There Is No Reason Why You Shouldn't Own Every Mott The Hoople Album

faves for today: "The Hunter" (Tons of Sobs) "I'll Be Creeping" (Free) "Mr. Big" (Fire & Water) "The Stealer" (Highway).

after guitarist Paul Kossoff split, things kinda went downhill.

The first four Mott albums are all fantastic and worth owning, though -- besides Sonny Bono, Mott also tackle Doug Sahm ("At the Crossroads") and the Kinks (a molten instrumental of "You Really Got Me"). Nice M.C. Escher art on the LP cover, before that kind of thing was really hip.

I've never read the Ian Hunter bio, but I have fond memories of my buddies mocking the way it was padded with lackluster tales of Life On The Road- "If you've never been on an airplane, cats - that's the place for you! You sit there and all the while a bird keeps bringing round food and drink..."

In terms of downhill slides, the Mott post Ian Hunter records and British Lions are both much better than Crawler. The Gooseberry Sessions, listed above, is also post Ian Hunter. What it is are recordings of Overend Watts leading the band, playing guitar and bass in the studio spec'ing for a new contract. Some them are good, particularly when he indulges his Everly Brothers fandom.

The anniversary edition of Mott Live was excellent. It was an import but really worth getting. Ariel Bender was tremendous on it and the band at its most powerful. Very kickass.

S/T Free album rules SO hard! and Skot is so right, as usual. You do need all of their albums. "Lying in The Sunshine" and "Mouthful of Grass" are so goddam floaty I want to swim with the dolphins. Best music ever! Paul Rodgers is such a hero -- such a voice. I am working up my response to dave q's bad co op10

I guess what you need is first and foremost their 72-74 ones.

For me, it's all about:
Mott The Hoople
Brain Capers
Mad Shadows
Mott

As for All The Young Dudes, I think that one is merely okay, despite the classic title track.

I hated the Bowie-braying in "All The Young Dudes" so much for so long that I never bothered to give the rest of their catalog any attention. Which was my loss, obv, since I've come to really like 'em, particularly that initial pre-CBS (and pre-Bowie) quartet. Bob Dylan abandons The Hawks in Nashville, goes to England and records Blonde On Blonde with Deep Purple backing him up instead - I never woulda suspected I harbored a need to hear that. But I guess I apparently did. "The Moon Upstairs", what a great song.

I've never bothered with anything beyond "Dudes", "Mott", "The Hoople".

Mott's a great band. The Dion cover on Brain Capers is priceless, nearly brings me to tears.

The Journey is another great song on Brain Capers.

It's all good on Brain Capers, goddamn is that a great album.

Bowie-braying

lol so accurate

Hey don't get me wrong, I own a stack of '70s Bowie that I like a lot. But he tended to damage OTHER people's albums with his backing vocals. (Not to mention what he did to Raw Power!)

I've never bothered with anything beyond "Dudes", "Mott", "The Hoople".

this is all I own, but I want more! haven't had any luck running across Brain Capers & earlier, but I guess I could be looking harder.

Mott is the business, total classic. I'm thinking ...Dudes might be the weak one in this run.

Anybody but me have the newish 2CD Ian Hunter/Mott The Hoople best-of on Shout! Factory? It's a disc of Mott and a disc of Hunter and it's pretty damn rockin'.

Everybody who likes Mott should check out the Live 1970 from Fairfield Halls disc from last year. Great stuff. Two concerts (despite the title, the second concert is in Sweden) from when Mott was still an opening act. Judging from this disc, following them was probably pretty difficult.

Look for some reunion shows in London in the Fall of '09, and possibly a new album. All original members (Hunter, Ralphs, Allen, Overend, Buffin). The Ian Hunter discussion forum is all abuzz.

I was just listening to "Marionette".

Damn, I'd love for them to come to the States if they get back together. Please, guys.

This makes it sound like less than a done deal:

http://www.expressandstar.com/2008/10/06/mott-the-hoople-returning-to-roots/

On the other hand, a supposed insider on the IH forum says:

The tour for IH and the Rant Band is going ahead in April/May 2009 and then an announcement will be made at the end of it for MTH re-union gigs in Oct `09 in London only....(for now).

The folks on the forum are discussing hotel arrangements and stuff.

Damn, I'd love for them to come to the States if they get back together. Please, guys.

I recall from Ian's Diary of a Rock and Roll Star book that Mick Ralphs was deathly afraid of flying, so I wouldn't hold my breath for a US tour if this goes down...

Then how on earth did he ever survive in Bad Company?

lovin "all the young dudes"

this 1971 clip of pre-glam Mott chugging through "Rock & Roll Queen" is chaotic & beautiful, sloppy & smokin' just the best.

embedding disabled by request kiss my muthafuk...

go to youtube it works there/

I got all the young dudes and all the young dudes was really the only song I got into.

I have the live album and Free's Heartbreaker. Where do I go next?

If you watch Roll Away the Stone from the youtube selections available in the failed youtube above, those lipsyncing backup singers are having a great time.

Oh joy, it's happened at last:
http://www.nme.com/news/various-artists/42112

(I met that Overend Watts in our village pub over the summer, and he said that something was afoot...)

"Just thought you'd like to know the Mott the Hoople reunion IS going to take place on October 2nd & 3rd, 2009 at the HMV Hammersmith Apollo in London. It will be the original members - Mick, Pete, Phally, Buff and me. They've asked our esteemed webmaster, Justin, to formulate a Mott the Hoople site which should be up and running in the near future. Why are we doing it? I can't speak for the others, but I'm doing it just to see what it's like. Short of war, death, famine etc. ...it's ON." - Ian Hunter

Those original members in full: Ian Hunter, Mick Ralphs, Verden Allen,
Pete "Overend" Watts, Dale "Buffin" Griffin.

this i would definitely pay more than $25 to see, and I haven't done that in over ten years.

Holee fuckin shit.

Free was the best bad evah

So, a big Who/Kinks/Velvets fan at age 15, I kept picking up that LP of Mott in Strawberries, but I always put it down and never brought it to the register. Decades later, I'm finally immersing myself in these guys. While I'd gradually formed the impression that they were the link between Dylan and the Clash, I had no idea they were EQUALS. "All the Good One's are Taken" wasn't good supporting information in 1983.

I still haven't procured Mott, but I'm deep into the debut, ATYD and The Hoople. Short on the Back and Sides showed up in my crate of .25 purchases. I'm thinking they did too many covers in the age of auteur-rock'n'roll, and that why they didn't carry through in America. Such a kick to find a load of gold where I thought I'd panned it all out.

And my head is down and I'm called a clown by comedians that grace
The living stage of every page of worthless meaningless space
But I swear to you before we're though you're gonna feel our every blow
We ain't bleeding you we're feeding you but you're too fucking slow
And to those of you who always laugh
Let this be your epitaph

so fuckin' beautiful...

oh holy shit "Rock and Roll Queen" is so good

you know what I mean

I want to be the singer of a band like Mott on "Sweet Jane" and lay into the last verse and chorus the way Ian Hunter does, wherein he nearly loses his dignity howling "oh my sweet Jane" by the end, but his brother (in rock) is there to protect him with an massive yet elegant solo to close the song.

Ian Hunter turned 70 this summer...(!)

I am going to see them in London in October! Crazy, right? It's a 25th Anniversary gift to ourselves -- my wife & I went to London for our honeymoon in '84, and what could be a better reason to return? I had friends who saw them at the Uris Theater, but I was too chicken. So this will be my first. And second and third. (We have tickets for three shows.) Anyone who's got the low-down on London record stores, please post to the record store thread. Not that I'll have too much time for shopping.

According to the Ian Hunter interview in this month's Word magazine, I am partially responsible for reforming Mott The Hoople. (Overend Watts! Hiking trip! Pub quiz!)

Setlist for the Monmouth show last night:

Hymn for the Dudes
Rock 'n' Roll Queen
Sweet Jane
One Of The Boys
Sucker
Moon Upstairs
Wish I Was Your Mother
Ready For Love
Born Late '58
Ballad of Mott
Angeline
Walking With A Mountain
Journey
Golden Age Of Rock 'n' Roll
Honaloochie Boogie
All The Way From Memphis
Roll Away The Stone
All The Young Dudes
Keep A Knocking
Saturday Gigs

Moon Upstairs
Wish I Was Your Mother

Christ, that's a one-two punch for the ages.

According to the Ian Hunter interview in this month's Word magazine, I am partially responsible for reforming Mott The Hoople. (Overend Watts! Hiking trip! Pub quiz!)

Hahah waht. More info. (Yeah, there's the post you made earlier noting you'd run into him at that but more context needed.)

The first Hammersmith gig will be recorded for distribution at the shows. You can also get it here:

http://www.concertlive.co.uk/tour.php?id=80

Buffin's got heath issues so they've got Martin Chambers to do most of the heavy lifting on drums.

Haha -- Overend's bass is still overdriving everyone's attempts to record it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m74fTgb-8tE

Two months later, and I'm still listening to these guys every day. Brain Capers might be my favorite now. "The Journey" is such a master class in making a ballad hard hitting. A forerunner to Springsteen. Also, "Alice" is becoming one of my favorite lyrics ever. As per their mention on the "Exahaustion in 70s Rock" thread, these guys are a meta-rock band, aren't they? Nearly every song is about being in a band or the hangers-on around the band. The first record is about how they're gonna be huge, and by Brain Capers they're pissed off that they aren't huge and then "All the Young Dudes" comes along and Mott and The Hoople is all "hey we're rockstars and this is crazy shit!"

yeah all those british drummers probably cut their teeth playing trad jazz, which benefited their later playing so much. buffin was basically the man. RIP.

Mick Fleetwood!

RIP Buffin. I'm disregarding the fact that I met him and he was kind of a dick because, well, he was in Mott the Hoople.

Some Ian Hunter wisdom to cheer you up in this sad time: free summer shows of NYC 2009

This documentary is so lovely, I've watched it now like 3-4 times. I'd almost think you could do a feature film period piece on Mott and Guy Stevens. I'd really like to track down Ian Hunter's book from the period.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2MJWIVeVNo

Very very cool! I will definitely watch this, thanks for posting.

Seeing reports on FB that Overend Watts has passed away (cancer).

RIP :(

Almost a year to the day after Buffin too. RIP.

RIP Overend. Recover quickly, Mick Ralphs. (suffered a stroke a short time ago.)

morgan fisher on FB:

My dear, darling, crazy friend Peter Overend Watts passed on today. I can't speak, am numb. All I can do is share one of the last emails he sent me, on December 6th 2016. Unedited, unexplained. His bravery, honesty, generosity, open heart and still-devastatingly witty humour during his last days utterly blow me away. He left this world as a total hero, a samurai. Love you, Pete <3

Oh Yay Clifford T. Whoard!
Thanks fur your lovely message me old son. Looks like the news is finally out. But PLEASE KEEP IT UNDER YER HAT. IF POSS.
Managed to keep it quiet for more than 6 years though - so that was pretty good.If you remember I wasn't great at Hammo in 2009 - felt very grimeworthy then !
I just dread being besieged by Mott fans - all PRAYING for me, sending cards or gifts -
or worse still, trying to visit me ! God forbid - even tho I don't believe in him - even NOW.
Can't deal with all that crap - even tho I know they mean well. My sis got a message from Joe Elliot yesterday which made me think the game might be up. I know Jean and Buff were overwhelmed and were upset by it all after going public.
I think it's about 5 years too late for 2nd opinions now son. I've had every type of treatment, surgery etc, - it was far worse than the illness itself ! I've had enough now and am fine about going - it might be plezz up there (or down there)- an adventure, whichever way yer look at it. I'm not in any great pain, just giddy tired and weak. To be honest I'm more worried about Ralphur than myself right now. I really hope he recovers so he can play again. I love the guy so much - just as I love you son. I hated having to tell you that only the original band were doing the reunions - I know it must have hurt you a lot. One of me worst jobs ever. I wish we could've done it but it wasn't financially possble + too difficult to co-ordinate. with everyone concerned.

The Hospice is great - very much like Carry On Nurse - so I 'aint complainin' ! Another 3 decent years of travel would've been good but it's not to be.after all - but I did a hell of a lot anyway.
Glad you shifted the skin cancer - and I hope you have a long, healthy and happy life.
I can hardly type so I may not be able to keep in touch, but i just wanted you to know that you are still the best musician I ever had the privilege to work with and a brill bloke to boot...... - but David Reid - guitarist from The Contrast 'int far behind you !!! I was gonna bloody join them on electric 6 & 12 string till this bloody disease returnrd. What a bummer that was.
Anyway, must sleep now. I refuse to say "Goodbye" [ so I;ll just say ........
Take care Morgo - Love you son - Olde Gruff Pete xxx

PS OH - PIES OF GRATE MEAT !! We had some great times didn' t we !

My list of their (and Ian Hunter's) best.

I miss Sweet Angeline which is my favorite faux Dylan ever

Nice work! I'd throw The Moon Upstairs on there, and maybe even Threads of Iron from Mad Shadows, but you got just about everything.

reunion of mott mach ii dudes.

http://ultimateclassicrock.com/mott-the-hoople-reunion-2018/

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/mott-the-hoople-tour-782276/

Listening to the All the Young Dudes album while a bit drunk right now, "Jerkin' Crocus" revealed itself as an extremely hilarious Rolling Stones parody ("a JUDO HOLD on a BLACK MAN'S BALLS")! This is probably groundless, or else extremely commonly known, but it prompted me to take it from the top, and haha the tempo difference.

Yes, they definitely weren't a click-track band!

I've got a certain amount of patience for chaotic sloppiness, but after the first track Mad Shadows is just unendurable. They returned to this style a lot more successfully on Brain Capers. Wildlife is also quite a good record, don't know why it's generally disliked.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vyvtQS88Sg

my gosh that beautiful buffin flourish at the end.