L.A.M.F.: The Found '77 Masters

Limited clear vinyl LP pressing. Ex-New York Dolls (Thunders, Nolan) band's recently found 1977 master, without 'mud' - heard as the band intended! A recently-found copy master of the original 1977 Track Records tape, without mud! This classic punk album, recorded in London by the NYC band featuring two New York Dolls, was always controversial. On release in 1977 on Track Records, it was condemned in the press for having a 'muddy mix' - later found to be a mastering fault. When Track later went bust, manager Leee Black Childers burgled the office and liberated the tapes - except for the master-tape. Subsequent releases were remixes or compiled from outtake mixes - the latter 'lost '77 mixes' in 1994 being the version commonly known since. In 2020 a chance meeting led to Danny Secunda's archives. Danny was an old-school music biz pioneer who understood punk. He became a Track Records director and the Heartbreakers 'L.A.M.F.' co-producer. In amongst his tape box archive were two with no artist name, marked 'Copy Master 12.7.77'. They turned out to be a crystal-clear 'L.A.M.F.', just as the band and producers intended it. Sadly, none of the Heartbreakers lived to hear of the discovery. In 2020 the Heartbreakers co-lead vocalist, guitarist and songwriter Walter passed away, the last of the Heartbreakers 'L.A.M.F.' line-up. First released as a much in-demand RSD release in 2021, it now returns as a limited edition in transparent vinyl. With inner bag and notes by Simon Wright, and photos by Roberta Bayley.