In Style (David Johansen album)
In Style is the second solo album released by (then-)former lead singer of the New York Dolls, David Johansen. It was released in 1979 on Blue Sky Records.
In Style | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 1979 | |||
Studio | The Schoolhouse, Westpoint, Connecticut | |||
Genre | Rock | |||
Length | 38:43 | |||
Label | Blue Sky | |||
Producer | Mick Ronson, David Johansen | |||
David Johansen chronology | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [1] |
The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [2] |
The Village Voice | B+[3] |
Background
Johansen's self-titled solo debut earned favorable reviews but low sales. Consequently, In Style – featuring more pop-style songs such as "Melody" and "Swaheto Woman" – was designed to be more commercial.
"Swaheto Woman", released as a single, provided Johansen's first disco song. "Swaheto Woman" and three other tracks were cowritten by Johansen's friend and fellow New York Doll, Sylvain Sylvain. “She Knew She was Falling in Love” and “Wreckless Crazy” had both been performed by the Dolls after the departures of Thunders, Nolan and Kane.
In Style also features Ian Hunter and Dan Hartman.
Of the closing "Flamingo Road", Johnny Depp remarked: "I think it's about his experience of losing his wife to Steven Tyler, and the words are beautifully written, beautifully executed. The whole record's great. Johansen was doing some great shit back then."[4]
Track listing
- "Melody" (David Johansen, Ronnie Guy) (2:58)
- "She" (David Johansen, Buz Verno) (2:21)
- "Big City" (David Johansen) (4:09)
- "She Knew She Was Falling in Love" (David Johansen, Sylvain Sylvain) (3:46)
- "Swaheto Woman" (David Johansen, Sylvain Sylvain) (5:05)
- "Justine" (David Johansen) (4:34)
- "In Style" (David Johansen) (4:08)
- "You Touched Me Too" (David Johansen, Johnny Ráo) (2:23)
- "Wreckless Crazy" (David Johansen, Sylvain Sylvain) (3:17)
- "Flamingo Road" (David Johansen, Sylvain Sylvain) (6:02)
Personnel
- Mick Ronson – producer, guitar
- David Johansen – keyboards, guitar, vocals, producer
- Stan Bronstein – saxophone
- Ronnie Guy – piano
- Dan Hartman – bass, backing vocals
- Ian Hunter – acoustic piano on "Flamingo Road"
- Frankie LaRocka – drums, backing vocals
- Tom Mandel – organ
- Johnny Ráo – guitar
- Dave Still – engineer, backing vocals
- Sylvain Sylvain – backing vocals
- Gary Green – backing vocals
- Tommy Trask – guitar, backing vocals
- Buz Verno – bass
- Gene Orloff – orchestra conductor on "Melody", arranged by David Johansen and Mick Ronson
Technical
- Harvey Goldberg – engineer
- George Marino – mastering
- Paula Scher – design
- Richard Avedon – cover and sleeve photography
References
- Deming, Mark. "In Style – David Johansen". AllMusic. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
- Evans, Paul (1992). "David Johansen". In DeCurtis, Anthony; Henke, James; George-Warren, Holly (eds.). The Rolling Stone Album Guide (3rd ed.). Random House. pp. 371–72. ISBN 0-679-73729-4.
- Christgau, Robert (October 8, 1979). "Christgau's Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
- Rowley, Scott (January 2017). "The interview: Johnny Depp". Classic Rock. No. 231. p. 13.