Amazon (taken from earlier cd pressings) for fuller reviews on this magnificent piece of music, cuz I feel just as these right-minded enthusiasts do. This band may have tanked with the unwashed, but for us the faithful, they remain our American Rolling Stones.”
1.New York Dolls (1973)
“The New York Dolls (1973) predates punk rock by about a year, as the Ramones are considered the pioneers of the genre. However, I think that the foundation was laid with this incredible debut album by the Dolls. While the whole punk ‘image’ wasn’t defined until a few years later with the haircuts, tattoos, etc. of subsequent notable punk groups like the Sex Pistols, The Exploited, and many others, it was this group that invented the raw sound and subject matter in songs that would morph into punk rock. For this, they deserve a lot of recognition, but sadly haven’t gotten it as of yet. Every song on this album is stellar, so I won’t name a top three list. Keep in mind that the New York Dolls aren’t 100% punk rock, but rather punk rock and glam rock, creating a neat concoction in sound. This is one essential and defining album in music.”