by Mott the Dog
***** 5 Star Rating
This double CD of Ian Hunter’s latest tour of Britain
in support of his latest official release, the critically acclaimed
‘Rant’, is a bootleg recording. This means it is a recording made by a
member of the audience, transferred on to a CD and then sold, usually by
the internet or by post. The bad thing about this is, of course, that the
artists in question get no money for their labour, but from a fan’s
point of view you get to hear what your favourite artist is up to.
This recording, from the Glasgow Opera House, is hardly
likely to ever be officially released, so I don’t see that financially
it hurts Mr. Hunter and his band. Plus the fact that, after all the
trouble Mr. Graham Stuart has taken to produce these albums, he is hardly
likely to make a fortune himself.
So,
what do you get for your money? Each double CD sells for 15 pounds
sterling, including postage, anywhere in the world, and this is the eighth
in Mr. Stuart’s series of ‘Handmade for Fans’ series. It is a very
professionally put together package with an attractive front cover, a four
page informative booklet, a back cover with fourteen colour shots of the
band in action on the night, two printed CD’s, and over two and a half
hours of the best Rock ‘n’ Roll you are ever likely to hear.
This tour of Britain was of great historical importance
to any music aficionado, as it was the first time for twenty-nine years
that two of the founding members of Mott the Hoople had gone on tour
together. So it is not surprising that the quality of the music is so
high. Sitting behind the bins is the drummer’s drummer Steve Holley,
whose contribution to the live sound cannot be underestimated. On
keyboards is one of the great veterans of Rock ‘n’ Roll, Ian Gibbons
(ex Pretty Things and The Kinks), whose style suits the band down to a
tee. On lead guitar is the impeccable Andy York (long time associate of
John Cougar Mellencamp).
Then, of course, up front are the two stars of the
show, ex-Mott the Hoople and original member of Bad Company Mr. Mick
Ralphs, who through this recording demonstrates that he has lost none of
his mastery of the electric guitar, belting out solos to some old Mott
classics as well as adding new vigour to some of the newer material. Out
front of course, is the incomparable Ian Hunter, one of Rock’s finest
and most charismatic front men. Together they put out a sound that is
timeless, and if only the Rolling Stones could still pump out Rock ‘n’
Roll with such enthusiasm and raunch.
Over the two CD’s you get the whole of the gig in its
proper running order, including all the on-stage banter between band and
audience.
Although the temptation must have been to go out and
rely upon a set list of old Mott the Hoople songs, nothing of the sort
happens. Ten songs from the Mott the Hoople Hunter/Ralphs era are played,
and one from after Ralphs had left for Bad Company (all of which have
since been in and out of the Ian Hunter solo live set anyway). Five from
‘Rant’, a selection from Ian Hunter’s solo work, and a couple of
covers (a classic version of Bob Dylan’s ‘Knockin On Heaven’s
Door’ and a final rave up of Little Richards Keep A Knockin).
In general, all lead guitar work is equally shared
between York and Ralphs, although Ralphs steps to centre stage to do an
instrumental version of that old chestnut Hideaway, which nearly
brings the house down. Mick Ralphs takes no lead vocals in the set, the
reason for which is hilariously explained by Ian Hunter as one of his
between song raps.
In the hands of these boys, Rock ‘n’ Roll is in
good shape.
The sound quality throughout is of the highest
standard, and is actually a lot clearer than some official live albums by
big name record labels. There is certainly much more of a feeling of
actually being there.
This band is certainly one of the best Ian Hunter has
ever put together, and the man himself over the years just gets better and
better like a fine wine.
For those of you that haven’t heard his last album
‘Rant’ lend an ear soon, or pop down to Pattaya’s leading Rock
‘n’ Roll bar, the Tahitian Queen on Beach Road, where Ian Hunter music
is always rocking them in the aisles.
One of the things that occurred to me whilst checking
out the songs on the set list, is that such is the great accumulation of
wealth of songs from both these artists that both Mick Ralphs & Ian
Hunter could produce set lists for additional two & a half hour
concerts containing many classics without touching upon songs from this
collection. I mean, how many artists could go on stage and leave out such
classic self-penned songs as Can’t Get Enough or Feel Like
Makin Love (Ralphs) and Cleveland Rocks, Irene Wilde Bastard
or Loner (Hunter).
For those of you that would like to know more about
this particular release you can contact Graham Stuart of Handmade records
at: [email protected]
This
book was published in the Civic Discourse for the Third Millennium series
and addresses intercultural, international and global communication in
civil or public society. These books are apparently designed to stimulate
challenge and thinking in the readership, and author Steinfatt would have
us look at Thai commercial sex.
Anderton
is given the name of the victim, the name of the killer and some brief
images of the events leading up to the crime. Trouble starts when a
Department of Justice agent named Ed Witwer (Colin Farrell), arrives at
Pre-Crime and starts sticking his nose into the Precog procedure. Then
suddenly the next murder case reveals Anderton to be the future killer.
The victim is a complete stranger and the images reflect an entirely
unfamiliar setting. Anderton figures that he’s being set up so runs.
Mott’s CD review: