''Live It Up'', released in 1982, was the first live album released by David Johansen as a solo artist. Johansen did release a limited and promotional live album, '' The David Johansen Group Live'' in 1978, but the album was not officially released until 1993. Additionally, by the time ''Live It Up'' was released, various bootlegs of Johansen's first band, the

New York Dolls New York Dolls were an American rock band formed in New York City in 1971. Along with the Velvet Underground and the Stooges, they were one of the first bands of the early punk rock scenes. Although the band never achieved much commercial succe ...

, were being heavily traded (an official live album would eventually be released in 1984). The impact of the

, as both an influential band and as a live act, was becoming a legend in the late-1970s and early-1980s when Johansen was trying to start his solo career. However, his three previous solo albums were not selling as well as expected, therefore, Johansen turned to touring and selling his stage show. On ''Live It Up'', Johansen performs The Foundations' classic, "

Build Me Up Buttercup "Build Me Up Buttercup" is a song written by Mike d'Abo and Tony Macaulay, and released by the Foundations in 1968 with Colin Young singing lead vocals. Young had replaced Clem Curtis during 1968, and this was the first Foundations hit on which ...

", the Cadets' "Stranded in the Jungle" (which was also covered by the New York Dolls) and an Animals medley, which included " We Gotta Get Out of This Place", "

Don't Bring Me Down "Don't Bring Me Down" is the ninth and final track on the English rock band the Electric Light Orchestra's 1979 album '' Discovery''. It is their highest-charting hit in the United States to date. History "Don't Bring Me Down" is the band's ...

" and " It's My Life". The only New York Dolls original recording he performs is " Personality Crisis". The Johansen/Sylvain compositions “Funky But Chic” and “Frenchette”, which appeared on Johansen’s solo debut, had been performed by the band in its last original phase; the former would later be recorded by the reformed Dolls while Sylvain would release "Frenchette" on his album ''New York's a Go Go''.

Track listing

#" We Gotta Get Out of This Place/

/ It's My Life" (

Barry Mann Barry Mann (born Barry Imberman; February 9, 1939) is an American songwriter and musician, and part of a successful songwriting partnership with his wife, Cynthia Weil. He has written or co-written 53 hits in the UK and 98 in the US. Early li ...

Cynthia Weil Cynthia Weil (born October 18, 1940) is an American songwriter who wrote many songs together with her husband Barry Mann. Life and career Weil was born in New York City, and was raised in a Conservative Jewish family. Her father was Morris Wei ...

Carole King Carole King Klein (born Carol Joan Klein; February 9, 1942) is an American singer, songwriter, and musician who has been active since 1958, initially as one of the staff songwriters at 1650 Broadway and later as a solo artist. Regarded as one ...

Gerry Goffin Gerald Goffin (February 11, 1939 – June 19, 2014) was an American lyricist. Collaborating initially with his first wife, Carole King, he co-wrote many international pop hits of the early and mid-1960s, including the List of Billboard number-one ...

/Roger Atkins, Carl D'Errico) (4:23) #"Frenchette" (Johansen, Sylvain Sylvain) (4:53) #"

Reach Out (I'll Be There) "Reach Out I'll Be There" (also formatted as "Reach Out (I'll Be There)") is a song recorded by the Four Tops from their fourth studio album '' Reach Out'' (1967). Written and produced by Motown's main production team, Holland–Dozier–Holland, ...

" ( Holland–Dozier–Holland) (3:24) #" Is This What I Get for Loving You?" (Carole King, Gerry Goffin, Phil Spector) (3:14) #"Donna" (Johansen) (4:25) #"

" ( Mike d'Abo, Tony Macaulay) (2:43) #"Melody" (Johansen, Ronnie Guy) (3:04) #"Funky But Chic" (Johansen, Sylvain Sylvain) (3:51) #"Bohemian Love Pad" (Johansen, Sylvain) (2:54) #"

Stranded in the Jungle "Stranded in the Jungle" is a song originally recorded by the American doo-wop group the Jay Hawks. It was written by Ernestine Smith and the band's first tenor, James Johnson. The Jay Hawks' version of the song peaked at No. 18 on the ''Billboa ...

" (Ernestine Smith, James Johnson) (3:56) #" Personality Crisis" (Johansen,

Johnny Thunders John Anthony Genzale (July 15, 1952 – April 23, 1991), known professionally as Johnny Thunders, was an American guitarist, singer and songwriter. He came to prominence in the early 1970s as a member of the New York Dolls. He later played with ...

) (4:49)

Personnel

*David Johansen - vocals * Steven Paul - director *

Charlie Giordano Charles Giordano (born October 13, 1954) is an American keyboardist and accordionist. Giordano is known primarily for his work with Bruce Springsteen as a member of the E Street Band, replacing Danny Federici as the band's organist following the ...

- keyboards * Huw Gower - guitar, backing vocals *Tony Machine - drums, percussion *Brett Cartwright - bass, backing vocals *David Nelson - guitar, backing vocals ;Technical *Ron Nevison - producer, engineer *

Kate Simon Kate Simon (December 5, 1912 – February 4, 1990) was a Polish-born American writer. Life and career She was born Kaila Grobsmith in Warsaw, Poland, the daughter of David Grobsmith, a shoe designer, and Lonia Grobsmith née Babicz, a corsetiere ...

, David Gahr - photography {{Authority control David Johansen albums Albums produced by Ron Nevison 1982 live albums Blue Sky Records live albums