New York Dolls - All Dolled Up

I was there. My best buddy and I caught the Dolls on their 1973 promotional tour in Pittsburgh. What a knock out! I was a senior in high school and heavy into the developing Glam Rock genre-having already seen Bowie, Mott, Queen, Iggy and Bolan I was itching to see if the Dolls show would live up to the power of their debut LP. After seeing them live I realized how much Todd Rundgren had homogenized them when producing their LP. These guys rocked like the Stones used to. This DVD captures that time. It's gritty and raw and has the appearance of a bootleg-not that this is a bad thing. It's honest for sure. Watching this labor of love makes me miss those days when anything could and often did happen. I followed Johnny Thunders to the end and getting to see him at his fiercest (in these live tracks) and getting to see him in his unguarded moments was worth the price of the DVD. The commentary tracks by Syl and David are much more than informative-so much background on this time and place. Instead of buying those overdone compilations or collections of demos and sub-par audio bootleg tracks, drop a dime here and you'll be mighty glad you did. Sorry for those who missed those heady days of the early 70's. First glam then REAL punk. To bad that you can't put your arms around a memory.

Talk about being at the right place at the right time and having the latest technology at hand! Bob Gruen had a video recorder and seemingly unfettered access to one of the most seminal (and under appreciated) bands in rock, The New York Dolls. I remember back in the day reading that they were voted the best new band and the worst new band in the Creem rock polls, so of course I ran out to buy their first album (which I still have). Amazing, and still holds up after 40 years! Glammed up and sleazy, there's tons of footage of the Dolls onstage and backstage, as well as footage of them playing the Whiskey in L.A. The only reason I didn't give this five stars is that the video is all black and white and the sound is horrendous (no fault of anyone, that was the best technology available short of filming them with movie cameras.) But if you're a fan of the New York Dolls, you owe it to yourself to get this.

My name is Reet and I can only judge this film through my own perspective. I went to school with Johnny from elementary through jr. high at least ( i don't remember if he dropped out of high school...those years are kinda blurry...I miss him....glad I got to see as many Dolls and Thunders shows as it was...anyway...) This is a wonderful documentary for me to soak in alot of John, as well as all the Dolls, since I grew up with their music as it was happening! It's sorta like watchin home movies!!! But like home movies it may be overkill for some viewers.Twas a wonderful night when I watched this dvd! The live songs are precious!The Dolls are hilarious! It's a big happy/sad dealie!And there are great still fotos as an extra with author commentary!!For die hard Dolls fans or anyone wanting to see what they were all about and their importance in the history of rock and roll. Especially the history of Punk music. Otherwise its just a filmed historical document of a buncha crazy New York kids in a band havin th' time of their life!!! But it's so much more than that to me.I am eternally grateful it was made!

Thanks!!!

For those of you who saw the Dolls back in the '70's, this is a time capsule version that brings you back to Max's Kansas City, Kenny's Castaways, Club 82, and more. The Dolls are young, brash, alive, and vital. Seeing Johnny healthy and built, or Jerry Nolan chubby, it's worth the price of admission. All of the Dolls are energetic and engaging. At the time, the world was their oyster and there was no place to go but up. Great sloppy chaotic versions of their greatest non-hits. A nice feature of the DVD is the Performance Only section, as well as the commentary. It does bog down a little in the middle, but picks right back up again as soon as the band hits the stage. Some of the comments are very funny. The black & white photography lends a "historic" feel. It's way better than it should be, given the time & technology advances since then. It ends around with the Red Patent Leather gigs at the Little Hippodrome, but without fan fare or anything maudlin.

Big fan of the Dolls, and I've seen all their clips but was hoping for some unseen gems. Got so much more. Bob Gruen and his wife follow the band around for some days in NYC, and the flight, and mini tour of California. This is all very candid inner circle footage. You get into the individual characters. DJ, the flamboyant, and often witty front-mouth, Johnny the little Italian wildcat, the big hulking, silent Killer Kane; curly Syl and straight Nolan. There is plenty live scenery, but the real value is seeing them as young, bratty, and ultimately starry eyed youngsters. Before the hard drugs decimated them.

Loved this behind the scenes look at one of my favorite bands. It's an intimate view of what it was like on the NY music scene in the early 70s. The songs sound great too.

Most enjoyable because it takes you back to another time... when not everybody believed the nonsense that is being shoveled around post-90s.

SPLENDIDO DVD DELLE DOLLS. 4 ORE DI FILMATI CHE INCLUDE CONCERTI, DOCUMENTARI, FOTO, INTERVISTE E TANTO ALTRO. UN INCREDIBILE DISCHETTO DA NON PERDERE

Bild- und Tonmaterial sind für Videoaufnahmen aus der ersten Hälfte der 70er-Jahre sehr respektabel, NYDolls-Fans dürfen diese Dokumente nicht verpassen! Großartige Liveaufnahmen aus legendären Clubs, Interviews und jugendlich-großkotziges Gehabe galore! You best believe I'm in love, L.U.V.!

excellent dvd

NEW YORK DOLLS XxXxX