Live It Up (David Johansen album)
Encyclopedia
Live It Up, released in 1982, was the first live album released by David Johansen
as a solo artist. However, by the time Live It Up was released, various bootlegs of Johansen's first band, the New York Dolls
, were being heavily traded (an official live album would eventually be released in 1984). The impact of the New York Dolls
, as both an influential band and as a live act, was becoming a legend in the late 70's and early 80's when Johansen was trying to start his solo career. However, his three previous solo albums were not selling as well as expected, therefore, Johansen turned to touring and selling his stage show.
On Live It Up, Johansen performs The Foundations
' classic, "Build Me Up Buttercup
", the Cadets
' "Stranded in the Jungle" (which was also covered by the New York Dolls) and an Animals medley, which included "We Gotta Get Out of This Place
", "Don't Bring Me Down
" and "It's My Life
". The only New York Dolls original song he performs is "Personality Crisis".
David Johansen
David Roger Johansen is an American rock, protopunk, blues, and pop singer, as well as a songwriter and actor. He is best known as a member of the seminal protopunk band The New York Dolls and also achieved commercial success under the pseudonym Buster Poindexter.-Early life:Johansen was born in...
as a solo artist. However, by the time Live It Up was released, various bootlegs of Johansen's first band, the New York Dolls
New York Dolls
The New York Dolls is an American rock band, formed in New York in 1971. The band's protopunk sound prefigured much of what was to come in the punk rock era; their visual style influenced the look of many new wave and 1980s-era glam metal groups, and they began the local New York scene that later...
, were being heavily traded (an official live album would eventually be released in 1984). The impact of the New York Dolls
New York Dolls
The New York Dolls is an American rock band, formed in New York in 1971. The band's protopunk sound prefigured much of what was to come in the punk rock era; their visual style influenced the look of many new wave and 1980s-era glam metal groups, and they began the local New York scene that later...
, as both an influential band and as a live act, was becoming a legend in the late 70's and early 80's when Johansen was trying to start his solo career. However, his three previous solo albums were not selling as well as expected, therefore, Johansen turned to touring and selling his stage show.
On Live It Up, Johansen performs The Foundations
The Foundations
The Foundations were a British soul band, active from 1967 to 1970. The group, made up of West Indians, White British, and a Sri Lankan, are best known for their two biggest hits, "Baby Now That I've Found You" , written by Tony Macaulay and John MacLeod; and "Build Me Up Buttercup" The Foundations...
' classic, "Build Me Up Buttercup
Build Me Up Buttercup
"Build Me Up Buttercup" is the name of a song written by Mike d'Abo and Tony Macaulay, and released by The Foundations with Colin Young singing the lead vocals in 1968. This was the third major hit for The Foundations. Colin Young replaced Clem Curtis in 1968 and this was the first Foundations hit...
", the Cadets
The Cadets (doo wop)
The Cadets are an American doo wop group. The group began as a gospel group, the Santa Monica Soul Seekers, in the late 1940s. The members were Lloyd McCraw, Willie Davis, Austin "Ted" Taylor, Aaron Collins, Glendon Kingsby, and Will "Dub" Jones. In 1955, the group auditioned for Modern Records,...
' "Stranded in the Jungle" (which was also covered by the New York Dolls) and an Animals medley, which included "We Gotta Get Out of This Place
We Gotta Get out of This Place
"We Gotta Get out of This Place", occasionally written "We've Gotta Get out of This Place", is a rock song written by Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil and recorded as a 1965 hit single by The Animals...
", "Don't Bring Me Down
Don't Bring Me Down (The Animals song)
"Don't Bring Me Down" is a rock song composed by Gerry Goffin and Carole King and recorded as a 1966 hit single by The Animals.-History:"Don't Bring Me Down" was the third of The Animals' epic personalisations of Brill Building material, following the 1965 hits "We Gotta Get out of This Place" and...
" and "It's My Life
It's My Life (The Animals song)
"It's My Life" is a song written by Brill Building songwriters Roger Atkins and Carl D'Errico. The song was originally performed by British rock band the Animals, who released it as a single in October 1965 and was one of three songs that the Animals recorded by Brill Building songwriters.The song...
". The only New York Dolls original song he performs is "Personality Crisis".
Track listing
- "We Gotta Get Out of This PlaceWe Gotta Get out of This Place"We Gotta Get out of This Place", occasionally written "We've Gotta Get out of This Place", is a rock song written by Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil and recorded as a 1965 hit single by The Animals...
/Don't Bring Me DownDon't Bring Me Down (The Animals song)"Don't Bring Me Down" is a rock song composed by Gerry Goffin and Carole King and recorded as a 1966 hit single by The Animals.-History:"Don't Bring Me Down" was the third of The Animals' epic personalisations of Brill Building material, following the 1965 hits "We Gotta Get out of This Place" and...
/It's My LifeIt's My Life (The Animals song)"It's My Life" is a song written by Brill Building songwriters Roger Atkins and Carl D'Errico. The song was originally performed by British rock band the Animals, who released it as a single in October 1965 and was one of three songs that the Animals recorded by Brill Building songwriters.The song...
" (Barry MannBarry MannBarry Mann is an American songwriter, and part of a successful songwriting partnership with his wife, Cynthia Weil.-Career:...
, Cynthia WeilCynthia WeilCynthia Weil is a prominent American songwriter. She is famous for having written many songs together with her husband Barry Mann....
/Carole KingCarole KingCarole King is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. King and her former husband Gerry Goffin wrote more than two dozen chart hits for numerous artists during the 1960s, many of which have become standards. As a singer, King had an album, Tapestry, top the U.S...
, Gerry GoffinGerry GoffinGerry Goffin is an American lyricist. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990 with former songwriting partner and first wife, Carole King. he has co-written six Billboard Hot 100 chart-toppers.-Career:Goffin enlisted with the Marine Corps Reserve after graduating from...
/Roger Atkins, Carl D'Errico) (4:23) - "Frenchette" (Johansen, Sylvain SylvainSylvain SylvainSylvain Sylvain is an American rock guitarist, most notable for being a member of the New York Dolls.-Early years:...
) (4:53) - "Reach Out (I'll Be There)Reach Out I'll Be There"Reach Out I'll Be There" is a 1966 hit song recorded by the Four Tops for the Motown label. Written and produced by Motown's main production team Holland–Dozier–Holland, the song is one of the most well-known Motown tunes of the 1960s and is today considered The Tops' signature song...
" (Holland–Dozier–Holland) (3:24) - "Is This What I Get for Loving You" (Carole King, Gerry Goffin, Phil SpectorPhil SpectorPhillip Harvey "Phil" Spector is an American record producer and songwriter, later known for his conviction in the murder of actress Lana Clarkson....
) (3:14) - "Donna" (Johansen, Ritchie Valens) (4:25)
- "Build Me Up ButtercupBuild Me Up Buttercup"Build Me Up Buttercup" is the name of a song written by Mike d'Abo and Tony Macaulay, and released by The Foundations with Colin Young singing the lead vocals in 1968. This was the third major hit for The Foundations. Colin Young replaced Clem Curtis in 1968 and this was the first Foundations hit...
" (Mike d'AboMike d'AboMichael David "Mike" d'Abo is an English singer and songwriter, best known as the former lead vocalist of Manfred Mann.-Biography:...
, Tony MacaulayTony MacaulayTony Macaulay is a British author, composer for musical theatre, and songwriter, though it was the latter that made him a household name early in his career...
) (2:43) - "Melody" (Johansen Robert C. Guy) (3:04)
- "Funky But Chic" (Johansen, Sylvain Sylvain) (3:51)
- "Bohemian Love Pad" (Johansen) (2:54)
- "Stranded in the Jungle" (Ernestine Smith, James Johnson) (3:56)
- "Personality Crisis" (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...
) (4:49)
Personnel
- David Johansen - Vocals
- Steven Paul - Director
- Charlie Giordano - Keyboards
- Huw Gower - Guitar, Background Vocals
- Tony Machine - Percussion, Drums
- Ron Nevison - Producer, Engineer
- Brett Cartwright - Bass, Background Vocals
- Dave Nelson - Guitar, Background Vocals