Live at Max's Kansas City (Johnny Thunders album)
Encyclopedia
Live at Max's Kansas City is a live album by Johnny Thunders
& The Heartbreakers
. Recorded at a series of Autumn 1978 "reunion"/"farewell" shows at the famous Max's Kansas City
nightclub
, the album's performance — loud, sloppy, and laden with bawdy introductions and/or lyric changes to many of the familiar songs from their only studio album, L.A.M.F.
— further cemented the band's live reputation.
, for Real Music. His fellow ex-Heartbreakers Walter Lure and Billy Rath had participated in some of the sessions for the album, and all three happened to find themselves in New York at the same time, and decided to play some gigs "for old time's sake" and some "chump change" (per the LP's liner notes). With drummer Jerry Nolan
reluctant to backtrace his steps after quitting the band over L.A.M.F.' s poor sound, the Thunders/Lure/Rath triumvirate recruited one Ty Styx to take over the drum seat for the shows, all of which were recorded.
Originally released on Max's Kansas City Records and in England on Beggars Banquet Records
through a logo deal with Max's Kansas City, the album was successful enough to warrant a second live recording done at the same venue. The band, now fully reunited with the return of Jerry Nolan to the drum throne, accepted the invitation. By that time, however, the band were all struggling with their various addictions, with Thunders' own heroin habit escalating. The first two nights of the three-night stand resulted in very little if any usable material, but by the last night, the band were in rare form, with Thunders and Lure delivering their usual witty introductions between songs. After playing five songs, Thunders suddenly left the stage, claimng he had to "tune up" — never to return that evening.* Ironically, two songs earlier, the band had played their semi-autobiographical "Too Much Junkie Business". The five songs from the last night were mixed down and offered to Beggars Banquet, who refused them.
Several years later, these songs were remixed, along with the original album, in preparation for a long-awaited reissue of the original Live at Max's album with the "new" recordings appended to it. Walter Lure and Billy Rath participated in the mixing. Thunders was unable to participate due to other commitments, but was played the results, and gave them his full endorsement, requesting only that the 1979 recordings were released "just the way it is, including the talk." (liner notes, ibid) The reissue, however, would not be released until a few years after Thunders' passing.
Johnny Thunders
Johnny Thunders, born John Anthony Genzale, Jr. , was an American protopunk guitarist, singer and songwriter.He came to prominence in the early '70s as a member of the New York Dolls...
& The Heartbreakers
The Heartbreakers
Johnny Thunders and the Heartbreakers, also known as The Heartbreakers, were an American rock & roll band formed in New York in May 1975. The band was part of the first wave of punk rock.-History:...
. Recorded at a series of Autumn 1978 "reunion"/"farewell" shows at the famous Max's Kansas City
Max's Kansas City
Max's Kansas City was a nightclub and restaurant at 213 Park Avenue South, in New York City, which was a gathering spot for musicians, poets, artists and politicians in the 1960s and 1970s.-Origin of name:...
nightclub
Nightclub
A nightclub is an entertainment venue which usually operates late into the night...
, the album's performance — loud, sloppy, and laden with bawdy introductions and/or lyric changes to many of the familiar songs from their only studio album, L.A.M.F.
L.A.M.F.
L.A.M.F. is the only studio album by the American band, Johnny Thunders & The Heartbreakers, which included Jerry Nolan, Walter Lure and Billy Rath. The music is a mixture of punk, R&B and rock and roll. The band played a seminal role in the formation of early punk. Thunders and Nolan were...
— further cemented the band's live reputation.
History
The album and "reunion" gigs came about after Thunders had returned from England, where he had completed recording his first solo album, So AloneSo Alone
So Alone is a 1978 album by Johnny Thunders, then leader of The Heartbreakers and formerly lead guitarist for the New York Dolls.After recording L.A.M.F. with the Heartbreakers, Thunders returned to the studio and recorded his first true solo album, So Alone...
, for Real Music. His fellow ex-Heartbreakers Walter Lure and Billy Rath had participated in some of the sessions for the album, and all three happened to find themselves in New York at the same time, and decided to play some gigs "for old time's sake" and some "chump change" (per the LP's liner notes). With drummer Jerry Nolan
Jerry Nolan
Jerry Nolan was an American rock drummer, best known for his work with The New York Dolls and Johnny Thunders and The Heartbreakers.-Career:...
reluctant to backtrace his steps after quitting the band over L.A.M.F.
Originally released on Max's Kansas City Records and in England on Beggars Banquet Records
Beggars Banquet Records
Beggars Banquet is an English independent record label that began as a chain of record shops owned by Martin Mills and Nick Austin, and is part of the Beggars Group of labels...
through a logo deal with Max's Kansas City, the album was successful enough to warrant a second live recording done at the same venue. The band, now fully reunited with the return of Jerry Nolan to the drum throne, accepted the invitation. By that time, however, the band were all struggling with their various addictions, with Thunders' own heroin habit escalating. The first two nights of the three-night stand resulted in very little if any usable material, but by the last night, the band were in rare form, with Thunders and Lure delivering their usual witty introductions between songs. After playing five songs, Thunders suddenly left the stage, claimng he had to "tune up" — never to return that evening.* Ironically, two songs earlier, the band had played their semi-autobiographical "Too Much Junkie Business". The five songs from the last night were mixed down and offered to Beggars Banquet, who refused them.
Several years later, these songs were remixed, along with the original album, in preparation for a long-awaited reissue of the original Live at Max's album with the "new" recordings appended to it. Walter Lure and Billy Rath participated in the mixing. Thunders was unable to participate due to other commitments, but was played the results, and gave them his full endorsement, requesting only that the 1979 recordings were released "just the way it is, including the talk." (liner notes, ibid) The reissue, however, would not be released until a few years after Thunders' passing.
- Actually, in the attempt to record a second Heartbreakers Live at Max's album, the band completed their set after John "tuned" his guitar, but the rest of the songs were unbearably discordant, so they couldn't be used. The bonus tracks were unfortunately mastered 3% slow on the ROIR CD. After hearing the result, I re-mastered them at the correct speed (and spent many hours digitally removing the click from a defective bass drum mic), but ROIR refused to use the corrected master. - Peter Crowley
Side one
- (Intro)
- "Milk Me" (Johnny ThundersJohnny ThundersJohnny Thunders, born John Anthony Genzale, Jr. , was an American protopunk guitarist, singer and songwriter.He came to prominence in the early '70s as a member of the New York Dolls...
)- Also known as "Chatterbox" and "Leave Me Alone"
- "Chinese Rocks" (Dee Dee RamoneDee Dee RamoneDee Dee Ramone was an American songwriter and musician, best known as founding member, bassist and main songwriter of the punk rock band the Ramones....
, Richard HellRichard HellRichard Hell is a singer, songwriter, bass guitarist, and writer.Richard Hell was an innovator of punk music and fashion. He was one of the first to spike his hair and wear torn, cut and drawn-on shirts, often held together with safety pins...
) - "Get Off the Phone"
- "London" (Thunders, Lure, Billy Rath)
- "Take a Chance"
- "One Track Mind"
Side two
- "All By Myself"
- "Let Go" (Thunders, Nolan)
- "I Love You" (Thunders)
- "Can't Keep My Eyes on You"
- "I Wanna Be Loved" (Thunders)
- "Do You Love MeDo You Love Me"Do You Love Me" is a 1962 hit single recorded by The Contours for Motown's Gordy Records label. Written and produced by Motown CEO Berry Gordy, Jr., "Do You Love Me?" was the Contours' only Top 40 single on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States. Notably, the record achieved this feat...
" (Berry Gordy Jr.)
CD reissue bonus tracks
- "Pirate Love" (Thunders)
- "Too Much Junkie Business" (Lure, Thunders)
- Lure acknowledged in the liner notes of the 2002 reissue of L.A.M.F. that he actually wrote the song himself but gave Thunders co-writing credit since it was basically his life story, too. Amusingly, Thunders would often introduce the song onstage by saying that Lure had written it with Chuck BerryChuck BerryCharles Edward Anderson "Chuck" Berry is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter, and one of the pioneers of rock and roll music. With songs such as "Maybellene" , "Roll Over Beethoven" , "Rock and Roll Music" and "Johnny B...
and Bo DiddleyBo DiddleyEllas Otha Bates , known by his stage name Bo Diddley, was an American rhythm and blues vocalist, guitarist, songwriter , and inventor...
.
- Lure acknowledged in the liner notes of the 2002 reissue of L.A.M.F. that he actually wrote the song himself but gave Thunders co-writing credit since it was basically his life story, too. Amusingly, Thunders would often introduce the song onstage by saying that Lure had written it with Chuck Berry
- "Don't Mess with Cupid" (Deanie Parker, Eddie FloydEddie FloydEddie Lee Floyd is an American soul/R&B singer and songwriter, best known for his work on the Stax record label in the 1960s and 1970s and the song "Knock on Wood".-Biography:...
, Steve CropperSteve CropperSteve Cropper , also known as Steve "The Colonel" Cropper, is an American guitarist, songwriter and record producer. He is best known as the guitarist of the Stax Records house band, Booker T...
) - "So Alone" (Thunders)
Personnel
- Johnny ThundersJohnny ThundersJohnny Thunders, born John Anthony Genzale, Jr. , was an American protopunk guitarist, singer and songwriter.He came to prominence in the early '70s as a member of the New York Dolls...
- Guitar, vocals - Walter Lure - Guitar, vocals
- Billy Rath - Bass
- Ty Styx - Drums