This 90 minute DVD covers the career of a great band not often remembered, but a band who wielded great influence as probably the best pre-punk band to come out of the UK.
Mott the Hoople came out of the Hereford band Silence which consisted of Mick Ralphs (guitar), Verden Allen (organ), Pete Watts (bass), and Dale Griffin (drums). After adding Stan Tippens on vocals they recorded a few tracks. The group caught the eye of Island Records, were signed, and moved to London to begin recording with legendary producer Guy Stevens.
Stevens got them to change the name of the band to Mott the Hoople from the novel of the same name by author Willard Manus. A veteran singer/songwriter named Ian Hunter was invited to join the band which led vocalist Stan Tippens to become the band's road manager. The band had begun to amass a loyal following by virtue of their live perfomances. In 1969 the band released their eponymous debut, Mott the Hoople, to mild success. Three more albums followed by 1971, Mad Shadows, Wildlife, and Brain Capers. In spite of their rabid fans, these albums did not sell well and did not receive very favorable press.
The DVD chronicles how the band, on the verge of splitting up, were offered the song "Suffragette City" by David Bowie who was a fan of the band. Mott declined the offer, leading Bowie to write "All the Young Dudes" for them. This song became the single and title track of the Bowie produced album. It also gave Mott The Hoople their first hit single, and broke them in a huge way in the UK and the United States.
Mick Jones (The Clash) remembers how "All the Young Dudes" was a turning point for Mott much in the same way that "Ride a White Swan" indicated the change of Marc Bolan's Tyrannosaurus Rex to T-Rex. Journalists Daryl Easlea, John Robb, and Kris Needs are joined here by Nicky Horne — who produced shows on BBC Radio 1 from 1970-1973 — to discuss the merits and deficiencies of Bowie as producer on All the Young Dudes.
The image shift of the band to the burgeoning "Glam" scene is discussed with a general consensus that the band was unfairly tagged with the glam label. Daryl Easlea offers an interesting comment on the gender politics inherent in the Glam scene.
Prior to the recording sessions for Mott's next album, organist Verden Allen left the band due to dissatisfaction with the touring life. He was replaced by Love Affair keyboardist Morgan Fisher. The album Mott was released in 1973. This release showed a maturing, somewhat jaded band. Ian Hunter was coming into his own as a songwriter. Mick Ralphs' "I’m a Cadillac/El Camino Dolo Rosos" was a real gem among the collection of Hunter tunes. Subsequently Ralphs left the band to form Bad Company with Paul Rodgers. His replacement was Luther Grosvenor from Spooky Tooth who was re-christened Ariel Bender.
Article comments
1 - Glen Boyd
Nice review and overview of one of the 70's great, forgotten bands. As the man behind the shades, Ian Hunter's songs combined the literacy of Dylan with the punch of the Rolling Stones to create something that should have sold a lot more records than it actually did.
Mott were simply ahead of their time in my opinion. You mention the Clash here, and they are just one of many bands who owe their very existence to the pioneering influence of Mott The Hoople.
Again, nicely done Mr. Dad
-Glen
2 - JC Mosquito
I once read an article that there were only two bands the British punks didn't revile: The Who and Mott the Hoople.
3 - zingzing
most liked bowie and roxy as well, which makes some sense.
i just bought mott yesterday. have only listened to the first side under the influence of several chemicals, so i have no opinion yet... but i like what i hear... bowie's voice, dylan's words, a kind of everyman-rock vibe underneath... we shall see.
4 - JC Mosquito
Which album did you get, zinger?
5 - zingzing
"mott"
6 - JC Mosquito
The final song on Mott, "I Wish I was Your Mother" is on my internal list of Songs I Wish I'd Written I carry around in my head.
Next, get Brain Capers - the album before the Bowie alliance. For whatever reason, it always reminds me of the Modern Lovers s/t with Roadrunner - it doesn't sound like it at all, but both albums I always thought distilled the essence of rock and roll.
And I'm still working on my list of the best ten records of 1970 - so far, Plastic Ono Band is at the top of my list, but there's a couple of contenders that I wanna rethink...
7 - metal dad
i agree with JC. Brain Capers is an overlooked treasure, That album was my introduction to MtH.a friend played it for me back in the day and i've been a fan ever since