Search - Ian Hunter :: Missing in Action // Collateral Damage

Ian Rocks

Rick Gray | Nashville, TN USA | 08/20/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"O.K., I woudn't recommend this to a Hunter/Ronson newbie but for fans it is a must have. The Missing In Action cd contains hard to find live takes of Life After Death, (I'm) The Teacher, American Music + others. The bonus cd Collateral Damage features mostly standards like Cleveland Rocks (great version, BTW) Once Bitten Twice Shy ect. I took a star off because the recording quality isn't that great-it sounds almost like a bootleg but overall I think fans will like this cd. This also comes with a nice booklet."

Great artist and performance, dismal sound quality

Kenneth Gordon | Chicago, IL USA | 01/02/2001

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Although I am a huge fan of Ian Hunter and the performances on this 2-CD album are terrific, the import sounds like it never got mixed. Bootleg sound quality at best. The volume goes up and down and sometimes Ian's voice drowns out the band, whereas in other songs his singing is way in the background. The sound even cuts out entirely in spots. Really a disappointment, especially after hearing the amazing sound quality that Pearl Jam managed to achieve with its bootleg series."

These are the actual liner notes for the CD, which I wrote..

Madeline Bocaro | New York, New York | 10/08/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Long Island Rocks!

Hunter/Ronson Live At My Father's Place



My Father's Place was the coolest club in my suburban home town of Roslyn, Long Island (about 25 miles east of New York City). No, my father didn't own it, but rather a large guy named Eppy. For two nights in June 1979, and on one in January 1980 the Hunter/Ronson band brought the house down.



Hunter's first self-titled solo LP featured his favourite collaborator and comrade, Mick Ronson. Although the gigs were amazing, their 1975 U.S. tour was cut short due to management disputes. While Ronson toured with Dylan's Rolling Thunder Revue, Hunter released the introspective All American Alien Boy. Overnight Angels was released in the UK in 1977, and in 1979 Hunter reunited and toured with Ronson who co-produced and played on You're Never Alone With a Schizophrenic.



The 1979 Hunter/Ronson touring band was a 7-piece unit. There were two Tommys (Mandel and Morrongiello) on keyboards and rhythm guitar respectively, Hilly Michaels on drums and Martin Briley on bass. George Meyer played a mean sax and also keyboards. Special guest Ellen Foley (Hunter & Ronson were producing her first album) added vocals on "Just Another Night". And of course the front-men Hunter & Ronson. This loud and powerful assemblage - seven egos vying for the spotlight - rocked out, especially on grittier songs like "Bastard" and "Standin' In My Light".



In the summer of '79 the Schizophrenic tour was in full swing, and it arrived at My Father's Place on June 12th and 13th. The back door was open as the equipment had just been loaded on stage. As I had arrived in the early afternoon, Ian invited me inside for the sound check, which was more like a glorified jam session. He successively and brilliantly played guitar, keyboards and drums. The band played the Beatles' "Let It Be" with Hunter on piano and killer vocals, another oldie, "Bring It On Home To Me" and they also rehearsed a slower blues version of "When the Daylight Comes". Ronson didn't hold back at all for a mere rehearsal - he played as if there was a crowd of thousands in the room.



The shows opened with Ronson's illuminating cover of the Shadows' "F.B.I." which segued into Hunter's "Once Bitten Twice Shy". The material from Schizophrenic was ideal live material. A score of great Hoople tunes were also rekindled. This was a fantastic band, and Ronson's soloing was of course beyond compare. It was clear that the audience was witnessing something very special. The crowd's responsive energy was tapped by the band and pumped right back out into the crowd in blasts of sonic glory.



In January of 1980 a double live album was in the works called Welcome to the Club. Hunter wished to include some new material as well, so the Hunter/Ronson band returned to My Father's Place for a recording session/live show. The new songs, "Man O' War", "Silver Needles" and "We Gotta Get Out of Here" were played several times each, however none of these live takes appeared on the album in favour of studio tracks.



Releasing a live album at the time interrupted Hunter's creative momentum, leaving no time for writing or recording new material in two years of touring. But if a new album was put off for the chance of thousands of jumpin' Jean Genies and moody James Deanies to see Hunter/Ronson on tour, then it was well worth the sacrifice.



After a break in the early 80's when he produced countless other acts, Ronson re-joined Hunter's touring band in 1989 for the YUI ORTA album. This was to be their last tour together, as Ronson was then diagnosed with cancer. But ceremoniously, Hunter and Ronson still and always will remain a team as their music echoes into the new millenium.



- Madeline Bocaro"