Triple X Records
2000
In The Flesh
About This Album
An 18-track collection taken from an April 4, 1987, Heartbreakers gig at the Roxy Theater in Los Angeles, In the Flesh captures Johnny and the boys, with special guest, ex-New York Dolls bassist Arthur Kane, on one of those "had to be there" nights that, sadly, didn't come around nearly enough in J.T.'s career. Unlike a lot of Thunders live recordings, this one is conspicuous by the absence of the side banter and stoned drivel that spiced up so many of his shows. Johnny comes across as shockingly professional throughout -- it's tough to argue with the greasy power of his playing. Starting things off with a fretboard-abusing rendition of the Chantays' surf classic "Pipeline," Thunders and company deliver fanged versions of nuggets like "Personality Crisis," "Dead or Alive," "Too Much Junkie Business," and the Howlin' Wolf classic "Ain't Superstitious."

As fierce as those performances are, the album's real power lies in the quieter moments, when J.T. pulls the plug and goes acoustic. It's then that the true depth of his ability -- both instrumentally and vocally -- comes across like a punch in the mouth.
Track List (try tracks 1,6,7,15 and 17)

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