Drawing from all three phases of David Johansen's career, From Pumps to Pompadours: The David Johansen Story is a comprehensive of the hard rocker's career. Only three songs date from his influential days with The New York Dolls ("Trash," "Personality Crisis," "Babylon"), but that has been the most well-documented period of his career. While his biggest hits -- in fact, his only hits -- are the five Buster Poindexter tracks at the end of the disc, the middle portion of the album, which selects the highlights from his overlooked solo albums of the late '70s and early '80s, is where most of the best material lies. From the sleazy rush of "Funky but Chic" to the savage Animals medley "We Gotta Get out of This Place"/"Don't Bring Me Down"/"It's My Life," the 11 solo tracks make a case for Johansen being one of the finest hard rockers of his era. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
Scarlet Rivera (Violin), Ivy Ray (Vocals), Joe d'Elia (Organ), Soozie Tyrell (Violin), Crispin Cioe (Sax (Alto)), Sylvain Sylvain (Vocals), Dan Hartman (Vocals), Kate Simon (Photography), David Johansen (Percussion), Ron Nevison (Producer), John Sheard (Arranger), Brenda White (Vocals), Trash (Performer), Thomas Trask (Guitar), Joe Perry (Guitar), Joe d'Elia (Arranger), Patti Scialfa (Vocals), Bobby Blain (Piano), Johnny Thunders (Vocals), Futz (Vocals), Tony Machine (Percussion), Johnny Thunders (Guitar), Brian Koonin (Conductor), Frankie La Rocka (Vocals), Gary Stewart (Compilation), Rachel Gutek (Design), John Collins (Vocals), Joe d'Elia (Director), Sylvain Sylvain (Piano), David Johansen (Producer), Jerry Nolan (Drums), Thomas Trask (Vocals), David Johansen (Trombone), Charlie Giordano (Arranger), Huw Gower (Guitar), Gary Peterson (Research), Frankie La Rocka (Drums), Mick Ronson (Arranger), Arno Hecht (Sax (Tenor)), Gene Orloff (?), Johnny Rao (Guitar), Ted Myers (Project Assistant), Charlie Giordano (Keyboards), Frankie La Rocka (Tambourine), Arthur Kane (Bass), Bob Funk (Trombone), Brett Cartwright (Bass), Dave Nelson (Vocals), Tony Machine (Drums), Michael Ochs (Photography), Buz Verno (Bass), Barry Mraz (Producer), Brian Koonin (Sitar), Coco Shinomiya (Art Direction), New York Dolls (Performer), Bob Gruen (Photography), Buster Poindexter (?), Buster Poindexter (Vocals), Dan Hartman (Bass), Lisa Lowell (Vocals), Brian Koonin (Mandolin), Kevin Trainor (Vocals), Ronnie Guy (Piano), Randi Michaels (Vocals), Jim Bessman (Liner Notes), Crispin Cioe (Sax (Baritone)), Fred Walcott (Percussion), Charlie Giordano (Director), Tony Machine (Drum Programming), Sylvain Sylvain (Guitar), Huw Gower (Vocals), Brian Koonin (Banjo), Mick Ronson (Producer), Jocelyn Brown (Vocals), Bill Inglot (Remastering), Ernie Brooks (Bass), Bobby Blain (Organ), Martha Wash (Vocals), Sarah Dash (Vocals (Background)), Ken Perry (Remastering), Carl Hall (Vocals), John Sheard (String Arrangements), David Johansen (Guitar), David Johansen (Arranger), Tom Mandel (Organ), Richard Robinson (Producer), David Johansen (Bass), Stan Bronstein (Horn), David Johansen (Vocals), Brett Cartwright (Vocals), Louise Bethune (?), Jerry Nolan (Percussion), Johnny Rao (Piano), Gene Orloff (Conductor), Louise Bethune (Vocals), Charlie Giordano (Accordion), Mick Ronson (Guitar (Acoustic)), John Sheard (Synclavier), Soozie Tyrell (Vocals), Arno Hecht (?), Steven Paul (Vocals), Todd Rundgren (Producer), Terry Gabis (Vocals), Uptown Horns (?), David Johansen (Harmonica), Hank Medress (Producer), Dave Nelson (Guitar), Dave Darlington (Programming), Blondie Chaplin (Vocals), Brian Koonin (Guitar), Larry Poindexter (Accordion), Roberta Bayley (Photography), Hoy Boy (Vocals), Ian Hunter (Piano), David Johansen (Tambourine), Shadow Morton (Producer), Hollywood Paul Litteral (Trumpet), Blondie Chaplin (Guitar), Buster Poindexter (Performer), Nona Hendryx (Vocals (Background)), Buz Verno (Vocals), Joe d'Elia (Piano), Tony Garnier (Bass)
