Old Records Never Die: The Mott The Hoople/Ian Hunter Anthology

Performer: Mott the Hoople
Artist: Mick Ronson
Producer: Jeff Palo; David McLees (Compilation)
Distributor: Sony Music Distribution (

Notes: Personnel: Mick Ralphs, Ariel Bender (vocals, guitar); Ian Hunter (vocals, keyboards); Mick Ronson (guitar); Verden Allen (organ); Morgan Fisher (keyboards, synthesizer). Audio Remasterer: Mark Chalecki. Liner Note Author: Ben Edmonds. This two-disc set from Shout Factory collects 32 tracks by Mott the Hoople and the band's frontman Ian Hunter. A straight-ahead rock-&-roll band that garnered a solid cult following during its time together, Mott the Hoople's biggest contribution to rock history is certainly its version of David Bowie's "All the Young Dudes." The track, taken from the band's 1972 album of the same name, remains as stellar an anthem of youthful cool and rock-&-roll attitude as any ever committed to wax. The track appears on disc one alongside other Mott killers such as "All the Way to Memphis" and "Crash Street Kids." Disc two collects the finest moments from Hunter's lengthy solo career, the majority of which was spent in collaboration with Bowie guitarist Mick Ronson. Among disc two's standouts are "Once Bitten Twice Shy" (a hit for Great White in the late '80s), "Cleveland Rocks" (later the theme to THE DREW CARREY SHOW), and the bittersweet title track. Though neither Mott nor Hunter became true superstars, their brand of good-times glam-tinged rock & roll holds up remarkably well decades later.

Rolling Stone (p.72) - 3 stars out of 5 -- "Throughout this two-disc set's 38-year scope, Hunter unites opposing elements: primal hard rock, complex lyricism, quintessential Americana and a distinctly English bray." Mojo (Publisher) (p.125) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "[W]ith 16 smartly chosen tracks per disc both band and de facto leader are amply represented."

While most rock fans remember Mott The Hoople as a thriving early-'70s glam band, they were also one of the first British bands to serve as a mouthpiece for the working class (predating both The Sex Pistols and The Clash by several years). Led by singer Ian Hunter and future Bad Company guitarist Mick Ralphs, Mott could rock out and pose with the best of 'em.

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