"The Hoople" by MOTT THE HOOPLE (2006 Columbia/Legacy 'Expanded Edition' CD - Vic Anesini Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"…I'm In Love With Her…"

After four albums on Island between 1969 and 1971 that saw little chart action ("Mott The Hoople", "Mad Shadows", "Wildlife" and "Brain Capers") - then the David Bowie assisted breakthrough of "All The Young Dudes" in 1972 with its equally successful follow-up "Mott" in 1973 - the pressure was on to produce another winner. And Mott The Hoople's 7th LP "The Hoople" featuring Ian Hunter delivered what was needed.

UK released April 2006 – "The Hoople" by MOTT THE HOOPLE on Sony/Legacy 82796 978732 (Barcode 827969787328) is an 'Expanded Edition' CD Remaster and plays out as follows (69:06 minutes):

1. The Golden Age Of Rock 'n' Roll

2. Marionette

3. Alice

4. Crash Street Kidds

5. Born Late 1958 [Side 2]

6. Trudi's Song

7. Pearl 'N' Roy (England)

8. Through The Looking Glass

9. Roll Away The Stone

Tracks 1 to 9 are their seventh studio album "The Hoople" - released in the UK in July 1974 on CBS Records S 69064 and Columbia PC 32871

BONUS TRACKS:

10. Where Do They All Come From

Non-album B-side of the November 1973 UK 7" single "Roll Away The Stone" on CBS Records S CBS 1895

11. Rest In Peace

Non-album B-side of the March 1974 UK 7" single "The Golden Age Of Rock 'n' Roll" on CBS Records S CBS 2177

12. Foxy, Foxy

Non-album A-side of a June 1974 UK 7" single on CBS Records S CBS 2439

13. (Do You Remember The) Saturday Gigs

Non-album A-side of a September 1974 UK 7" single on CBS Records S CBS 2754 (credited as "Saturday Gig" on the label)

14. The Saturday Kids (Work In Progress Mixes)

15. Lounge Lizard (Aborted B-side)

16. American Pie/The Golden Age Of Rock 'n' Roll (Live From Broadway)

The 12-page booklet is pleasantly festooned with foreign picture sleeves and affectionate/knowledgeable liner notes by Campbell Devine - author of "All The Young Dudes: The Official Autobiography Of Mott The Hoople".

But the best news for fans is 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. The muscle on the rockers like "Marionette" and the Overend Watts track "Born Late '58" (the only Mott song to feature a non Ian Hunter vocal) is properly great. The singles too "The Golden Age Of Rock 'n' Roll" and "Roll Away The Stone" still thrill in that T.Rex glam kind of way (Lynsey De Paul contributes vocals to "Roll Away The Stone"). But for me the bees-knees is the gorgeous ballad to Ian Hunter's wife "Trudi's Song" (lyrics above) - the kind of Seventies tune that reduces me to mush for some reason.

This is also one of those reissues where the Bonus Tracks actually up the ante rather than just acting as filler. The previously unreleased mix of "The Saturday Kids" rocks and the aborted single B-side "Lounge Lizard" is a guitar-driven find - fabulous stuff. And those great single sides like "Saturday Gig" remind me of the buzz I got just finding their stuff in record stores and in secondhand shops. It does seem odd though that the "Saturday Gig" non-album B-side Medley of "Jerkin' Crocus, Sucker and Violence" isn't here too when there was room. But overall - a very tasty package indeed.

In 2016 – a Remastered "The Hoople" CD is cheaper than a pair of cheap sunglasses at a market stall. And I'm down with that. Get this little audio nugget into your shady home right away...

PS: Inspired by the ballad that turned me into a big girl's blouse this afternoon - I formed the following 70's FEST CD compilation list for geysers between 50 and 75 (and that's just the waistline). I've called it "Songs To Make A Grown Man Cry" and it just about fits onto an 80-minute CD-R. Here goes...

1. That's The Way - LED ZEPPELIN (October 1970 on "Led Zeppelin III" LP)

2. Home Again - CAROLE KING (March 1971 on "Tapestry" LP)

3. If I Laugh - CAT STEVENS (September 1971 on "Teaser And The Firecat" LP)

4. Debris - FACES (November 1971 on "A Nod's As Good As A Wink...To A Blind Horse" LP)

5. Old Man - NEIL YOUNG (February 1972 on "Harvest" LP)

6. Watch Me - LABI SIFFRE (July 1972 UK 7" single-only on Pye International)

7. Journey - DUNCAN BROWNE (August 1972 UK 7" single-only on Rak)

8. My Friend The Sun - FAMILY (September 1972 on "Bandstand" LP)

9. You Turn Me On, I'm A Radio - JONI MITCHELL (December 1972 on "For The Roses" LP)

10. The Right Thing To Do - CARLY SIMON (January 1973 on "No Secrets" LP)

11. The Kiss - JUDEE SILL (April 1973 on "Heart Food" LP)

12. I'm In Love With A Girl - BIG STAR (January 1974 on "Radio City" LP)

13. Trudi's Song by MOTT THE HOOPLE (March 1974 on "The Hoople" LP)

14. Roll On Babe - RONNIE LANE & SLIM CHANCE (August 1974 on "Anymore For Anymore" LP)

15. You're A Big Girl Now - BOB DYLAN (February 1975 on "Blood On The Tracks" LP)

16. Misty - RAY STEVENS (August 1975 on "Misty" LP)

17. Stay Young - GALLAGHER & LYLE (January 1976 on "Breakaway" LP)

18. On And On - STEPHEN BISHOP (December 1976 on "Careless" LP)

19. Alison - ELVIS COSTELLO (July 1977 on "My Aim Is True" LP)

20. River Song - DENNIS WILSON (September 1977 on "Pacific Ocean Blue" LP)

21. She's Always A Woman - BILLY JOEL (December 1977 on "The Stranger" LP)

22. English Rose - THE JAM (November 1978 on "All Mod Cons" LP)

Further suggestions/slagging in the 'comment' postcard section please...

"The Last Station" on BLU RAY – A Review Of The 2011 Film by Michael Hoffman

Here is a link to Amazon UK to get this BLU RAY at a very cheap price:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00370843A

"…You're What I Came To Find…" - The Last Station on BLU RAY

In the last two decades of his life – the author of "War And Peace" and "Anna Karenina" - wasn’t just the most famous writer in the world – Leo Tolstoy was the inspiration for an entire movement that advocated pacifism, vegetarianism and love as the core of its commune philosophy. Tolstoy also rejected Church dictate, private property and was even seen by some as a living saint. And in 1919 his fame was such that he actually became one of the world’s first modern-day celebrities - filmed on Pathe Cameras everywhere he went - with crews and press teams relentlessly stalking his home for photos and footage of the great man. And although he neither sought out publicity nor was comfortable with it – his ego as Demigod enjoyed it too – putting huge pressure of his home life and volatile marriage.

The statistics surrounding the lifelong union of Leo and Sofya Tolstoy are incredible (played to perfection by Christopher Plummer and Helen Mirren). Married when she was 18, she bore him 13 children and they were still sexually passionate into their 80s. But forces like the leader of the worldwide Tolstoyan movement Vladamir Chertkov (Paul Giamatti), his devoted Doctor Dushan (John Sessions) and even his daughter Sasha (Anne-Marie Duff) all wanted him to give his legacy to posterity. This effectively meant forfeiting the copyright to his written works – giving the lot to the people and not his family.

Seeing how her ageing husband was being flattered for political ends while her family’s fortune was being simultaneously shafted - Countess Sofya thought otherwise - battling constantly with him and his army of devoted followers. After all - she had hand-written “War And Peace” six times for him – spent her entire life devoted to the man – only at the end to see his life’s accomplishments be used by reformist zealots ("They read him but they don't understand a word…").

Entering into this cauldron of personal warfare and political intrigue comes a young virginal Moscow idealist of 26 - Valentin Bulgakov (James McAvoy) - who becomes Tolstoy’s Private Secretary for the last year of his life. Valentin’s stay at the Tolstoy Estate of Yasnaya Polyana and the nearby Tolstoyan commune of Telyatinki introduces him to temper tantrums, ideological debate at garden parties, endless scribbling and even love in the shape of the feisty Masha (a fabulous turn by Irish Actress Kerry Condon – the jockey Rosie in the TV series "Luck" – her dialogue above titles this review). But soon Valentin is more than in love – he’s conflicted. Should he keep on spying for the ruthless and obsessed Chertkov or should he leave the great man in peace. It all culminates in driving the old author into despair - until one day Tolstoy can take no more and leaves on a train. But ill health brings him to…

"The Last Station" was adapted by Writer and Director Michael Hoffman from Jay Parini's 1989 novel of the same name (itself based on Valentin’s diaries). With such a juicy story and a well-written script – big names and big talent were drawn to it.

But none of this would amount to naught if it weren’t for the central story of their 'love' – the difficulty of living in it and the impossibility of doing without it. Mirren’s Sofya is all spiky rage, steely determination and drama Queen swoons while Plummer’s bearded Tolstoy looks benevolently on her - adoring his long-suffering wife one moment - repulsed by her need and annoyed by her courage the next. Both characters are big shoes to fill – and with fantastic word battles – they give utterly convincing performances of trapped people – giggling in young bedroom tenderness one night then spitting ideological venom at each other the following morning on the porch.

There are also fabulous conversations between Plummer and McAvoy as they walk on lilac-scented evenings about 'actual life' instead of philosophy and the scheming Giamatti character fills ever scene with a self-righteous knowing that he is so good at. Throw in acting heavyweights like John Sessions, Anne-Marie Duff, Kerry Condon and the spot-on James McAvoy (married in real life to Anne-Marie Duff) and you’re in for an emotional ride as well as an engaging historical tale. This is sumptuous, well-crafted, intelligent filmmaking (and even funny too in places) and quite why either Mirren or Plummer didn’t get Oscars for their lead roles is frankly a bit of a mystery…

Filmed in Germany with huge production values "The Last Station" is also a gorgeous watch on BLU RAY. Defaulted to 2.35:1 – there are bars top and bottom of the screen - but even stretching to Full Aspect – it’s looks beautiful throughout – especially on close ups of clothes, steam trains and in the idyllic countryside communes.

One of the two Extras includes a truly superb 45-minute Making Of called "Conversations On…" which features extensive interviews with Director and Screenplay Writer Michael Hoffman, the original author Jay Parini, Producers Jens Meurer and Bonnie Arnold and all the leads (the work process, favourite scenes, discussion of Tolstoy and the period). There's even Anthony Quinn’s agent who owned the book rights for decades (he had hoped to do the part). Audio is 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio and the Subtitle is English.

In the end it’s a fascinating story – and an insight into the world of arguably the world’s first global pop star – only with a beard, arteritis, a cranky wife and a troop of peasants in tow waving their cloth caps instead of their Dolce and Gabbana handbags.

A top job done by all (especially Michael Hoffman) – "The Last Station" is a movie journey well worth the huff and puff…

"My First Mister" by CHRISTINE LAHTO - A Review Of Her 2001 Film On DVD and Download...

"…Reviewing My Options..." 

Jennifer Wilson sticks a safety pin in her palm to draw blood onto a typically morose diatribe on parchment paper as she watches a cheery Partridge Family re-run on television (David Cassidy singing "I think I love you..."). Her bedroom would make The Addams Family proud. Plastic skeletons hang from the mirror, black and silver skull murals adorn the wardrobe, decapitated girly toy dolls stabbed with safety pins and needles sit beside naked shop mannequins covered in black eyeliner and blood. This is the kind of doom-filled bedroom "Game of Thrones" set designers would wander around looking for good ideas.

Jay is miserable to a degree that is hilarious and pathological (the lovely and talented Leelee Sobieski). She's alienated everyone at school with how she acts and looks (tattoos, piercings, hoodies, everything in black), hasn't had a boyfriend, her mother's a hyperactive re-married wreck and her wig-wearing step-father seems absent to the world from the waist up (fabulous work by Carol Kane and Michael McKean). Jay looks at people through binoculars - backwards - because they seem more fun that way. She also enjoys lying on graves feeling the 'energy' of women who have passed and sees her beloved dead grandmother sat opposite her at the dinner table as mother serves up yet more leftover Brisket. Jay throws a paper-glider from her bedroom window each day to the uncaring World outside with her latest eulogy statement. She even self-inflicts on her arms when she's in real pain. You could say the young Californian lady has her 'issues'...

One day Jay heads into where the real money is at - the Century City shopping mall in Los Angeles. Having been chucked out of every clothing store for looking like Edward Scissorhands on a Goth tip and scaring the Bejayzuss out of the customers - she ends up outside a high end clothing store called Rutherfords. Inside she sees the cardigan wearing, oversized-slacks owning Randall unsuccessfully trying to dress an armless female mannequin in the store window. For some reason Jay takes a shine to this slightly odd and sad man. However it turns out Randall Harris is not such a drip - he's witty, just as quick with the retort and although he's a guarded soul too - Randall is older, wiser and somehow more kindly (a fantastically effecting Albert Brooks).

So in a moment of olive branch and spurred on by her obvious intelligence and initiative - Manager Randall offers the crazy-looking brat a storeroom job colour-coding the men's shirts. It isn't long before Randall's goodness starts to rid her of those dark-world trappings and from underneath all that black make-up emerges something pretty - even loveable and fun. Soon they're hanging out, visiting her drinking haunts, having laughs, playing records in stores and both slowly opening up to a world of possibilities that isn't so isolated and alone anymore. They may even be slightly in love, as she gets jealous of older women and their attention to Randall. Jay even hooks up with her pot-smoking freewheeling Dad again (typically funny and great work from John Goodman) and things seem good for a while...

A relationship between a pretty seventeen year-old and a rotund 49 year-old male with a moustache, curly hair and no dress sense might descend into farce and even become pervy - or simply be on screen for the sake of audience shock value. But long-time Actress and Director Christine Lahti is careful to keep their time together on an even keel. But better than that - there's a genuine chemistry of affection between actors Sobieski and Brooks that fills every scene with a tenderness and admiration that is rare. These are two lost souls helping each other come out of their darkness and loneliness - and each scene they're together in bristles with that lovely hopefulness that probably made the Director want to make the movie in the first place.

The burgeoning love between them is never consummated (not that kind of tale) but Jay soon discovers that Randall Harris is keeping a secret about a wife that left decades back, a son he never knew and a medical condition he's kept hidden from everyone (the woman who visits at the shop is a nurse - Mary Kay Place as Patty). And on it goes to Jay desperately trying to get back to a hospital in time with a young man in tow (Desmond Harrington) who is just as moody and morose as she is...

I loved Christine Lahti in "Housekeeping" (a 1987 film that's long forgotten and criminally so) and I figured her "My First Mister" would be touching - and it is. "You communicate with articles not humans..." Jay says to neurotic Randall in a probing moment. She honestly calls him "anal dude" in another and he doesn't mind because deep down he knows she's right. He jokes back in the early part of their relationship "We'll keep her in the store on a temporary basis in case she tries suicide!" - while he later confesses on his home porch "I'm afraid of everything...going to bed...waking up..." Astutely and beautifully observed by Jill Franklyn (the Writer) - there's a dance of truth and expression between the two lead characters that is both profound and warm and not easy to get right.

Perhaps because of its slightly naff title this 2001 film never seemed to get noticed - and to this day (2014) the HD version is only available on a download (there's no BLU RAY). But this is one little tattoo on the buttocks I suggest you get down and dirty with...

A tender and life-affirming movie - maybe one day "My First Mister" will make it onto the new format. I will look forward greatly to that...