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"…Hit The Sky…"
After three albums on Island between 1970 and
1971 that saw constant touring, critical acclaim but little chart action
("Mad Shadows", "Wildlife" and "Brain Capers") –
Mott The Hoople were about to throw in the towel when they finally hit paydirt
with the David Bowie assisted "All The Young Dudes" single and LP in
the heady days of 1972 (the height of Glam Rock in the UK). With the mercurial
Bowie a fan and his star exploding everywhere – the timing and the song was
perfect. All they needed to do was to consolidate that fresh beginning – and
1973’s "Mott" followed through in real style. In fact it’s when most
fans agree that the band was at its most coherent – with their identity and
heir own sound – a vital high water that was achieved without needing the help
of any Glam Superstar. Here are the Honaloochie Boogies...
UK released April 2006 – "Mott" by MOTT THE
HOOPLE on Columbia/Legacy 82796938102 (Barcode 827969381021) is an 'Expanded Edition' CD
Remaster and plays out as follows (58:42 minutes):
1. All The Way From Memphis
2. Whizz Kid
3. Hymn For The Dudes
4. Honaloochie Boogie
5. Violence
6. Drivin’ Sister
7. Ballad Of Mott The Hoople (march 26, 1972 –
Zurich)
8. I’m A Cadillac / El Camino Dolo Roso
9. I Wish I Was Your Mother
Tracks 1 to 9 are 5th studio album
“Mott” – released July 1973 in the UK on CBS Records S 69038 and August 1973 in
the USA on Columbia KC 32425
BONUS TRACKS:
10. Rose
11. Honaloochie Boogie (Demo version)
12. Nightmare (Demo)
13. Drivin’ Star (Live, Hammersmith Odeon)
The album was originally produced by the band
(with Andy McKay of Roxy Music guesting on Sax) and this CD reappraisal offers
fans 4 additions – "Rose" the non-album flip of "Honaloochie
Boogie", 2 previously unreleased demos of "Honaloochie Boogie"
and "Nightmare" and one incendiary live version of "Drivin'
Sister" recorded at the Hammersmith Odeon in 1973. Oddly the single edit
of "All The Way From Memphis" is AWOL when there was plenty of room
to include it.
It won’t take British fans very long to notice
that the gorgeous gatefold die-cut artwork of the original 1973 UK LP with it’s
centred plastic face and inner lyric bag is completely absent - sloppily
replaced with reissue artwork. At least the 12-page booklet is better than the
scrappy 8-page affair that afflicts the 2006 Legacy CD of 1972’s "All The
Young Dudes".
We get more liner notes by KEITH SMITH (Editor of the MTH
Fanzine “Two Miles From Heaven”), detailed recording info, lyrics and even the
D.H. Lawrence piece "A Sane Revolution" that appeared on the rear
cover artwork. But the colour-photo montage that’s on inner gatefold is missing
and the booklet’s impact is negligible when the original LP was a thing of
beauty.
Offsetting the disappointing presentation
however is the real deal - a fantastic new remaster by tape wizard VIC ANESINI
whose credits include Simon & Garfunkel, Stevie Ray Vaughan, The Jayhawks,
Elvis Presley, Carole King, Hall & Oates and Santana to name but a few. His
work is fantastic and I actively seek out his Remasters. And “Mott” had the
tunes. Ian Hunter’s songwriting talents came to the fore on “Mott” - most are
his songs except “Violence” and “Drivin’ Sister” which are co-writes with
Guitarist Mick Ralphs (who was already in Bad Company). The other co-write is
“Hymn For The Dudes” which is with Verden Allen.
The LP opens with the full album version of the
rollicking "All The Way From Memphis" which to this day makes me
smile (lyrics above). The grungy boogie of "Whizz Kid" could so
easily have been a rocker on Bowie's "Ziggy Stardust" and the
melodrama ballad "Hymn For The Dudes" is properly great Mott The
Hoople - the "Thunderthighs" girly backing vocalists adding real
power to a great song. The trio that follow "Honaloochie Boogie", "Violence"
and "Drivin' Sister" show the differing song approaches of two huge
talents – Ian Hunter and Mick Ralphs – both giving Mott The Hoople Rock, fun
and that fabulous British Rock 'n' Roll swagger. But again it's the ballads
that get you – the 1972 Live In Zurich "Ballad Of..." and the lovely
acoustic strum of "I Wish I Was Your Mother" see the album finish on
a real high.
The four bonus tracks are a typically mixed bag
of the good and the average. Favourite is the beautiful ballad "Rose"
– the non-album flip of "Honaloochie Boogie" (a long-prized Mott
item). Musically as good is Verden Allen's "Nightmare" – that is
until he opens his mouth and starts singing – he’s a terrible voice. The
reissue finishes with the huge guitar punch of a live show opener "Drivin’
Sister” – but it’s already appeared on the 30th Anniversary issue of "Mott
The Hoople Live".
So there you have it – a great album and a
properly fab trip down Rock’s Memory Lane. It's a real shame that the booklet
doesn’t celebrate "Mott" a bit more (an Indie label would have splashed
out 20-pages or more) and a few more bonus tracks would have sweetened the deal
- but at least what’s on offer is sonically brilliant (a fantastic remaster by
Anesini).
Verden Allen would leave as would Mick Ralphs -
but with principal song-writer and singer Ian Hunter still at the helm – the
band would go on to even better things with their underrated 6th LP "The
Hoople" in 1974 with the gorgeous "Trudi's Song" on it (see
reviews for that and "Dudes" from 1972).
Now in 2017 - this remastered "Mott"
CD is cheaper than a bag of chips after the pub.
Get your greasy fingers on
this 70ts Classic Rock right away...
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