![New York Dolls: blues, girl group records and soul were integral to who they were](http://theartsdesk.com/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/mastimages/New%20York%20Dolls%20Personality%20Crisis%20Live%20Recordings%20%26%20Studio%20Demos%201972-1975_header.jpg?itok=Dw9X-sqb)
'Personality Crisis' is a frequently wonderful collection of what New York’s finest did not originally release
Playing Vancouver’s Commodore Ballroom on 8 September 1974, the New York Dolls opened their first set of the evening with three cover versions. Muddy Waters’ “Hoochie Coochie Man” was followed by The Shangri-Las’ “(Give Him a) Great Big Kiss” and Otis Redding’s “Don’t Mess With Cupid”. They were acknowledging that blues, girl group records and soul were integral to who they were. A pretty comprehensive sweep considering they were a prime influence on the purportedly reductive punk rock.