Copy Cats (album)
Copy Cats is an album by the American musicians Johnny Thunders and Patti Palladin. It is a set of rock and roll oldies, originally recorded from 1954 to 1969. It was named after being a set of cover versions and as the title of a Gary U.S. Bonds song, "Copycat", which was recorded for the album but not released. Thunders was inspired by John Lennon's Rock 'n' Roll.
Critical reception
The Chicago Tribune wrote that the album "could have been tossed off as a lark, but the music—which ranges from swamp-rock to girl-group stylings to a mambo/R&B hybrid—emerges crisp, polished and generally enjoyable." The Los Angeles Times stated that it "features punchy cover versions of mostly obscure R&B oldies, with Thunders using his thin, nasal voice to humorous effect with theatrical mannerisms."Track listing
The tracks were called "scenes"Side one – "Act one"
- "Can't Seem to Make You Mine" original version by The Seeds, 1965
- "Baby It's You" original version by The Shirelles, 1961
- "She Wants To Mambo" original version by The Chanters, 1954
- "Treat Her Right" original version by Roy Head and the Traits, 1965
- "Uptown To Harlem" original version by The Chambers Brothers, 1967
- "Crawfish" original version by Kitty White and Elvis Presley from the film King Creole, 1958
Side two – "Act two"
- "Alligator Wine" original version by Screamin' Jay Hawkins, 1958
- "Two Time Loser" original version by Tarheel Slim and Little Ann, 1963
- "Love Is Strange" original version by Mickey & Sylvia, 1956
- "I Was Born To Cry" original version by Dion, 1962
- "He Cried" original version as "She Cried" by Jay and the Americans, 1962
- "Let Me Entertain You " original version from the musical Gypsy, 1959
Personnel
- Johnny Thunders – guitar, vocals
- Patti Palladin – vocals
- John Perry – guitar, synth strings
- Robbie A. Gordon – guitar
- Jimi Haynes – guitar
- Henri Padovani – guitar
- Billy Rath – bass
- Jerry Nolan – drums
- Steve Washington – drums
- Chris Taylor – bass, drums
- Barry Andrews – organ, piano
- Pedro Ortiz – tambourines, maracas, percussion
- Jim Dvorak – trumpet
- Nick Evans – tambourine
- John "Irish" Earle – saxophones
- Alex Bǎlǎnescu – violins
- Maribel La Manchega – castanets
- Chrissie Hynde – backing vocals
- Jayne County – backing vocals
- Blair Booth – backing vocals
- Simon Humphries – backing vocals
- Paul Long – backing vocals
- Judd Lander – harmonica
- Anthony Thistlethwaite – harmonica
- Keith Hancock, Ken Thomas – engineer
- Leee Black Childers – cover photography