Overview
“Too Much Too Soon” is the second studio album by American rock band New York Dolls.
Background of the Production
New York Dolls were a hard rock band active primarily in the 1970s, influenced by the dirty rock & roll of the Rolling Stones.
Their androgynous look was often compared to that of British glam rock artists such as David Bowie.
Musically, they were known for their unique brand of hard rock, which later influenced punk rock and heavy metal. They are considered one of the proto-punk bands, alongside acts like The Velvet Underground and The Stooges.
New York Dolls were formed by Johnny Thunders (guitar, vocals), Rick Rivets (guitar), Arthur Kane (bass guitar), Billy Murcia (drums), and David Johansen (vocals, harmonica) in New York City in 1971.
In 1972, Rivets was replaced by Sylvain Sylvain (guitar, bass, piano, vocals), and Jerry Nolan (drums) joined the band in place of Murcia who died during their tour of England. After that, the Dolls signed to Mercury Records.
Todd Rundgren produced their debut album “New York Dolls”, and it was released in 1973. It peaked at number 116 on the US Billboard Top LPs chart.
Commentary
The album “Too Much Too Soon” was recorded at A&R Studios in New York City in 1974 and was released by Mercury Records on LP and cassette in the same year. It peaked at number 167 on the US Billboard Top LPs & Tape chart.
It was first released on CD in Japan and the United States in 1987.
The remastered edition including four bonus tracks was released on SHM-CD by Universal Music Japan in 2010.
The album title is derived from the biography of American actress Diana Barrymore, “Too Much, Too Soon” (1957).
The album was produced by Shadow Morton, who is best known for producing hit songs of girl group the Shangri-Las.
In the discography of the Dolls, their first album “New York Dolls” is often mentioned as a masterpiece of the Dolls and one of the proto-punk classics. However, their second album “Too Much Too Soon” is also an excellent album which compares favorably with their first one.
Though these two studio albums didn’t sell very well, they have been highly evaluated by critics, and gained cult followings.
“Too Much Too Soon” is a pop-oriented hard rock/glam punk album. It is characterized by Johansen’s theatrical vocal performance and Morton’s polished production including female backing vocals, horns, and sound effects.
This album contains a total of 10 tracks, including 4 cover songs and 6 original songs.
“Stranded in the Jungle” is a cover of the single song (1956) by doo-wop group the Jay Hawks.
“(There’s Gonna Be A) Showdown” is a cover of the hit song (1969) by R&B vocal group Archie Bell & The Drells.
“Chatterbox” is a song written, composed and sung by Thunders.
“Bad Detective” is a cover of the song (1964) by R&B/rock & roll vocal group The Coasters.
“Don’t Start Me Talkin’” is a cover of the Chicago blues hit (1955) by Sonny Boy Williamson II.
“Stranded in the Jungle” / “Who Are the Mystery Girls?” and “(There’s Gonna Be A) Showdown” / “Puss ‘n’ Boots” were released as singles in 1974.
Track Listing
Side One
- “Babylon” (David Johansen, Johnny Thunders) – 3:31
- “Stranded in the Jungle” (James Johnson, Ernestine Smith) – 3:46
- “Who Are the Mystery Girls?” (Johansen, Thunders) – 3:08
- “(There’s Gonna Be A) Showdown” (Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff) – 3:38
- “It’s Too Late” (Johansen, Thunders) – 4:40
Side Two
- “Puss ‘n’ Boots” (Johansen, Sylvain Sylvain) – 3:06
- “Chatterbox” (Thunders) – 2:25
- “Bad Detective” (Keni St. Lewis) – 3:39
- “Don’t Start Me Talkin’” (Sonny Boy Williamson II) – 3:13
- “Human Being” (Johansen, Thunders) – 5:45
Bonus tracks on 2010 SHM-CD reissue
- “Courageous Cat Theme” (Johnny Holiday) – 2:22
- “Don’t Mess With Cupid” (Steve Cropper, Eddie Floyd, Deanie Parker) – 2:55
- “Lone Star Queen” (Kane, JoHansen, Nolan, Thunders, Sylvain) – 4:13
- “Give Her A Great Big Kiss” (George Morton) – 2:35
Personnel
New York Dolls
- David Johansen – vocals, gong
- Arthur “Killer” Kane – bass
- Jerry Nolan – drums, percussion
- Sylvain Sylvain – guitar, piano, vocals
- Johnny Thunders – guitar, vocals