Mott the Hoople/Ian Hunter

[Gentle Giant]

I love these guys. Never saw Mott, but Ian still gives a great show. Lotta energy, but one word that comes to mind when I think of his music, either solo or with Mott is "honest." No bullshit, no posing, no bloated self-importance. Just a guy who loves and lives rock and roll.

Who else is a fan?

Also, NPR recently did a nice eight-minute thing about Mott.

[Dr Dave]

Anybody who could come up with a song called "Death May Be Your Santa Claus" is all right with me. And "All The Young Dudes" was a great song and a great album.

[Chris D]

I don't know about the "no posing" bit. I remember a show with his Mick Ronson duo that was pretty much Guitar Poses 101.

But I do loves me some Mott. Hunter had the kind of self-reflective style that us analytical types love, and Mick Ralphs was a hell of a foil. The bassist sucked, but they weren't alone there. Bowie deserves a lot fo credit for saving them from the gallows with "All the Young Dudes," but they had the fortitude and chops to follow it up with "Mott." "The rock and roll circus is in town."

Hunter solo has had many highlights: the first record, with "Once Bitten, Twice Shy" (damn those Great White wankers for despoiling it); "All-American Alien Boy" was underrated; "You're Never Alone with a Schizophrenic" holds up; and "Short Back and Sides" had the great "Central Park and West."

"It's just another night on the other side of life."

[Surfer]

[Gentle Giant]

Ronson was king of the posers. A great guitarist, but his stage presence was certainly not Fripp-ish. The times I've seen Ian (as recently as two years ago), he gets into it but he doesn't make an ass of himself.

All American Alien Boy is one of my all-time favorites. Some great songs, such as the sublime ballad Irene Wilde, the title track with Jaco solo, and the power pop tune You Nearly Did Me In, with 3/4 of Queen. Schizo is a classic, featuring much of the E Street Band and one or two BOC members.

As for Mott, I'm partial to the first album, Mad Shadows, Brain Capers, ATYD, and Mott.

[Doc Martin]

Mott Trivia (no cheating):

When Mick Ralphs left Mott to join Bad Co., his replacement was Ariel Bender.

1. What is Ariel's real name?
2. What band did he play in previously to Mott?

[Chris D]

Originally Posted by Doc Martin

Mott Trivia (no cheating):

When Mick Ralphs left Mott to join Bad Co., his replacement was Ariel Bender.

1. What is Ariel's real name?
2. What band did he play in previously to Mott?

Luther Grosvenor from Spooky Tooth

[Gentle Giant]

And Bender's (brief) replacement was...

[Doc Martin]

Originally Posted by Chris D

Luther Grosvenor from Spooky Tooth

Good one, Chris

[Doc Martin]

Originally Posted by Gentle Giant

And Bender's (brief) replacement was...

Mick Ronson

And who replaced Mick?

[groover]

Originally Posted by Dr Dave

Anybody who could come up with a song called "Death May Be Your Santa Claus" is all right with me. And "All The Young Dudes" was a great song and a great album.

"All the Young Dudes" is a great song, but I remember reading somewhere that Ian Hunter was always a little uncomfortable with the gay undertone, since he wasn't. It's catchy and anthemic, but I would never want to sing it, at least not without changing some of the lyrics. "All the young dudes, carry the 'ludes..., etc."

[Gentle Giant]

Originally Posted by Doc Martin

Mick Ronson

And who replaced Mick?

You got me there. I bailed on Mott when Ian did.

[Gentle Giant]

Originally Posted by groover

"All the Young Dudes" is a great song, but I remember reading somewhere that Ian Hunter was always a little uncomfortable with the gay undertone, since he wasn't. It's catchy and anthemic, but I would never want to sing it, at least not without changing some of the lyrics. "All the young dudes, carry the 'ludes..., etc."

I believe that's "carry the news" but I agree with your point. In addition to the title track, Bowie had Lou Reed come in to sing Sweet Jane for the lads and he was in Transformer mode at the time.

[Gentle Giant]

All American Alien Boy
(Ian Hunter)

I packed my bags - in the land of rags
'Cos I don't believe in them dimmo drags
Don't wanna vote for the left wing - don't wanna vote for the right
I gotta have both-to make me fly

Just a whitey from Blighty - heading out west
Got my little green card 'n my bulletproof vest
Goin' to old tube city - where the buzz is the best
On down the line (down the line) down the line (down the line)

(Jaco bass solo)

Well I was born (on the line) 'n I was raised (on the line)
I was schooled (on the line) 'n I was fazed (on the line)
'N I was used (on the line) 'n I was dazed (on the line)
Just had to split (off the line) 'cos I was crazed (off the line)

'N I remember all the good times - me 'n Miller enjoyed
Up and down the M1 in some luminous yo-yo toy
But the future has to change - and to change I've got to destroy
Oh look out Lennon here I come - land ahoy-hoy-hoy

All American Alien Boy All American Alien Boy

Don't look down put your feet on the ground don't drown in the big aquarium
Don't walk slow - put on a big show - shove your meat down vegetarians
Don't get slugged, get mugged, get bugged, or they'll sling you in the jug
Shove you under some rug, give you some drug - pull out the plug and then...

And they're telling me this hamburger's cheaper than the other
'N this television's cheaper than the other
And they're selling me hotdogs cheaper than the other
'N these pizzas cheaper than the other
And I don't understand all this - I'm just an All American Alien Boy

'N they're telling me rifles are shot in Connecticut
They're telling me pistols are shot in Westchester
You can get a Saturday Night Special on Flatbush, on the Bowery, or the Bronx
Or on 42nd Street - And I don't understand all this - being an All American Alien Boy

I've got sodium nitrate rotting in my guts
My head's full of ulcers I got lungs full of butts
My heart wants a transplant - it thinks that I'm nuts
My logic won't open - my eyes won't shut
'N I'm beginning to dig all this - being an All American Alien Boy

And your women are always right (alright)
They always know so much more
'Cos the women came from heaven
'N the men came outta some store

'N they don't know who they are and they don't know what they're for
I'm an All American Alien Boy - look out Mary Tyler Moore -
All American Alien Boy

Ten Bears, Two Bears, Standing Bear, Plenty Bear,
Old Bear, Brave Bear, Hollow Horn Bear
Silver Knife, Spotted Tail, Yellow Hand, Red Cloud,
Red Fox, Red Horse, Black Kettle,
White Ghost, White Bull, White Thunder, White Hog,
hold on a minute gotta frog in my throat
Cochise, Alchise, Roman Nose, Geronimo - hold on a minute - more to go
Sitting Bull, Tall Bull, Crazy Horse and Short Bull,
Low Dog, Red Dog, Yellow Wolf, Low Wolf
Loco, Victorio, Chato, Little Crow, Dead Eyes, Jak, Taza 'n Colorow

My mouth's exploiting that's enough of this noise
I guess we're all - All American Alien Boys.