Jewel Case

The classic Johnny & Patti album ‘COPY CATS’ from 1988 is being reissued on CD after being unavailable for eight years. An acclaimed, affectionate collection of tunes that the expatriate New York pair grew up with, it features songs by The Shangri-La’s, Dion, Elvis, The Seeds, The Shirelles, Roy Head and Screaming Jay Hawkins amongst others.

Johnny is of course the late New York Doll & Heartbreaker notorious rock legend; his pal Patti is half of punk girl duo Snatch as well as being an Eno and Flying Lizards collaborator.

The positive reaction on its release was unanimous; DJs John Peel and Charlie Gillett both declared it to be “better than the originals”! With Patti in the producer’s chair, the extended 1987 sessions enlisted well over 20 musicians including real brass and strings players to create a meticulously crafted homage to the originals. Whilst stamping the duos own personalities on the songs, this thorough and conscientious project is also in high contrast to Johnny’s often-wayward live persona.

The assembled players included guitarist John Perry (Only Ones), bassist Robbie A. Gordon (Gil Scott Heron band), keyboardist Bob Andrews (The Rumour, Brinsley Schwartz), guest backing vocals by Chrissie Hynde, violinist Alex Balanescu, brass section Jim Dvorak, Nick Evans & John ‘Irish’ Earle, percussionist Pedro Ortiz, drummer Steve Washington, Heartbreakers Billy Rath and Jerry Nolan, plus Jayne County and numerous others.