Any Major Dude With Half A Heart

 

In the UK, the year 1975 is often regarded as a low point in chart music, but I don’t think such a judgment applies to the US — if you like your soft rock, soul, funk and rock. This first volume of Hits from 1975 reflects the US charts of that year. The second volume, covering UK and European hits, will drop later this year.

The US charts were not introducing anything radical or new; for the most part, they were cruising in a comfortable mode, roof down and wind in their hair, leaving behind the concerns of the world. Perhaps the US needed that after the trauma of Watergate.

The one song here that really illustrates my characterisation is Sammy Johns’ Chevy Van. Where Bruce Springsteen, in his 1975 song not featured here, revved up his automobile to escape a death trap of a town with Wendy, Sammy was cruising for hitchhikers who’d give him inspiration for his Penthouse Letter of the Week (to be fair, Bruce has Wendy strapping her hands across his engines for the runner-up Penthouse letter).

Quite the opposite of Sammy’s laid-back horniness was Janis Ian’s anthem to teenage anxiety, At Seventeen, in which “ugly girls like me” were “inventing lovers on the phone who called to say ‘come dance with me’.” Girls who were 17 in 1975 are now hurtling steadily towards their next milestone birthdays. Time for Janis to write a song called At Seventy.

Where Grand Funk and Amazing Rhythm Aces, despite their names, had little to do with funk or rhythm-dominated dance, Tony Camillo’s Bazuka contributed a great slice of funk to the 1975 charts. Camillo was, as his name suggests, of Italian extraction — a slightly overweight and balding record producer in his late forties, rather than some sexy funkster in flares and glitter top who’d get the Soul Train line grooving (the Soul Train dancers were dancing to it, but not with Camillo anywhere near the action). Bazuka was Camillo’s studio band, and the hit Dynomite was a riff on a catchphrase from the sitcom Good Times.

All that might sound novelty-like, but Dynomite is a fine dance number which takes inspiration from the Average White Band, Ohio Players and Funkadelic. Camillo had a superb track record in soul and funk. His crowning glory was arranging and co-producing Gladys Knight & The Pips’ Midnight Train to Georgia. Camillo died in 2018 at the age of 90.

Links for all past mixes in the series are up.  If you dig the feel of 1975, take a look at the collection of posters from West-Germany’s Bravo magazine in 1975 (other years are available, too).

As always, the mix is timed to fit on a standard CD-R and includes home-tushed covers and the above text in a PDF. PW in comments.

1. Bachman-Turner Overdrive – Roll On Down The Highway
2. Elton John – Philadelphia Freedom
3. B. J. Thomas – Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song
4. Sammy Johns – Chevy Van
5. Blackbyrds – Walking In Rhythm
6. Tony Camillo’s Bazuka – Dynomite (Part 1)
7. Ozark Mountain Daredevils – Jackie Blue
8. Grand Funk – Bad Time
9. Barry White – What Am I Gonna Do With You
10. Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds – Fallin’ In Love
11. Janis Ian – At Seventeen
12. Earth, Wind & Fire – That’s The Way Of The World
13. Tavares – It Only Takes A Minute
14. Bad Company – Feel Like Makin’ Love
15. Amazing Rhythm Aces – Third Rate Romance
16. Melissa Manchester – Just Too Many People
17. Staple Singers – Let’s Do it Again
18. David Ruffin – Walk Away From Love
19. Bee Gees – Nights On Broadway
20. ZZ Top – Tush
21. Kiss – Rock And Roll All Nite (live)

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Any Major Hits from 1944
Any Major Hits from 1947
Any Major Hits from 1961
Any Major Hits from 1970
Any Major Hits from 1971
Any Major Hits from 1972 Vol. 1
Any Major Hits from 1972 Vol. 2
Any Major Hits from 1973 Vol. 1
Any Major Hits from 1973 Vol. 2
Any Major Hits from 1974 Vol. 1
Any Major Hits from 1974 Vol. 2

A Year in Hits
More CD-R Mixes

 

In the In Memoriam for February, I mentioned that I might have compiled a Sings Covers mix to mark the death of Roberta Flack, but for lack of time. I have still lacked time, but due to popular demand (by one commenter), I have put together this collection of songs covered by Flack.

Other than a couple of LPs in her 1970s prime which included several interpretations of other people’s songs, and a few covers albums later in her career, Flack was not much of a covers artist — but when she took on a song, she often made it her own.

The obvious examples of that are the two big hits: Killing Me Softly (With His Song) and The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face. Flack invested such intimacy into these songs that hers are the definitive versions, no matter how many times radio DJs play the annoying Fugees cover (no time, please!). Both songs feature here in live versions recorded in Edmonton, Canada, in 1975.

Several tracks here are covers recorded with Donny Hathaway. They are very good, and their You’ve Got A Friend is a contender for the best version of the song. But only one of them eclipses any other interpretation: I (Who Have Nothing). It’s not a song that evokes much emotion in me in any other version. Flack and Hathaway’s invest in the song just the right measure of desperation and intensity.

The most comprehensive reworking here may be the Bee Gees’ To Love Somebody. Flack slows down the song, which by 1971 had already been covered many times, and turns it into an epic soul ballad. I have a hunch singers like Al Green might have taken note — Green went on to turn another Bee Gees song, How Can You Mend a Broken Heart, into an epic soul ballad.

There are two Leonard Cohen covers. Flack’s cover of Suzanne is a nine-minute journey, building up to marvellous swirling strings and Flack injecting an African vibe into the proceedings. Hey, That’s No Way To Say Goodbye, from Flack’s 1969 debut First Take, features a rather lovely piano solo over a quiet but pretty funky bassline.

Flack’s stab at Bob Dylan’s Just Like A Woman — in the gender-switch, Flack is the woman who is “just like” — is exquisitely phrased and sung, which is not something one would necessarily say of Dylan.

One song here was originally an instrumental, Grover Washington Jr’s Mister Magic, to which Flack sang the lyrics of William Salter to the great tune of Ralph MacDonald. Washington had recorded his nine-minute fusion classic in November 1974 and released it on his Mister Magic LP in February 1975; Flack released her version in March 1975. But (and you just knew there was a “but” coming!), much of Flack’s album had been recorded before November 1974. I’m not sure whose version is the original and which is the cover.

Credits give no clue. MacDonald played on both versions, and Salter wrote a lot for both Flack and Washington (often with MacDonald). For the latter, there were tracks like Just The Two Of Us and Be Mine Tonight; for Flack, songs like Trade Winds, Where Is the Love, I’m The One, and Here’s To Love (her lovely collaboration with Sadao Watanabe).

For fans of the “Sings Covers”, I have two in the works, including one that will feature a song featured here.

As always, the pre-“bonus tracks” playlist is timed to fit on a standard CD-R. The lot includes home-softly-killed covers and the above in a PDF. PW in comments.

Names in brackets are either the acts who first recorded the particular song, or had a hit with it. The years are, obviously, the release dates of the cover by Roberta Flack.

1. Compared To What (1969, Les McCann)
2. You’ve Got A Friend (with Donny Hathaway) (1972, Carole King)
3. Mr. Magic (1975, Grover Washington Jr.)
4. You Are Everything (1978, The Stylistics)
5. To Love Somebody (1971, Bee Gees)
6. First Time Ever I Saw Your Face (live) (1975, Bonnie Dobson)
7. If Only For One Night (with Peabo Bryson) (1980, Brenda Russell)
8. I Who Have Nothing (with Donny Hathaway) (1972, Ben E. King)
9. Hey, That’s No Way To Say Goodbye (1969, Leonard Cohen)
10. Just Like A Woman (1970, Bob Dylan)
11. Killing Me Softly (With His Song) (live) (1975, Lori Lieberman)
12. Do What You Gotta Do (1970, Johnny Rivers)
13. This Time I’ll Be Sweeter (1977, Martha Reeves)
14. Bridge Over Troubled Water (1971, Simon & Garfunkel)
15. Will You Love Me Tomorrow (1971, The Shirelles)
16. Baby I Love You (with Donny Hathaway) (1972, Aretha Franklin)
Bonus Tracks:
17. The Impossible Dream (1970, Jack Jones)
18. Let It Be Me (1970, Everly Brothers)
19. You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling (with Donny Hathaway) (1972, Righteous Brothers)
20. Suzanne (1973, Leonard Cohen)
21. It Might Be You (1994, Stephen Bishop)
22. Thrill Is Gone (1994, B.B. King)

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Previously in Sings Covers:
Al Green Sings Covers
Aretha Franklin Sings Covers
Bruce Springsteen Sings Covers
Diana Ross Sings Covers
Gladys Knight Sings Covers
Tina Turner Sings Covers

More Mix CD-Rs

This was a cruel month for soul singers, though three of them left us with a collection of original versions of better-known hits. If you like that kind of thing, take a look at The Originals series. And Roberta Flack gave us so many covers that were superior to their originals.

One of these was, of course, Killing Me Softly With His Song, which gives me an opportunity to recycle the story of my acquaintance with Norman Gimbel, the now late co-writer of that song.

Along with the soul legends we lost, the last survivor of the classic New York Dolls line-up has also left us. So it seemed fitting to include as one of the tribute songs for the proto-punk band their cover of a soul song, (There’s Gonna Be A) Showdown.

The Soul Giant
It is remarkable to think that by the time Roberta Flack attained some level of stardom, she was in her thirties. When she felt like making love to you, she was 38 — ancient in pop terms at the time — and in her mid-forties when she declared that when it comes to love, she’s the best. She was in her mid-fifties when she set the night to music with MaxiePriest. In short, Flack defied age, perhaps even more so than Tina Turner, whose maturity was an actual selling point.

Flack, whose dream had been to be a concert pianist until a chance opportunity opened the doors to a career as a vocalist, was a versatile performer—mid-tempo soul, disco, jazz—but her genius resided in ballads. Flack was not afraid to slow things right down and create moments of intense intimacy. Songs like The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face or Be Real Black For Me (with Donny Hathaway) reach into your soul. Listening to them, really listening to them, feels like that first passionate kiss (or more) with someone you love.

Flack provides a great soundtrack for romance and sex, but she also had political muscle. Her 1969 version of Gene McDaniels’ Compared To What was a social critique on the level of Nina Simone, another piano-bound singer. That this protest track opened her 1969 debut album, followed by a Spanish-language song, was daring. Try doing that today!

Flack featured here just a couple of weeks ago, on the Any Major Morning Vol. 3 mix. I would have done a Roberta Flack Sings Covers mix, but lack of time and a minor injury prevented a timely release. I might yet put together such a mix.

The Iceman
A true pioneer of soul music left us in February. Jerry Butler was the original lead singer of The Impressions, co-writing their 1958 breakthrough hit For Your Precious Love. Shortly after, he left the Chicago group — The Impressions went on to do just fine without him — and eventually had a successful solo career throughout the 1960s and ‘70s, starting with 1961’s He Will Break Your Heart. Many of his hits were written with erstwhile Impressions compadre Curtis Mayfield, who also did backing vocals for his old pal. Butler’s velvety voice and restrained stage performance earned him the nickname The Iceman.

He recorded the original of the Bacharach/David song Make It Easy On Yourself, later a hit for The Walker Brothers (see The Originals: Bacharach & David Edition), as well as the original of the Isaac Hayes epic I Stand Accused (see The Originals: Soul Vol. 2) and the Dusty Springfield hit A Brand New Me.

Butler was also a songwriter, scoring a hit with I’ve Been Loving You Too Long for co-writer Otis Redding. Butler said that he made more money from the royalties of that song than from anything he had sung.

Later in life, Butler was involved in local politics in Chicago’s Cook County.

The Proto-Punk
With the death at the age of 75 of David Johansen, all of the classic New York Dolls are gone. Sylvain Sylvain died in 2021, guitarist Johnny Thunders in 1991, drummer Jerry Nolan in 1992, and bassist Arthur Kane in 2004.

In the first half of the 1970s, the Dolls’ mix of hard rock, glam, garage, and art rock, as well as Johansen’s snarling vocals, were a big influence on punk acts like the Ramones and Sex Pistols. The Dolls released only two albums — the eponymous debut in 1973 and Too Much Too Soon in 1974 — before disbanding in 1976, just as punk became a thing.

Johansen went on to have a solo career, releasing several albums in the late 1970s and early ’80s, producing a more conventional rock sound. In the late 1980s, he adopted the lounge-singer alter ego Buster Poindexter, scoring a hit with a cover of Arrow’s Hot Hot Hot.

Johansen took part in periodic Dolls reunions and appeared in several movies, such as Scrooged (as the Ghost of Christmas Past) and Let It Ride.

The Jam Drummer
For a trio, The Jam had an extraordinarily full sound. A lot of that had to do with Rick Buckler’s energetic drumming. For a few years, Buckler and his bandmates Paul Weller and Bruce Foxton were among the biggest things in British youth culture, scoring nine UK Top 10 hits, including four number ones (Going Underground, Start, Town Called Malice, and Beat Surrender) between 1980 and 1982.

Yet, huge as they were in Britain, The Jam had precious little chart success elsewhere, other than with Town Called Malice and, to a lesser degree, the earlier Going Underground.

After The Jam folded so that Weller could form The Style Council, Buckler remained involved in music, playing in various bands (including at some point a new Jam with Foxton), but he never replicated the success he had with the trio.

I was tempted to post the songs Funeral Pyre or Going Underground. For once, I erred on the side of good sense, even if Buckler’s drumming on the former is superb.

The Isley Brother-in-Law
He was still a kid when his brothers-in-law and neighbours, The Isley Brothers, had success in the 1960s, but when Chris Jasper was old enough to join the older three Isleys in 1973, along with Ernie and Marvin (hence the title of 1973’s 3+3 album), he became a key member during the band’s most artistically and commercially fertile period — the 1970s and early 1980s. Jasper’s synthesizer and keyboard work became a defining element of their music.

In 1984, Jasper left the band, along with his childhood friends Ernie and Marvin Isley. The three continued as Isley-Jasper-Isley, scoring a hit in 1985 with Caravan of Love, which he co-wrote, and which a year later topped the UK charts in a fine a cappella version by The Housemartins. Jasper also released 17 solo albums, including some in the gospel genre.

The Hip Hop Godfather
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, it was impossible not to hear hip hop tracks produced by Irv Gotti, born Irving Lorenzo. The founder of the record label Murder Inc. promoted and produced acts like Jay-Z, DMX, Foxy Brown, Ja Rule, and Ashanti to stardom, and also produced and remixed some of Jennifer Lopez’s hits, including I’m Real and Ain’t It Funny.

Other Gotti clients included Charli Baltimore, Mary J. Blige, Aaliyah, Fat Joe, Christina Milian, Alicia Keys, Toni Braxton, Beenie Man, Lloyd, Vanessa Carlton, and Kanye West.

In 2004, Gotti was arrested on charges of using his label to launder money for New York drug trafficker Kenneth “Supreme” McGriff. He was acquitted in December 2005. More recently, Gotti suffered several strokes and had complications with diabetes. He died at the age of 54.

The Northern Soul Legend
Soul singer Tommy Hunt was one of the pioneers of the genre, first tasting success in doo-wop as a member of The Flamingos, who had a big hit with their 1959 version of the standard I Only Have Eyes For You. After leaving the group, Hunt embarked on a solo career on Scepter Records, with 1961’s Human his biggest US hit. He also recorded the original version of the Bacharach & David song I Just Don’t Know What To Do With Myself, later a huge hit for Dusty Springfield.

Hunt kept recording into the 1970s, achieving legendary status on the Northern Soul scene in the UK, where he settled. As a member of The Flamingos, Hunt was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

The Soul-Disco Queen
In 1974-75, a husband and wife had success with two of the most delicious disco numbers of the era: George McCrae in 1974 with Rock Your Baby and Gwen McCrae the following year with the answer record Rocking Chair, which featured George on backing vocals.

While George seemingly came out of nowhere, Gwen had garnered attention with some earlier soul records, including an early recording of the future Elvis hit Always On My Mind (the original was by Brenda Lee).

Gwen and George married in 1963 and tried to find success as a duo. They didn’t, so they pursued solo careers. Both would get their big break at TK Records, the Miami-based label that played a key role in the emergence of disco. After the decline of disco and her 1976 divorce from George, Gwen had some success in the UK, where she lived for a while. Like Tommy Hunt, she was a big name on the Northern Soul scene.

A stroke in 2012, while performing on stage in England, left McCrae half-paralysed, ending her career.

The Muscle Shoals Man
The Muscle Shoals session musicians helped create the sound of soul in the 1960s. Among them was Albert ‘Junior’ Lowe, who played guitar or bass on many classics recorded in the FAME studio, including Percy Sledge’s When A Man Loves A Woman, Clarence Carter’s Patches, Wilson Pickett’s Land Of 1000 Dances and Mustang Sally, Etta James’ I’d Rather Go Blind, and James & Bobby Purify’s I’m Your Puppet, among others.

He played with other FAME studio session musicians in a group called The Fame Gang before leaving session work in the early 1970s to concentrate on songwriting.

The Soft Rocker
He is best known for his 1979 hit soft-rock US #1 hit Sad Eyes, but Robert John had a few encounters with success before that. Born Robert John Pedrick Jr in 1946, he had a career as a child singer under the name Bobby Pedrick. In the late 1958, the 12-year-old had a minor hit with the Doc Pomus & Morty Shuman number White Bucks And Saddle Shoes. As the lead singer of Bobby & The Consoles, he had another minor hit in 1963 with My Jelly Bean

Thereafter he dropped his surname to go by the name Robert John and shifted towards soft rock and pop. In 1972, he had a US #3 hit with a cover of The Lion Sleeps Tonight, which reached No. 3 in the US. Tough times followed, and John worked in construction when he co-wrote Sad Eyes, which went on to knock The Knack’s My Sharona off the top of the US charts. Those were the happy days when chart-topping singers could look like your geography teacher. John never managed to repeat the success of that soft rock classic, hitting the US Top 50 twice more with cover versions before his charting career fizzled out.As always, this post is reproduced in illustrated PDF format in the package, which also includes my personal playlist of the featured tracks. PW in comments.

Sal Maida, 76, rock bassist, on Feb. 1
Sparks – Big Boy (1976, on bass)

Peter Bassano, c.79, English trombonist and conductor, on Feb. 1
The Beatles – Hey Jude (1969, on trombone)

Gene Barge, 98, rock and soul saxophonist, composer and producer, on Feb. 2
Gene Barge – Fine Twine (1965)

John Roberts, 80, English folk musician, on Feb. 3

Wily Mignon, 38, Beninese singer and composer, on Feb. 4

Dave Jerden, 75, producer and engineer, on Feb. 5
Talking Heads – Once In A Lifetime (1980, as engineer)

Lothar Antoni, 75, singer, guitarist, songwriter with German hard rock band Trance, on Feb. 5

Mike Ratledge, 81, keyboardist of UK prog group Soft Machine, on Feb. 5
Soft Machine – Joy Of A Toy (1968)

Irv Gotti, 54, hip hop producer, remixer, founder of Murder Inc. label, on Feb. 5
Ashanti – Foolish (2002, as producer and co-writer)
Eve feat. Alicia Keys – Gangsta Lovin’ (2002, as producer)

Vital Farias, 82, Brazilian singer and composer, on Fed. 6

Peter ‘Banjo’ Meyer, 80, German jazz musician and producer, on Feb. 6

Bobby Hamilton, singer with soul band The Choice Four, announced Feb. 6
The Choice Four – Walk Away From Love.mp3 (1975; original version)

Naâman, 34, French reggae singer, on Feb. 7

Corey Crewe, 80, half of Canadian comedy duo Corey & Trina, on Feb. 8

Howard Riley, 81, English jazz pianist and composer, on Feb. 8

Tony Kinsey, 97, British jazz drummer, composer and arranger, on Feb. 10
Mary Lou Williams – Melody Maker (1953, on drums)
Tony Kinsey – Henley Ho! (1977, also as composer)

Terror Danjah, UK grime producer, announced Feb. 11

Félix Cumbé, 60, Dominican singer and songwriter, on Feb. 11

Tommy Hunt, 91, soul singer, on Feb. 12
The Flamingos – I Only Have Eyes For You (1959, as member)
Tommy Hunt – I Just Don’t Know What To Do With Myself (1962)
Tommy Hunt – Crackin’ Up (1975)

Eduardo Sosa, 56, Cuban singer and composer, on Feb. 12

Lynn August, 76, zydeco accordionist, keyboardist and singer, on Feb. 12

Gene ‘Groove’ Allen, 62, rapper and actor, on Feb. 12
Groove B. Chill – Hip Hop Music (1990)

Jimi Mbaye, 67, Senegalese guitarist, on Feb. 12

Delcat Idengo, 31, Congolese rapper and singer-songwriter, shot on Feb. 13

Duke Gadd, drummer, son of Steve Gadd, announced Feb. 14

Albert ‘Junior’ Lowe, 84, soul session bassist and guitarist, songwriter, on Feb. 15
Wilson Pickett – Land Of 1000 Dances (1966, on bass)
Percy Sledge – Success (1966, on bass, also as co-writer)
The Fame Gang – Choice Of Colors (1969, as member on guitar)

Rick Buckler, 69, drummer off The Jam, on Feb. 17
The Jam – Down In The Tube Station At Midnight (1978)
The Jam – The Dreams Of Children (1980)
The Jam – Town Called Malice (1982)

Paquita la del Barrio, 77, Mexican singer, songwriter and actress, on Feb. 17

Jamie Muir, 82, Scottish percussionist with King Crimson, on Feb. 17
King Crimson – The Talking Drum (1973, also as co-writer)

Nannie Porres, 85, Swedish jazz singer, on Feb. 17

Snowy Fleet, 85, English-born drummer of Australian band The Easybeats, on Feb. 19
The Easybeats – Friday On My Mind (1967)

Karl Cochran, 61, rock guitarist, in traffic accident on Feb. 19

Jean Sarrus, 79, singer with French comedy group Les Charlots, actor, on Feb. 19

Wilson ‘Suoko’ Manyoma, 73, singer with Colombian salsa group Fruko, on Feb. 20
Fruko – El Preso (1975, also as writer)

Jerry Butler, 85, soul singer-songwriter and politician, on Feb. 20
Jerry Butler & The Impressions – For Your Precious Love (1958, also as co-writer)
Carla Thomas & Jerry Butler – Coca-Cola Commercial (1960s)
Jerry Butler – A Brand New Me (1969, also as co-writer)
Jerry Butler – One Night Affair (1972)

Gwen McCrae, 81, soul singer, announced Feb. 21
Gwen McCrae – Lead Me On (1970)
Gwen McCrae – Rockin’ Chair (1975)
Gwen McCrae – Love Without Sex (1976)

Fred Bekky, 81, singer and guitarist of Belgian beat band The Pebbles, on Feb. 21

Gerry Arling, 63, half of Dutch electronic music duo Arling & Cameron, on Feb. 21
Arling & Cameron – Voulez-Vous? (1999, also as co-writer)

Voletta Wallace, 78, record and film producer, mother of Notorious B.I.G., on Feb. 21

Larry Appelbaum, 67, jazz engineer, historian and radio presenter, on Feb. 21

Bill Fay, 81, English folk-rock singer-songwriter, on Feb. 22
Bill Fay – Be Not So Fearful (1970)

D Fuse, c.55, house producer, remixer and DJ, on Feb. 22

Linsey Alexander, 82, blues singer, guitarist and songwriter, on Feb. 22

Gianni Pettenati, 79, Italian singer, on Feb. 22
Juniors con Gianni Pettenati – Come Una Pietra Che Rotola (1966)

Ken Parker, 76, Jamaican reggae musician, on Feb. 22

Lílian Knapp, 76, Brazilian singer-songwriter, on Feb. 22

Chris Jasper, 73, keyboardist of The Isley Brothers, singer, songwriter, producer, on Feb. 23
The Isley Brothers – That Lady (Part 1 & 2) (1973)
The Isley Brothers- For The Love Of You (1975)
Isley Jasper Isley – Caravan Of Love (1985, also as co-writer)

Jacques de Jongh, member of Australian glam band Hush, on Feb. 23

Roberta Flack, 88, soul singer, pianist, songwriter, on Feb. 24
Roberta Flack – Compared To What (1969)
Roberta Flack – Let Them Talk (1971)
Roberta Flack – Oasis (1989)
Roberta Flack & Maxi Priest – Set The Night To Music (1991)

Frank Dingenen, 74, Belgian singer and actor, on Feb. 24

Robert John, 79, soft-rock singer, on Feb. 24
Bobby Pedrick Jr – White Bucks And Saddle Shoes (1958)
Robert John – Sad Eyes (1979)

Coburn Pharr, 62, singer of Canadian trash metal band Annihilator, on Feb. 25

David Johansen, 75, singer of the New York Dolls, songwriter, actor, on Feb. 28
New York Dolls – Personality Crisis (1973, also as co-writer)
New York Dolls – (There’s Gonna Be A) Showdown (1974)
David Johansen – Funky But Chic (1978, also as co-writer)

Miguel Piñera, 70, Chilean musician, on Feb. 28

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