Heartbreakers/"L.A.M.F" (1977, Track Records)
The Heartbreakers' "L.A.M.F." (The original and, arguably, charming title of "Like a Mother Fucker" was aborted for this, most likely, record company sanctioned abbreviation) never got its due praise until a couple of decades later.
Probably the second best punk album of all time. Or, at least, of 1977. No price for guessing the best one. And, no, it's not The Clash's self titled debut - although that is a mighty fine effort as well.
"Mudded" mix has been blamed for "L.A.M.F''s original vinyl issue's lack of proper awe and respect at the time. But it couldn't have been quite so simple. Personally, I believe the origin of the Heartbreakers was somewhat to blame as well. Although it may not have been a great sounding record, it was nonetheless a great record.
Formed from the ashes of the New York Dolls, by ex-Dolls Johnny Thunders and Jerry Nolan, to the coolest U.K. punks of '77 the Heartbreakers' was possibly not the most credible background around. Being American probably didn't help matters much either - even though they did take the trouble to relocate to the U.K.
The New York Dolls, although in the early '70s sounding like a fabulous and fresh cross between prime-era Stones and Mott the Hoople, by 1977 - and in spite of having an obvious influence on the likes of The Sex Pistols as well as Sham 69 (to name but two) - sounded a tad dated and worn.
Nonetheless, in the press and by the powers that were, the Dolls were touted as the predecessors of punk. Remember those odd and opportunistic "New Wave" comps from circa '77, which collected artists as diverse as Ramones, Runaways, Flamin' Groovies, and, err, Little Bop Story? Not to mention New York Dolls. Well, those were the daze...
Fronted by David Johansen and Johnny Thunders, as the Jagger & Richards of their time, New York Dolls, in the early '70s, paved the way for mid '70s NY punks like Ramones, Blondie, Talking Heads, Television, etc. But as The Clash declared "I'm so Bored With the U.S.A.", the U.K. punks were sceptical and eager to put as much distance between themselves and their U.S. counterparts. Let's not forget that Ramones weren't even considered to be cool at this point in time.
That said, The Sex Pistols sonically and verbally attacked the NY wave with "New York"; The Heartbreakers aptly and ably responded with "London Boys". Oh, well. And this was 20 years prior to the limp Oasis Vs. Blur feud...
Around which time U.K.'s Jungle Records first saw fit to unleash the "proper" mix of "L.A.M.F". Better late than never. And since then there have been at least a couple of reissues of said mixes + rarities, demos, etc. and so on. The last of which is a "Definitive" 4 CD box set, which, never mind the bollocks (in this case being pin badges), is as impressive and essential as they come....
Probably the second best punk album of all time. Or, at least, of 1977. No price for guessing the best one. And, no, it's not The Clash's self titled debut - although that is a mighty fine effort as well.
"Mudded" mix has been blamed for "L.A.M.F''s original vinyl issue's lack of proper awe and respect at the time. But it couldn't have been quite so simple. Personally, I believe the origin of the Heartbreakers was somewhat to blame as well. Although it may not have been a great sounding record, it was nonetheless a great record.
Formed from the ashes of the New York Dolls, by ex-Dolls Johnny Thunders and Jerry Nolan, to the coolest U.K. punks of '77 the Heartbreakers' was possibly not the most credible background around. Being American probably didn't help matters much either - even though they did take the trouble to relocate to the U.K.
The New York Dolls, although in the early '70s sounding like a fabulous and fresh cross between prime-era Stones and Mott the Hoople, by 1977 - and in spite of having an obvious influence on the likes of The Sex Pistols as well as Sham 69 (to name but two) - sounded a tad dated and worn.
Nonetheless, in the press and by the powers that were, the Dolls were touted as the predecessors of punk. Remember those odd and opportunistic "New Wave" comps from circa '77, which collected artists as diverse as Ramones, Runaways, Flamin' Groovies, and, err, Little Bop Story? Not to mention New York Dolls. Well, those were the daze...
Fronted by David Johansen and Johnny Thunders, as the Jagger & Richards of their time, New York Dolls, in the early '70s, paved the way for mid '70s NY punks like Ramones, Blondie, Talking Heads, Television, etc. But as The Clash declared "I'm so Bored With the U.S.A.", the U.K. punks were sceptical and eager to put as much distance between themselves and their U.S. counterparts. Let's not forget that Ramones weren't even considered to be cool at this point in time.
That said, The Sex Pistols sonically and verbally attacked the NY wave with "New York"; The Heartbreakers aptly and ably responded with "London Boys". Oh, well. And this was 20 years prior to the limp Oasis Vs. Blur feud...
Around which time U.K.'s Jungle Records first saw fit to unleash the "proper" mix of "L.A.M.F". Better late than never. And since then there have been at least a couple of reissues of said mixes + rarities, demos, etc. and so on. The last of which is a "Definitive" 4 CD box set, which, never mind the bollocks (in this case being pin badges), is as impressive and essential as they come....
