Early Iggy Pop and N.Y. Dolls Recordings Released

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The Iguanas, featuring Iggy Pop on drums, from 1966

The New York-based Norton Records label is releasing on CD for the first time the earliest garage-band recordings featuring the future Iggy Pop. The release of the material by the Iguanas, recorded in 1965 when Iggy was still known as James Osterberg and played drums, coincides with the release of Gimme Danger, director Jim Jarmusch’s Iggy documentary.

The full-length album The Iguanas, previously available on vinyl LP and digital, will now be released on Nov. 7 on CD for the first time, in limited quantity. The album includes the group’s 1965 single sides plus more than a dozen demo home recordings. The set includes liner notes by Iguanas guitarist Jim McLaughlin. Norton is also making available for the first time a vinyl 45 single of “Again & Again”/“Mona”/“I Don’t Know Why,” three 1965 recordings cut in Detroit by the band.

According to a Norton press release, “The first and only pressing sold out at their local Ann Arbor shows. They planned to do a new pressing in 1966 with ‘Again & Again’ on the flip of ‘Mona’ but Iggy left the band for the Prime Movers, so this killer track (what hey, all three are prime cut super gnarly killer ’60s garage mayhem) remained unheard and unknown for decades. It’s on creamy dreamy iguana- green vinyl so catch it while you can.”

Norton is also releasing, on Nov. 7, a five-track 45 from future Stooges member James Williamson’s early band the Coba Seas. Titled Unreformed and recorded in 1966 it includes these classic teen-band staples of the day: “Just Like Me,” “Empty Heart,” “Heart of Stone,” “It’s My Life,” “Louie Louie” and “Gloria.”

Also coming from Norton is the New York Dolls’ Mercury Demos, two songs—“Personality Crisis” and “Trash”—released on a 45 RPM single for the first time. The Paul Nelson-produced demos are being released on pink vinyl.

The New York Dolls’ A Hard Night’s Day LP

Norton is also putting its full 21-song collection of the Dolls’ demos, A Hard Night’s Day, back in print. These spring 1973 sessions “showcase the young band for the first time with drummer Jerry Nolan and feature the mauling antics of late, great guitar legend Johnny Thunders,” says Norton’s release. The track list is below.

Lastly, Norton is offering a 45 with Dolls guitarist Johnny Thunders’ first recording from 1967 with the band the Reign, “Zippered Up Heart.”

Related: The New York Dolls’ debut album released, July 1973

The Iguanas Track Listing
Mona
I Don’t Know Why
Again & Again
Out Of Limits
California Sun
Twist & Shout
Walk Don’t Run
Things We Said Today
Surfin’ Bird
Louie Louie
Wild Weekend
Tell Me
Slow Down
Johnny B. Goode
Tequila
I Feel Fine
Pipeline
If I Had A Hammer

New York Dolls A Hard Night’s Day Track Listing
Seven Day Weekend
Frankenstein
Who Are The Mystery Girls?
(There’s Gonna Be A) Showdown
Back In The USA
Looking For A Kiss
Jet Boy
It’s Too Late
Bad
Detective
Lonely Planet Boy
Subway Train
Private World
Trash
Human Being
Don’t Start Me Talkin’
Give Her A Great Big Kiss
Vietnamese Baby
Babylon
Bad Girl
Pills
Personality Crisis