Mott The Anthology

09/11/2008
. (antiMusic) Here is some info we were just sent about a new anthology that just hit stores: Ian Hunter, leader and principal songwriter of Mott The Hoople, has over the course of a career that continues to this day, been revealed as one of the most illuminating commentators on the rock 'n' roll relationship between artist and audience. That's the journey these two CDs will take you on, guided by what remains one of the most distinctive voices our music has produced. Though Mott had a few hits in the early '70s, the band never quite broke through into the mainstream. However, they had an undeniable effect on multiple English music movements that followed them—pub rock, punk, even the new Brit metal.

After releasing four albums and developing a cult following in Britain, their releases weren't selling well. Upon hearing the band was breaking up, Mott fan David Bowie offered them "All The Young Dudes." Written and produced by David Bowie, the track was released in August 1972, immediately shooting into the upper reaches of the U.K. charts and cracking the American Top 40. The record was a hit, a glam-rock anthem and an expression of the changing zeitgeist, and still summons its glitter-caked era every time you hear it. The album All The Young Dudes (1972) was put together quickly, and it became Mott's first hit album. This was followed by 1973's self-produced Mott, which Rolling Stone described as "the best album from the best band of the early '70s."

Mott did eventually break up in the '70s, with guitarist Mick Ralphs forming Bad Company. Hunter, who had first been bitten by the rock 'n' roll bug through exposure to electrifying performers such as Little Richard and Jerry Lee Lewis, launched his solo career.

There are strong indications of what might have been had the band stayed together on the debut solo album Ian Hunter (1975). "Once Bitten Twice Shy" is a natural successor to Mott rock 'n' roll mythsongs like "All The Way From Memphis," but nonspecific enough to become a Top 5 hit for Great White in 1989. Disc 2 gets its name from the Hunter song "Old Records Never Die," a piece of his earlier writing about rock 'n' roll and those "who get their healing from a song." He'd always paid reverent lip service to the eternal rock 'n' roll flame, but the years had provided him with a deeper understanding of the enduring nature of it all.

No discussion of Ian Hunter's solo work can fail to give generous credit to the contributions of Mick Ronson. Only one track here is formally credited to the Ian Hunter/Mick Ronson band ("Women's Intuition" from 1990's Y U I Orta), but much of Disc 2 bears his imprint on several levels. You're Never Alone With A Schizophrenic (1979) included the originals of two of Ian's most successfully covered songs. "Cleveland Rocks" became a boob tube classic as the theme music for Drew Carey's sitcom, while "Ships" surprisingly became Barry Manilow's last Top 10 single.

DISC ONE:
Mott The Hoople
1. Rock and Roll Queen (Mick Ralphs)
From the album Mott The Hoople (1969)
2. Walkin' With A Mountain (Ian Hunter)
From the album Mad Shadows (1970)
3. Whiskey Women (Mick Ralphs)
From the album Wildlife (1971)
4. Sweet Angeline (Ian Hunter)
From the album Brain Capers (1971)
5. Death May Be Your Santa Claus (Ian Hunter/Verden Allen)
From the album Brain Capers (1972)
6. All The Young Dudes (David Bowie)
From the album All The Young Dudes (1972)
7. Sweet Jane (Lou Reed)
From the album All The Young Dudes (1972)
8. Sucker (Ian Hunter/Mick Ralphs/Pete Watts)
From the album All The Young Dudes (1972)
9. All The Way From Memphis (Ian Hunter)
From the album Mott (1973)
10. Honaloochie Boogie (Ian Hunter)
From the album Mott (1973)
11. Violence (Ian Hunter/Mick Ralphs)
From the album Mott (1973)
12. Ballad Of Mott The Hoople (March 26, 1972 – Zurich)
(Verden Allen/Dale Buffin Griffin/Ian Hunter/Mick Ralphs/Pete Watts)
From the album Mott (1973)
13. Roll Away The Stone (Ian Hunter)
From the album The Hoople (1974)
14. Crash Street Kids (Ian Hunter)
From the album The Hoople (1974)
15. The Golden Age Of Rock & Roll (Ian Hunter)
From the album The Hoople (1974)
16. Saturday Gigs (Ian Hunter)
From the album Greatest Hits (1975)

DISC TWO:
Ian Hunter
1. Once Bitten Twice Shy (Ian Hunter)
From the album Ian Hunter (1975)
2. Who Do You Love (Ian Hunter)
From the album Ian Hunter (1975)
3. 3,000 Miles From Here (Ian Hunter)
From the album Ian Hunter (1975)
4. You Nearly Did Me In (Ian Hunter)
From the album All American Alien Boy (1976)
5. Justice Of The Peace (Ian Hunter/Earl Slick)
From the album Overnight Angels (1977)
6. Cleveland Rocks (Ian Hunter)
From the album You're Never Alone With A Schizophrenic (1977)
7. Just Another Night (Ian Hunter/Mick Ronson)
From the album You're Never Alone With A Schizophrenic (1977)
8. Ships (Ian Hunter)
From the album You're Never Alone With A Schizophrenic (1977)
9. When THE Daylight Comes (Ian Hunter)
From the album You're Never Alone With A Schizophrenic (1977)
10. Old Records never die (Ian Hunter)
From the album Short Back And Sides (1981)
11. Central Park N' West (Ian Hunter)
From the album Short Back N' Sides (1981)
12. Speechless (Ian Hunter)
From the album All Of The Good Ones Are Taken (1983)
13. Women's Intuition – (Ian Hunter/Mick Ronson)
From the album Y U I Orta (1990)
14. The Artful Dodger (Ian Hunter)
From the album The Artful Dodger (1997)
15. Still Love Rock And Roll (Ian Hunter)
From the album Rant (2001)
16. Words (Big Mouth) (Ian Hunter/Andy York)
From the album Shrunken Heads (2007)

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