Sweet Revenge (David Johansen album)

Sweet Revenge
Studio album by
David Johansen
Released1984
Genre
Length37:29
LabelPassport
Producer
David Johansen chronology
Live It Up
(1982) 		Sweet Revenge
(1984) 		Buster Poindexter
(1987)

Sweet Revenge is an album by David Johansen, released in 1984.[1][2] It is the only Johansen album to be released on Passport Records.[3] It was his first album without any participation by any other former members of the New York Dolls.

Around the time of Sweet Revenge, Johansen adopted his alter-ego, Buster Poindexter.[4] For the next 15 years, Buster Poindexter would remain at the forefront of Johansen's music career.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[5]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[6]
The Village VoiceA−[7]

The Philadelphia Inquirer wrote that "the swirling, dreamy music that surrounds him on Sweet Revenge provides a dramatic contrast that complements Johansen's rough growl."[8] The New York Times deemed "The Stinkin' Rich" "a potential classic."[9] The Globe and Mail opined that "the synthesizer funk backdrops sound generic rather than eccentrically inspired."[10] The Washington Post called it Johansen's best solo album, writing that it "married the gutsiness of the Dolls with the Depression-era sensibility of many of Poindexter's favorites."[11]

Track listing

All tracks are written by David Johansen & Joe Delia, except where indicated

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Heard the News" 4:24
2."Big Trouble" 3:54
3."I Ain't Workin' Anymore" 3:35
4."King Of Babylon"Johansen, Delia, Danny Toan4:10
5."Sweet Revenge" 4:50
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
6."Too Many Midnights" 4:46
7."In My Own Time" 3:27
8."The Stinkin' Rich"Johansen, Delia, Brett Cartwright4:00
9."N.Y. Doll" 4:07
Total length:37:29

Personnel

  • David Johansen – lead vocals
  • Patti Scialfa – backing vocals on "Big Trouble"
  • David Nelson – guitar, Roland synthesizer, backing vocals
  • Neil Jason – bass on "N.Y. Doll"
  • Joe Delia – keyboards, sequential programming
  • Soozie Kirschner – backing vocals on "Big Trouble"
  • Brett Cartwright – bass, backing vocals
  • Dennis McDermott – drums, backing vocals
  • Steve Thornton – percussion
  • Jimmy Ripp – guitar
  • Artie Kaplan – saxophone on "N.Y. Doll"
  • Rocky Savino, Jr. – harmonica on "In My Own Time"
  • Peter Gordon – saxophone
  • Stephen Bray – drums
  • April Lang – backing vocals on "Big Trouble"
  • "Big" Jay McNeely – saxophone on "I Ain't Workin' Anymore"
  • Claudia Engelhart - "newscaster" on "Heard The News"
Technical

References

  1. ^ Palmer, Robert (September 14, 1984). "Pop/Jazz; Buster Poindexter, a Familiar Face at Tramps". The New York Times – via NYTimes.com.
  2. ^ Morse, Steven (1 Dec 1984). "Johansen Delivers Delirium". Arts and Film. The Boston Globe. p. 14.
  3. ^ "TrouserPress.com :: David Johansen". www.trouserpress.com.
  4. ^ Moon, Tom (7 Aug 1986). "Goodbye Punker David Johansen, It's Buster Poindexter's Show Now". Chicago Tribune. p. 13C.
  5. ^ "Sweet Revenge - David Johansen". AllMusic.
  6. ^ The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 371.
  7. ^ "Robert Christgau: Consumer Guide Nov. 27, 1984". www.robertchristgau.com.
  8. ^ Tucker, Ken (28 Nov 1984). "Johansen at the Ripley". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. G3.
  9. ^ Palmer, Robert (16 Dec 1984). "Rockers with Literary Aspirations Make Their Mark". The New York Times. p. A27.
  10. ^ Lacey, Liam (3 Jan 1985). "Sweet Revenge David Johansen". The Globe and Mail. p. E3.
  11. ^ Jenkins, Mark (25 Nov 1987). "Going Back to the Ballad". The Washington Post. p. C7.