Live It Up | ||||
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Live album by David Johansen | ||||
Released | June 1982 | |||
Recorded | February 4–5, 1982 | |||
Genre | Rock | |||
Label | Blue Sky | |||
Producer | Ron Nevison | |||
David Johansen chronology | ||||
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Professional ratings | |
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Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
Allmusic | link |
The Village Voice | A– link |
Live It Up, released in 1982, was the first live album released by David Johansen as a solo artist. Johansen did release a limited and promotional live album, The David Johansen Group Live in 1978, but the album was not officially released until 1993. Additionally, by the time Live It Up was released, various bootlegs of Johansen's first band, the New York Dolls, were being heavily traded (an official live album would eventually be released in 1984). The impact of the New York Dolls, as both an influential band and as a live act, was becoming a legend in the late-1970s and early-1980s when Johansen was trying to start his solo career. However, his three previous solo albums were not selling as well as expected, therefore, Johansen turned to touring and selling his stage show.
On Live It Up, Johansen performs The Foundations' classic, "Build Me Up Buttercup", the Cadets' "Stranded in the Jungle" (which was also covered by the New York Dolls) and an Animals medley, which included "We Gotta Get Out of This Place", "Don't Bring Me Down" and "It's My Life". The only New York Dolls original song he performs is "Personality Crisis".