Genre: rock
Rating: *** (3 stars)
Title: Syl Sylvain and the Teardrops
Company: RCA Victor
Catalog: PL 13913
Year: 1981
Country/State: US
Grade (cover/record): NM / NM
Comments: unopened; French pressing
Available: 1
GEMM catalog ID: 4841
Price: $25.00
Anyone hearing this album without knowing who'd recorded it would be in for a shock to discover that namesake Syl Sylvain had been a member of The New York Dolls (he replaced original guitarist Rick Rivets).
Sylvain's second post-Dolls solo album, 1981's self-produced "Syl Sylvain and the Teardrops" underscored the fundamental discrepancies between his punk image and his obvious affection for 1960s pop and rock. In spite of occasional new wave trappings (like the dated cover art), material such as 'Crowded Love', 'Lorell' (the man actually sang some of the lyrics in French) and 'Formidable' were full of highly catchy melodies that make for a fun game of 'spot-the-influence.' The album certainly wasn't perfect. The pseudo-live 'Dance Dance Dance' and the formulaic 'Its Love' were simply dull. On the other hand Sylvain and company (bassist Danny Reid and drummer Rosie Rex) sounded like he had a lot of fun during the recording sessions and 'Medicine Man' was a killer effort. To my ears one of the biggest surprises has always been what a great voice Sylvain had. Anyone who thought David Johansen was the voice of The Dolls will be shocked to discover that Sylvain actually owned the stronger and more commercial voice. You simply had to wonder how tracks like 'Teardrops' and ''Just One Kiss weren't massive radio hits. Naturally the album vanished without a trace and after two strikes RCA Victor dropped Sylvain from it's recording rooster.
"Syl
Sylvain and the Teardrops" track listing:
(side 1)
1.) Crowded Love (Syl Sylvain) - 2:46
2.) Lorell (Syl Sylvain - Rosie Rex) - 3:17
3.) I Can't Forget Tomorrow (Syl Sylvain) - 3:18
4.) Medicine Man (Syl Sylvain - Danny Reid) - 3:11
5.) Dance Dance Dance (Syl Sylvain) - 3:45
(side
2)
1.) Formidable (Syl Sylvain - Rosie Rex - David Johansen) -
4:08
2.) Teardrops (Syl Sylvain) - 2:47
3.) Just One Kiss (Syl Sylvain - Rosie Rex) - 3:34
4.) It's Love (R. Sparks) - 1:42
5.) No Dancin' (Syl Sylvain) - 4:04