Johnny Thunders & Patti Palladin 'Crawfish'

7" vinyl single and extended version download

The classic Johnny & Patti duet single ‘CRAWFISH’, originally released in 1985, is being reissued as a limited edition 7” in original picture sleeve, plus 12” versions on download.  An Elvis cover, it features Heartbreakers Jerry Nolan & Billy Rath along with Only One guitarist John Perry.  Acclaimed by NME as ‘Single of Week’, it became an 80’s indie chart hit.  

New Yorkers Johnny & Patti, exiled in London, excelled the ‘King Creole’ Elvis version of this swampy, evocative paean to the Louisiana freshwater crustacean.*  Originally recorded on a London Records budget at the legendary Olympic Studios and mixed at Martin Rushent’s Genetic Studios, it became a much-revered classic, still getting radio play in 2006.  

Johnny Thunders, the late former New York Doll & Heartbreaker, was often known for his notoriety as much as his music; the legend persists that both he and his music embodied the spirit of rock’n’roll.  It was fellow New York expatriate Patti Palladin – one half of punk girl duo Snatch, one-time Brian Eno collaborator and all-time scenester – who arranged the studio time and produced the single for London Records’ short-lived subsidy label Swamplands (run by Postcard Records’ Alan Horne) in 1984.  The deal fell apart amidst budgetary arguments; the label shortly after.  Johnny had meanwhile been recording his ‘Que Sera Sera’ album, so Jungle stepped in to buy the tapes from London.

The single led Johnny & Patti to collaborate in 1987 on their full album of classic 50’s & 60’s covers ‘COPY CATS’, on which they achieved their aim of an affectionate homage to the music of their youth.  That album is due to follow as a long awaited re-issue in April.

 “Mmm Patti, I’m feeling reeeally hungry!”

7” cat. no: JUNG023        Barcode: 5013145102374   

Download: -  iTunes, eMusic etc
Re-release date: March 26th 07       Info: Alan Hauser.

www.johnnythunders.info         * www.crawfish.org