| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [1] |
| Robert Christgau | C+[2] |
| Spin Alternative Record Guide | 3/10[3] |
Lipstick Killers – The Mercer Street Sessions 1972 is a 1981 album of demos by the New York Dolls.[4]
Lipstick Killers is the only Dolls album to feature original drummer Billy Murcia, who died during a tour in London in 1972.[5] Six of the nine tracks were later re-recorded for their self titled debut.[6] “Don’t Start Me Talking” and “Human Being” were later re-recorded for Too Much Too Soon.[7] Their cover of Otis Redding‘s “Don’t Mess with Cupid” was never re-recorded. The producer of the Mercer Street Sessions, Marty Thau, was the person who discovered and managed the Dolls.[8]
Track listing
All tracks are written by David Johansen & Johnny Thunders, except as noted.
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | “Bad Girl” | 3:45 | |
| 2. | “Looking for a Kiss” | 3:42 | |
| 3. | “Don’t Start Me Talking“ | Sonny Boy Williamson II | 3:42 |
| 4. | “Don’t Mess with Cupid“ | Deanie Parker, Eddie Floyd, Steve Cropper | 3:07 |
| 5. | “Human Being” | 6:16 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6. | “Personality Crisis“ | 4:13 | |
| 7. | “Pills” | Bo Diddley | 3:16 |
| 8. | “Jet Boy“ | 5:13 | |
| 9. | “Frankenstein” | Johansen, Sylvain Sylvain | 7:03 |
| Total length: | 40:19 | ||
Personnel
- New York Dolls
- David Johansen – vocals, harmonica
- Johnny Thunders – guitar, backing vocals
- Sylvain Sylvain – guitar
- Arthur “Killer” Kane – bass guitar
- Billy Murcia – drums
- Technical
- Marty Thau – Executive producer
- Pomeroy Audio – CD remastering & Editing
- Roy Trakin – Liner Notes
- Bob Gruen – Photography
- Scott Kempner – Dolls lettering
References
- ^ Rabid, Jack. “Lipstick Killers (Mercer St. Sessions) – New York Dolls | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards | AllMusic”. AllMusic. Retrieved July 3, 2015.
- ^ Christgau, Robert. “Robert Christgau: CG: New York Dolls”. robertchristgau.com. Retrieved July 3, 2015.
- ^ Spin Alternative Record Guide. Vintage Books. 1995. p. 269.
- ^ Perrone, Pierre (May 13, 2014). “Marty Thau”. Obituaries. The Guardian. p. 46.
- ^ Shapiro, Peter (May 21, 2004). “Living (and dead) dolls”. The Sunday Times.
- ^ “New York Dolls – New York Dolls”. Allmusic. 1973.
- ^ “New York Dolls – Too Much Too Soon”. Allmusic. May 10, 1974.
- ^ “Marty Thau”. AllMusic.
