TRACK INFORMATION

(GIVE HER A) GREAT BIG KISS was written by George ‘Shadow’ Morton back in 1964. Shadow not only produced the Shangri-Las US Top 20 hit recording of his song, but also produced Johnny’s band the New York Dolls who cut their version of his classic hit ten years later in 1974*.

Johnny recorded his own solo version with Steve Lillywhite engineering and co-producing the session, for which Johnny had assembled members of the Sex Pistols, Heartbreakers and Pretenders to join Patti Palladin John ‘Irish’ Earle and himself. They recorded a jubilant arrangement of the song which is a party-starter of a track and was featured on his solo album ‘So Alone’.

*released in 1985 on the album NEW YORK DOLLS ‘Night Of The Living Dolls’

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

When Remarquable Records located the ‘lost’ session tape there were many splendid contributions that had been committed to tape but omitted from the released mix. Remarquable commissioned a new mix to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the session and the ‘So Alone’ album. This special mix restores all the missing parts from the album mix – eg Johnny and Steve Jones’ guitar parts, Chrissie Hynde’s backing vocals – and also separates the song’s call and response vocal banter between Johnny and Patti.

Such was the joie de vivre of the session an instrumental mix that complimented the vocal mix was crafted which amplifies the playfulness of the session. “Mwah” seemed like a fitting title for the instrumental mix, from Remarquable to Johnny; from Johnny to you. Ahh.

We sent the new mix to Steve Lillywhite who replied back “Wow ! That sounds really good , without losing the essence ! Well done ….”. and when Patti heard it and she not only jumped backed but instantly ‘requested’ the task of designing the picture disc and sleeve, working with Bruce Brand who handled the graphic build.

Taking inspiration from the mid sixties vibe, Patti whipped up artwork that captured the spirit of her Murray the K infused teenage years in Brooklyn and matches the joyous abandon of the recording session which featured a dream team line up.

Murray The K, by the way, had put on shows in Brooklyn, New York back in the day which had featured The Shangri Las.

This release tips a hat to the songwriter George ‘Shadow’ Morton who died five years ago (14 February 2013).

The picture disc was lovingly made at Optimal in Germany and looks and sounds fabulous.

Corners were not cut for this release, we even scrapped the first run of sleeves which had an error in the credits – an instant collectors’ nightmare eh.

REMARQUABLE CREDITS :

Remarquable Research - Pedro Mercedes

Remarquable Tape transfers, restoration & 24bit/96K digitising – Rob Keyloch at Church Walk Studio

Mastering – Nick Robbins @ Sound Mastering

Photography - Paul Slattery (Patti Palladin)

Graphic Build Bruce Brand / Arthole

Artwork/Design – Patti Palladin

(The REMARQUABLE RECORDS logo inspired by BILL SMITH designer of the original REAL RECORDS logo).

Manufacturer / Plant: MODO (a KEY Production Company) / Optimal Media gmbh

Distributor: Little Amber Fish [EUROPE] / Light In The Attic [USA / South East Asia]