Three CD set from one of the UK's finest bands of the '70s, including some fine solo recordings from their leader Ian Hunter. Initially, Mott The Hoople were a critically successful Rock 'N Roll band with some fine albums... more » in their catalog, but the record-buying public were not responding to their fabulous early recordings. At this point, the band decided to call it a day, but in stepped Mr. David Bowie, who offered to help them out with a new track he'd just written called 'All The Young Dudes'. The rest, as they say, is Mott history. Their fortunes, literally and figuratively, turned around and they became one of the biggest bands in Europe. Even America succumbed at that point! This 53 track compilation features hits, album tracks, rarities, solo Ian Hunter favorites plus three previously unreleased cuts: 'I'm In Awe', 'Avalanche' and 'Morons' (Alternate). It's Mott The Hoople's world, we're just rockin' in it. Sony/BMG. 2006.« less
Three CD set from one of the UK's finest bands of the '70s, including some fine solo recordings from their leader Ian Hunter. Initially, Mott The Hoople were a critically successful Rock 'N Roll band with some fine albums in their catalog, but the record-buying public were not responding to their fabulous early recordings. At this point, the band decided to call it a day, but in stepped Mr. David Bowie, who offered to help them out with a new track he'd just written called 'All The Young Dudes'. The rest, as they say, is Mott history. Their fortunes, literally and figuratively, turned around and they became one of the biggest bands in Europe. Even America succumbed at that point! This 53 track compilation features hits, album tracks, rarities, solo Ian Hunter favorites plus three previously unreleased cuts: 'I'm In Awe', 'Avalanche' and 'Morons' (Alternate). It's Mott The Hoople's world, we're just rockin' in it. Sony/BMG. 2006.
CD Reviews
Ian Hunter's Take on His Career
Ron Frankl | Hendersonville, NC | 12/06/2006
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Ian Hunter has had a long and productive career, one which has seen a welcome upturn in both attention and appreciation in recent years. The influence of Hunter and Mott the Hoople can be heard in such disparate acts as the New York Dolls, Queen, the Clash, Def Leppard and the Replacements, among many others. In the three decades since he left Mott, Hunter has recorded numerous fine albums, with some of his finest work coming in the last decade.
There have been Hunter and Mott the Hoople retrospectives every decade or so, most of them worthwhile but flawed in one way or another. This set will certainly have its detractors, and justifiably so, because some of Hunter's best and most popular songs, from both the Mott years and his solo career, are not included.
What sets this three-CD collection apart is that "The Journey" represents Hunter's own choices for the most significant work of his career. The earlier "best-ofs" were premature or failed to include recordings from all of the labels for which he's recorded. The Mott collections have been careful, perhaps too careful, to strike a balance between Hunter's contributions and those of his bandmates. For example, Hunter seems to have had limited input and involvement in the admirable (and out of print) three-disc "All the Young Dudes" set from 1998, which included more than enough examples of the band's post-Hunter line-ups. Most of the overviews of his solo career were likely compiled by others as well, after Hunter had left the record label. "Once Bitten, Twice Shy" (2000), his last career retrospective, suffered from the inclusion of too many previously unreleased tracks, unfortunately thereby excluding some classic and esssential Hunter performances.
Here, Hunter is calling the shots, and it is fascinating to learn what he feels is his greatest music. Serious Hunter/Mott fans will have the greatest hits on previous releases, but most of you will want this collection anyway. It offers tracks from both Mott's earliest Island/Atlantic releases and their glorious Columbia albums, then continues with Hunter's numerous solo releases for different labels from 1975 to date. The well-packaged set includes a terrific booklet featuring some previously unseen photos and a thoughtful essay from Mott biographer Campbell Devine. There are three previously unreleased tracks from the late '90's that are enjoyable but unexceptional.
Maybe the perfect Hunter/Mott collection will appear someday, maybe not. Yes, this has it's flaws and omissions. But I'm glad to know what Hunter feels is his most significant music, and I think "The Journey" succeeds on those terms.
"
The 1979-80 "Shades Of IH" Was WAY Better, you know...
Bill Board | God's Wrath, Ohio | 11/19/2006
(3 out of 5 stars)
"I LOVE IH, but there isn't anything here that's not been released except for those three tracks. And I'll just BET you that that IH-sycophant "Campbell Devine" had something to do with the selection of the material. It's an OK intro to IH if you're an IH-Mott novice, but the man's absolute BEST songs ("All American Alien Boy," "Overnight Angels," "We Got To Get Out Of Here," "Rock And Roll Queen," "Good Man In A Bad Time"...you know...) ain't included here, and, besides, IT'S ALL BEEN DONE BEFORE..."
'Rock'
Paul Ess. | Holywell, N.Wales,UK. | 10/04/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I usually listen to music, particularly review cd's on my Windows Media Player. That way I can happily tap out my vitriol while I'm right on the top of the thing, so to speak. When you've got past the psychedelic kaleidoscope, my WMP has something called a 'Library' feature. All it does, boringly, is tell you what's playing, and usually tack on a track listing.
For this cd it announces; 'Mott the Hoople - A Retrospective Journey' and underneath, it simply says; 'Rock'.
'Rock'. Why would it put that? Why display such a thing? Is it a goad? Is it a direct snub to your humble reviewer?
'Rock'. Yeah, beat that smarty-pants. Thing is; It IS a struggle.
I was really tempted to dish out the almost disgustingly inevitable 5 review stars and just write: 'Rock', or title it 'Rock' and just leave the review space blank. Thing is, would you trust someone who did that, would you buy a 3-cd mega-set, however good, on the word of someone who simply puts 'Rock'?
No, you'd quite rightly expect to be informed as to why it was so good, what makes it an essential purchase on any artistic level, why it's among the greatest compilations ever committed to plastic. You don't want to see some pleb putting 'Rock', expecting it to be all encompassing and vital. Arrogantly thinking the populace can make that-oh-so-vital informed purchase decision, just because some dipstick has written 'Rock', is unrealistic and naïve.
There are hundreds of variations of 'Rock'. Most are atrocious, some undoubtedly sinful, some enlightened and intelligent but all need exposition of some description, and this is what your gorgeous and ludicrously tasteful reviewer was invented for. Ess standards would drop (even) lower if he simply started putting 'Rock'.
Where would it end? Would a Fairport Convention review just say 'Folk', would Bob Marley shamefully be reduced to mere 'Reggae'?
One would hope no-one nowhere(except a stupid machine!) would just put 'Rock', but that seems to be the path.
You don't need irritating pages of pontification and over-intellectualised clap-trap (however tongue-in-cheek). You don't need to die of inconsequential and in-appropriate student dissertation-standard philosophising, don't need to cut reams of fragmented free-form from your notice for fear of the dreaded 'unhelpful' votes; and, importantly, you don't run the risk of your 'comments' section being annexed by a disgruntled inbred questioning your sanity, and sometimes even your genetic definition.
You retreat and put 'Rock'.
Brilliant! A 3-cd mega-set summarised succinctly with one wee word.
I won't say it...."
Still awaiting the ultimate Ian Hunter collection
Lifesamystery | Los Angeles, CA USA | 11/22/2006
(3 out of 5 stars)
"At first, I was very excited when I found out about this release. A compilation of Ian Hunter's prime work, during both his Mott the Hoople days and first few albums of his solo career sounded perfect. Alas, the track listing left me a bit puzzled when it came to his solo work. In my judgment, it was still just 3 or 4 solo songs shy of what I would consider an ultimate collection. Then when I saw the price of over $47, I realized you can get just as much, or even more, for less $$.
My suggestion: Get a hold of a copy of the first Mott compilation, "The Ballad of Mott the Hoople" released over a decade ago but available used. Then add just one or maybe two of Hunter's solo albums from the 70's(I am partial to "You're Never Alone with a schizophrenic") and you will end up with enough to appreciate Ian Hunter's contribution to rock plus save a few bucks in the process."
Track Listings (53) - Disc #1