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The New York Dolls were an American rock band formed in New York City in the early 1970s. They were known for their flamboyant stage presence, loud and raucous music, and their influence on the punk rock and glam rock movements. Their music was a mix of classic rock and roll, rhythm and blues, and glam rock, and their lyrics were often tongue-in-cheek and provocative. The band released several albums in their career, but their legacy lies mainly in their live performances and their influence on subsequent punk and glam rock bands. Some of their most iconic songs are still considered classics of the genre, and have been covered by numerous artists over the years. This list features the best New York Dolls songs of all time, including some of their most famous tracks such as “Personality Crisis”, “Trash”, and “Looking for a Kiss”. Each song on this list showcases the band’s raw energy and unapologetic attitude towards rock and roll, and will leave listeners with a true sense of the New York Dolls’ enduring influence on rock music.
1. Personality Crisis
“Personality Crisis” is a classic punk rock song by the New York Dolls, released in 1973. The song is known for its catchy guitar riffs, thundering drums, and David Johansen’s snarling vocals. It’s a perfect example of the Dolls’ raw and energetic sound, which influenced countless punk and glam rock bands in the years to come.
Lyrically, “Personality Crisis” is a scathing critique of the music industry, with Johansen railing against the shallow, superficial nature of the business. He sings about the pressure to conform to certain image and fashion standards, and how it can stifle creativity and individuality. The song’s title refers to the idea that the industry can create a “crisis” of identity for artists, forcing them to compromise their true selves for commercial success.
Despite its biting commentary, “Personality Crisis” is also a highly danceable and fun song, with a chorus that begs to be shouted along to. It’s a testament to the New York Dolls’ ability to combine social commentary with infectious hooks and melodies, and it remains a beloved classic of punk rock to this day.
2. Trash
https://youtu.be/hhJmH6knD2o
“Trash” is a high-energy rock song by Alice Cooper, released in 1989. The song is known for its driving guitar riff, pounding drums, and Cooper’s distinctive vocals, which range from growling to screaming. It’s a perfect example of Cooper’s theatrical brand of hard rock, which has been entertaining fans for decades.
Lyrically, “Trash” is a tongue-in-cheek celebration of debauchery and excess. Cooper sings about living life to the fullest, with lines like “I love the smell of gasoline, burning tires and gunpowder.” He also name-drops a number of celebrities and cultural icons, from Elvis to Marilyn Monroe, to emphasize his own rock star status. The chorus is a catchy sing-along, with Cooper proclaiming, “I’m your trash, your garbage, your filth, your dreams.”
Despite its somewhat crude subject matter, “Trash” is a well-crafted and highly entertaining song, with a memorable hook and an infectious energy. It’s a testament to Cooper’s ability to combine humor and rock and roll, and it remains a fan favorite to this day.
3. Looking for a Kiss
https://youtu.be/hlnvYQ3Kp1s
“Looking for a Kiss” is a classic punk rock song by the New York Dolls, released in 1973. The song is known for its raw, raucous sound, with choppy guitar riffs, pounding drums, and David Johansen’s snarling vocals. It’s a perfect example of the Dolls’ glam-infused brand of punk rock, which would go on to influence countless musicians in the years to come.
Lyrically, “Looking for a Kiss” is a catchy, anthemic ode to the search for love and excitement in the big city. Johansen sings about wandering the streets, looking for someone to connect with, with lines like “I’m looking for a guy that’ll only bring me misery, and I’m hoping that it’s you.” The chorus is a simple, sing-along hook, with Johansen declaring, “I’m looking for a kiss, I’m looking for a kiss, I’m looking for a kiss.”
Despite its rough edges, “Looking for a Kiss” is a highly melodic and infectious song, with a memorable chorus and a sense of rebellious energy. It’s a testament to the New York Dolls’ ability to infuse punk rock with elements of glam and classic rock, and it remains a beloved classic of the genre to this day.
4. Jet Boy
https://youtu.be/wJg_8u8ywv8
“Jet Boy” is a high-energy rock song by the New York Dolls, released in 1973. The song is known for its driving guitar riffs, pounding drums, and David Johansen’s powerful vocals. It’s a perfect example of the Dolls’ raw, glam-infused brand of punk rock, which would go on to influence countless musicians in the years to come.
Lyrically, “Jet Boy” is a celebration of speed and adventure, with Johansen singing about flying high in the sky and feeling the rush of adrenaline. He uses airplane metaphors to describe the feeling of breaking free from societal norms and expectations, with lines like “Jet boy, jet girl, gonna take you ’round the world, gonna make you feel all right.” The chorus is a catchy sing-along, with Johansen proclaiming, “Jet boy, jet girl, gonna make you a star, gonna take you to heaven, gonna take you that far.”
Despite its somewhat rough edges, “Jet Boy” is a well-crafted and highly entertaining song, with a memorable hook and an infectious energy. It’s a testament to the New York Dolls’ ability to infuse punk rock with elements of glam and classic rock, and it remains a fan favorite to this day.
5. Lonely Planet Boy
https://youtu.be/F0n65_zKjHo
“Lonely Planet Boy” is a poignant rock ballad by the New York Dolls, released in 1973. The song is known for its stripped-down, acoustic sound, with Johnny Thunders’ delicate guitar work and David Johansen’s heartfelt vocals. It’s a departure from the Dolls’ usual high-energy, punk-infused sound, showcasing their ability to explore different musical styles and emotions.
Lyrically, “Lonely Planet Boy” is a melancholic meditation on loneliness and isolation. Johansen sings about feeling lost and disconnected from the world around him, with lines like “I’m just a lonely planet boy, caught up in memories and dreams.” He also touches on themes of heartbreak and regret, with lines like “I lost my girl, I lost my friends, I lost my nerve, I lost my trends.”
Despite its somber tone, “Lonely Planet Boy” is a beautifully crafted song, with a haunting melody and a sense of emotional depth. It’s a testament to the New York Dolls’ versatility as songwriters and musicians, and it remains a beloved classic of the rock ballad genre to this day.
6. Vietnamese Baby
https://youtu.be/cW03XyDEtQo
“Vietnamese Baby” is a powerful and controversial rock song by the New York Dolls, released in 1973. The song is known for its gritty, hard-hitting sound, with Johnny Thunders’ searing guitar riffs and David Johansen’s aggressive vocals. It’s a raw and intense depiction of the Vietnam War and its impact on both the soldiers who fought in it and the civilians who suffered its consequences.
Lyrically, “Vietnamese Baby” is a graphic and sometimes disturbing portrayal of the war’s violence and brutality. Johansen sings about a soldier’s experiences in the war, with lines like “I was born in Saigon, I was born in Vietnam, and my father was an American GI.” He also touches on themes of trauma and mental illness, with lines like “I got a hole in my head and a gun in my hand, and I’m walkin’ in circles in a foreign land.”
Despite its controversial subject matter, “Vietnamese Baby” is a powerful and affecting song, with a sense of urgency and intensity that still resonates today. It’s a testament to the New York Dolls’ willingness to tackle difficult and taboo subjects, and it remains a powerful statement on the toll of war and violence.
7. Pills
https://youtu.be/TpKmGMPtZg0
“Pills” is a catchy and irreverent rock song by the New York Dolls, released in 1973. The song is known for its upbeat, danceable sound, with David Johansen’s playful vocals and the band’s signature glam-infused punk rock sound. It’s a tongue-in-cheek celebration of drug use and hedonistic excess, with a sense of humor and irony that still resonates today.
Lyrically, “Pills” is a series of vignettes about different drugs and their effects, with Johansen singing about “Reds and Yellows and Pink and Green, they’re the prettiest pills that I’ve ever seen.” He also touches on themes of addiction and self-destructive behavior, with lines like “I don’t need no doctor’s note, ’cause they cure everything, that’s what I’m told.”
Despite its controversial subject matter, “Pills” is a highly entertaining and infectious song, with a memorable chorus and a sense of rebellious energy. It’s a testament to the New York Dolls’ ability to infuse punk rock with elements of glam and classic rock, and it remains a fan favorite to this day. The song has been covered by numerous artists over the years, including Iggy Pop and Sonic Youth.
8. Bad Girl
https://youtu.be/pHLhS_VPLVQ
“Bad Girl” is a raunchy and energetic rock song by the New York Dolls, released in 1973. The song is known for its sleazy, bluesy sound, with Johnny Thunders’ dirty guitar riffs and David Johansen’s growling vocals. It’s a celebration of sexual liberation and taboo-breaking, with a sense of humor and irreverence that still resonates today.
Lyrically, “Bad Girl” is a depiction of a rebellious and promiscuous woman, with Johansen singing about her exploits with lines like “She’s got her motor running, and she’s ready to ride, she’s a bad girl, and she’s got nothing to hide.” He also touches on themes of societal judgment and double standards, with lines like “They call her bad, but she don’t care, she’s just a woman who knows how to dare.”
Despite its controversial subject matter, “Bad Girl” is a highly entertaining and infectious song, with a memorable chorus and a sense of playful energy. It’s a testament to the New York Dolls’ ability to push the boundaries of what was acceptable in rock music, and it remains a fan favorite to this day. The song has been covered by numerous artists over the years, including Joan Jett and the Blackhearts.
9. Subway Train
https://youtu.be/0gDkA1uO8Mw
“Subway Train” is a moody and atmospheric rock song by the New York Dolls, released in 1973. The song is known for its haunting, almost psychedelic sound, with Johnny Thunders’ ethereal guitar work and David Johansen’s dreamy vocals. It’s a surreal and evocative depiction of a late-night subway ride through the streets of New York City.
Lyrically, “Subway Train” is a stream-of-consciousness narrative about the sights and sounds of the city at night, with Johansen singing about “shadows on the wall, and the sound of the train, and the smell of the piss in the subway rain.” He also touches on themes of loneliness and isolation, with lines like “I’m just a stranger in a strange land, and I’m feelin’ like I’m gonna go insane.”
Despite its melancholic tone, “Subway Train” is a beautifully crafted song, with a sense of atmospheric mystery and a dream-like quality. It’s a testament to the New York Dolls’ ability to create immersive and evocative sonic landscapes, and it remains a fan favorite to this day. The song has been covered by numerous artists over the years, including The Replacements and The Psychedelic Furs.
10. Frankenstein
https://youtu.be/0b6-iuZ7HmU
“Frankenstein” is a fierce and explosive rock song by the New York Dolls, released in 1974. The song is known for its aggressive, hard-hitting sound, with Johnny Thunders’ blistering guitar riffs and David Johansen’s snarling vocals. It’s a high-energy tribute to the classic horror movie monster, with a sense of punk rock rebellion and anarchy.
Lyrically, “Frankenstein” is a celebration of the titular character’s monstrous qualities, with Johansen singing about his “electricity eyes” and “shocking thighs.” He also touches on themes of defiance and nonconformity, with lines like “I’m not like everybody else, I’m not a hypocrite, I’m not a coward, I’m not a fool.”
Despite its controversial subject matter, “Frankenstein” is a thrilling and powerful song, with a memorable chorus and a sense of raw energy. It’s a testament to the New York Dolls’ ability to infuse punk rock with classic rock and glam influences, and it remains a fan favorite to this day. The song has been covered by numerous artists over the years, including Guns N’ Roses and The Black Crowes.
Jared Parker is a frequent contributor to Singers Room. Since 2005, Singersroom has been the voice of R&B around the world. Connect with us via social media below.
