Misplaced Pages

Que Sera Sera
Studio album by Johnny Thunders
Released	December 1985
Recorded	March – August 1985
Studio	Tin Pan Alley Studios, London; West 3 Studios, Acton, London
Genre	Garage rock, punk rock, alternative rock
Label	Jungle
Producer	Johnny Thunders
Johnny Thunders chronology
Hurt Me (1984) Que Sera Sera (1985) Copy Cats (1988)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic
Kerrang!

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Que Sera Sera" album – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (May 2022) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

Que Sera Sera is the fourth studio album by Johnny Thunders, former lead guitarist of the New York Dolls and The Heartbreakers, released in December 1985. Unlike previous efforts So Alone and In Cold Blood, only one song on the album features members of his former bands, and Thunders instead relied largely on the reggae-influenced rhythm section of session musicians Keith George Yon and Tony St. Helene, nicknamed the Black Cats, and also features contributions from Dr. Feelgood guitarist Wilko Johnson, long-term collaborator Patti Palladin, and members of Hanoi Rocks.

The original 1985 release of the album had ten songs. On later pressings, other songs from the sessions were added, "Que Sera, Sera", "Cool Operator (Black Cat Remix)" and Thunders' own remix of the opening track, "Short Lives", which replaced the original mix as opener of the album. "Que Sera, Sera" was first released as a single (7" and 12"), backed with Thunders' remix of "Short Lives". "Tie Me Up" was earlier released as B-side to the Johnny Thunders and Patti Palladin single, a cover of Elvis Presley's song "Crawfish" in 1985.

Track listing

All tracks composed by Johnny Thunders, except where indicated.

1. "Short Lives" (Thunders, Patti Palladin) 3:09
2. "M.I.A." 2:47
3. "I Only Wrote This Song for You" 2:32
4. "Little Bit of Whore" 2:27
5. "Cool Operator" (Thunders, Keith George Yon, Tony St. Helene) 6:18
6. "Blame It on Mom" 3:42
7. "Tie Me Up" (Thunders, Patti Palladin) 3:11
8. "Alone in a Crowd" 2:40
9. "Billy Boy" 3:00
10. "Endless Party" (Thunders, David Johansen) 2:41
11. "Que Sera, Sera" 3:41
12. "Short Lives" (original mix) 3:16
13. "Cool Operator" (Black Cat Remix) 5:49

Personnel

• Johnny Thunders - guitar, vocals

Black Cats

• Keith George Yon - bass
• Tony St. Helene - drums

with:

• Wilko Johnson - guitar on 5 & 10
• Michael Monroe - saxophone, harmonica
• John Perry - guitar, keyboards, backing vocals on 1, 3, 4, 7, 8, 10, 11 & 12
• Patti Palladin - vocals
• Nasty Suicide - guitar on 1
• Stiv Bators - backing vocals on 10
• Dave Tregunna - backing vocals on 10
• Pedro Ortiz - percussion on 7
• J.C. Carroll - mandolin, accordion
• Billy Rath - bass on 7
• Jerry Nolan - drums on 7
• Henri-Paul Tortosa - guitar on 7
• John "Irish" Earle - saxophone on 7
• Judd Lander - mouth organ on 7
• St. Theresa School Choir - "child abuse" on 11

Technical

• John McGowan, Ken Thomas - engineer
• Nina Antonia - liner notes
• Leee Black Childers - photography

Charts

References

1. "Johnny Thunders- Que Sera Sera". Discogs. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
2. Claps, Andy. "Que Sera, Sera". Allmusic. Retrieved April 18, 2014.
3. Dickson, Dave (6 Mar 1986). "Johnny Thunders 'Que Sera, Sera'". Kerrang!. Vol. 115. London, UK: Morgan Grampian. p. 26.
4. "80's". greeninconline. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
5. "Johnny Thunders- Que Sera Sera". Discogs. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
6. "Johnny Thunders – Que Sera, Sera Resurrected (Jungle Records)". Midnight To Six. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
7. "Keith George Yon Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio". Allmusic. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
8. "Tony St Helene Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio". Allmusic. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
9. "Wilko Johnson: Punk Rock Patient Zero 1947-2022". Rock and Roll Globe. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
10. "Patti Palladin Discography". Discogs. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
11. "Michael Monroe". hanoi-rocks.net. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
12. "Nasty Suicide Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More". Allmusic. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
13. Lazell, Barry (1997). Indie Hits 1980-1989. Cherry Red Books. Archived from the original on June 8, 2011. Retrieved September 5, 2014.

• Johnny Thunders albums
• 1985 albums