Dancing Backward in High Heels
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox album
|name = Dancing Backward in High Heels
|type = Studio album
|artist = New York Dolls
|cover = Newyorkdollsdancingbackward.jpg
|alt =
|released = March 15, 2011
|recorded = September 7–30, 2010
|venue =
|studio = Blast Recording Studios
|genre = Glam punk, rock and roll
|length = 37:08
|label = 429 Records
|producer = Jason Hill
|prev_title = Cause I Sez So
|prev_year = 2009
|next_title =
|next_year =
}}
{{Music ratings
|rev1 = The A.V. Club
|rev1Score = B−{{cite web|last=Heller |first=Jason |url=https://www.avclub.com/new-york-dolls-dancing-backward-in-high-heels-1798167577 |title=New York Dolls: Dancing Backward In High Heels | Music |website=The A.V. Club |date=March 15, 2011 |access-date=February 12, 2012}}
|rev2 = BBC Music
|rev3 = Chicago Tribune
|rev4 = The Daily Telegraph
|rev4Score = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/cdreviews/8385979/New-York-Dolls-Dancing-Backward-In-High-Heels-CD-review.html |title=New York Dolls: Dancing Backward In High Heels, CD review |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |date= March 16, 2011|accessdate=February 12, 2012}}
|rev5 = The Independent
|rev5Score = {{rating|1|5}}{{cite news|first=Andy|last=Gill |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/album-new-york-dolls-dancing-backward-in-high-heels-blast-2238312.html |title=Album: New York Dolls, Dancing Backward in High Heels (Blast) - Reviews - Music |newspaper=The Independent|date=March 11, 2011 |accessdate=February 12, 2012}}
|rev6 = Los Angeles Times
|rev6Score = {{rating|3|4}}{{cite news|first=Randy|last=Lewis|url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2011/03/album-review-new-york-dolls-dancing-backward-in-high-heels.html |title=Album review: New York Dolls' 'Dancing Backward in High Heels'|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=March 14, 2011 |accessdate=February 12, 2012}}
|rev7 = NME
|rev7Score = {{rating|7|10}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/new-york-dolls/11912 |title=NME Album Reviews - Album Review: New York Dolls - Dancing Backwards In High Heels (Blast) |work=NME |date=March 16, 2011 |accessdate=February 12, 2012}}
|rev8 = PopMatters
|rev8Score = {{rating|8|10}}{{cite web|last=Aspray |first=Benjamin |url=https://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/138153-new-york-dolls-dancing-backward-in-high-heels/ |title=New York Dolls: Dancing Backward in High Heels < PopMatters |website=Popmatters|date= |accessdate=February 12, 2012}}
|rev9 = Rolling Stone
|rev9Score = {{rating|3.5|5}}{{cite web |first=David|last=Fricke |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/dancing-backward-in-high-heel-20110315 |title=Dancing Backward in High Heel | Album Reviews |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=March 15, 2011 |accessdate=February 12, 2012 |archive-date=March 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170313130117/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/dancing-backward-in-high-heel-20110315 |url-status=dead }}
|rev10 = Spin
|rev10Score = {{Rating|8|10}}{{cite web|first=Barry|last=Walters|url=http://www.spin.com/reviews/new-york-dolls-dancing-backward-high-heels-429|title=New York Dolls, 'Dancing Backward In High Heels' (429)|work=Spin|date=March 15, 2011}}
}}
Dancing Backward in High Heels is the fifth and final studio album by the New York Dolls, and the third since their 2004 reunion. Released on March 15, 2011, on 429 Records, it contains covers of the 1946 Leon René standard "I Sold My Heart to the Junkman," and "Funky But Chic," originally from David Johansen's 1978 self titled album.
The title is a reference to actress Ginger Rogers. In a 1982 Frank and Ernest cartoon by Bob Thaves,([http://www.reelclassics.com/Actresses/Ginger/ginger-article2.htm image]) a woman is telling Frank and Ernest "Sure (Fred Astaire) was great, but don't forget that Ginger Rogers did everything he did, ...backwards and in high heels."
Track listing
{{Track listing
|all_writing = David Johansen and Sylvain Sylvain, except where noted
|title1 = Streetcake
|length1 = 3:18
|title2 = Talk to Me Baby
|length2 = 3:03
|title3 = Fabulous Rant
|length3 = 0:25
|title4 = I'm So Fabulous
|length4 = 2:26
|title5 = Fool for You Baby
|length5 = 2:37
|title6 = Kids Like You
|length6 = 3:51
|title7 = Round and Round She Goes
|length7 = 3:46
|title8 = You Don't Have to Cry
|writer8 = Jason Hill, David Johansen, Sylvain Sylvain
|length8 = 3:03
|title9 = I Sold My Heart to the Junkman
|writer9 = Otis René, Leon René
|length9 = 2:24
|title10 = Baby, Tell Me What I'm On
|length10 = 3:57
|title11 = Funky But Chic
|length11 = 4:01
|title12 = End of the Summer
|length12 = 4:17
|total_length= 37:08
}}
Personnel
Dancing Backward in High Heels was produced by Jason Hill, who also replaced Sami Yaffa as Dolls bassist on this album. Also joining Johansen and Sylvain Sylvain - the only members still living at the time of either the New York Dolls' "classic" 1972-1975 line up which recorded their two albums on Mercury Records or the two earlier line ups - were drummer Brian Delaney, who has been with the Dolls since their 2004 reunion, and former Blondie guitarist Frank Infante.
Neither Sylvain nor Johansen released any further albums, solo or in any bands, before their respective deaths in 2021 and 2025, both from cancer. As such this is the last album ever recorded by any members of the "classic" or earlier line ups.
;New York Dolls
- David Johansen – lead vocals, harmonica
- Sylvain Sylvain – guitar, vocals
- Frank Infante – guitar
- Jason Hill – bass, vocals
- Brian Delaney – drums