Johnny Thunders’ 1985 studio album ‘Que Sera, Sera’ is re-issued as a video-enhanced CD, following the 10th anniversary of his death on April 23rd 1991. The mid-price CD also contains additional tracks to the original release and has improved packaging with a 12-page booklet including notes by Thunders’ biographer Nina Antonia.

The album, recorded in the UK after Thunders had gigged continuously for the previous two years, features an array of guests. As well as Heartbreakers Billy Rath and Jerry Nolan, the Sex Pistols Glen Matlock turned up, as did Stiv Bators, Hanoi Rocks’ Mike Monroe, the Feelgoods & Blockheads’ guitarist Wilko Johnson, the Only Ones guitarist John Perry, and regular collaborator Patti Palladin, amongst various others.

Although dozens of live Thunders albums have been released, Que Sera Sera is one of only three electric studio albums Thunders ever recorded of his own songs. Highlights on this album are ‘M.I.A.’, ‘Little Bit Of Whore’ (covered by Bebe Buell), ‘I Only Wrote This Song For You’ (which gave it’s name to the tribute album), and ‘Alone In A Crowd’ (covered by Los Lobos). The title-track, a wry take on Doris Day’s classic, was not on the original album but recorded as an afterthought, with the Members’ J-C Carroll on accordion and Sex Pistols’ Glen Matlock on bass.

A bonus for fans on this re-issue is previously unseen video footage from one of the Heartbreakers five nights live at The Marquee in 1984. ‘Sad Vacation’, ‘Little Bit Of Whore’ and ‘Pipeline’ are all featured in a 7½-minute MPEG video, viewable on both PC and Mac.

This release follows much renewed interest in Johnny Thunders with recent features in both Mojo and Uncut, spurred by the biography ‘Johnny Thunders – In Cold Blood’ biography by Nina Antonia and the pending film ‘Born To Lose – The Last Rock’n’Roll Movie’ by Lech Kowalski. The first DVD release, ‘Dead Or Alive’ also coincides, licensed by Jungle for release on Cherry Red Films.