The New York Dolls’ today confirmed the U.K. release date of Monday May 4th for their highly anticipated fourth studio album ‘Cause I Sez So. The band has reunited with Todd Rundgren, producer of their influential 1973 debut. The new album will be released by Atco Records (U.S. release date is Tuesday May 5th).

The album was recorded at Utopia Sound Studio in Kauai, Hawaii, and features original Dolls David Johansen (vocals) and Sylvain Sylvain (guitar), plus Steve Conte (guitar), Brian Delaney (drums), and Sami Yaffa (bass). The album cover artwork is designed by Matt Taylor at Varnish Studio Inc, with photography by Max Lakner.

The 12-song track list features 11 original compositions, including the first single “‘Cause I Sez So” and a new version of “Trash,” which was on their 1973 debut album. “It was amazing working with Todd again, and I think we were able to evoke the special sound of our first album and drag it by the hair into the present,” says front man Johansen

©2009 Max Lakner

Prior to the album’s release, the New York Dolls-David Johansen (vocals); Sylvain Sylvain (guitar); Steve Conte (guitar); Brian Delaney (drums); and Sami Yaffa (bass)-will appear at the South By Southwest (SXSW) music conference and festival in Austin, Texas in mid March.

The New York Dolls swaggered onto the New York music scene in the early ’70s, influencing a generation with its subversive mix of high-decibel rock and high-heeled androgyny. The original band recorded a pair of milestone records-New York Dolls (1973) and Too Much Too Soon (1974) – before breaking up in 1977.

The surviving members reformed the group in 2004 to much acclaim, but soon lost bassist Arthur Kane to leukemia. Two years later, Johansen and Sylvain reunited again to record the New York Dolls’ third studio album, One Day It Will Please Us To Remember Even This.