It Came From The Floor: HEARTBREAKERS Demos!
Chaz Martenstein
HEARTBREAKERS demos. On repeat for the last two hours in the shop. I had to put the finishing touches on my taxes before hitting the send button and it proved to be an appropriate soundtracking. There's no short supply of demos from JOHNNY THUNDERS & Co.'s infamous L.A.M.F. record, but this one is proving to be a favorite. Among all the various versions and sessions floating around out there, a good rule of thumb for the variations is the rougher the edges, the harder the hit. Some prefer the demos and the rough cuts to the actual release, which is understandable when you lay 'em out for comparison. I'm just happy to hear it however I can...though I'll admit I do gravitate toward the raw.
Anywho! This one collects versions of the classics from four studio sessions between January 1976 and December 1977. Musicians, besides Thunders of course, include: WALTER LURE, BILLY RATH, JERRY NOLAN, TERRY CHIMES, and RICHARD HELL. Hell appears on the raucous early cuts from Jan '76. Thunders & Nolan had just left the NEW YORK DOLLS and Hell had just left TELEVISION, it was fate. Thunders was quick to jump off and form THE VOIDOIDS shortly after the session though. These songs never get old.