Weekend Reissue Roundup

     

Artist, Release (Label, Release Date) 1-5 stars

Spacemen 3: Translucent Flashbacks (Fire U.K. July 12, 2005) *****
Ian Hunter: Ian Hunter (Sony International, July 12, 2005) *****
The Everly Brothers: Sing Great Country Hits (Collector's Choice, July 12, 2005) ****
Mr. Big: Japandemonium (Wounded Bird, July 12, 2005) ***

Spacemen 3: Translucent Flashbacks

Space Rock architects Spacemen 3 are a difficult band for collectors, particularly those in the U.S.; they have many uncollected songs on singles, EP's, and the like. Originally released in 1995 this collects the more essential moments; the complete 9-minute "Ecstasy Symphony" is here, as is the lives-up-to-its-title 17 minute marathon, "Rollercoaster", a cover of acid-casualty/guru Roky Erickson. "Walkin' With Jesus" is heard in its original single form, the 11-minute "Starship" is from the Singles box set. This collection dates back to 1995, and was previously re-issued in 2001, so Spacemen 3 fans are well aware of it. Spacemen 3 is the place to start if you're going to explore 80's-90's space rock, and while there are better places to start, this scattershot collection is sonically just as good as any; it captures the band's breadth pretty well, and there's enough hyperdrive and hyperspace to keep a newcomer interested. The band released seven fine albums in their lifetime, Playing With Fire (1990), and Taking Drugs To Make Music To Take Drugs To (1991), are classics.

Ian Hunter: Ian Hunter

Ian Hunter is best known as lead singer of hard rock/glam rock Mott The Hoople. Alas, Mott The Hoople is barely remembered these days, beyond their Bowie-penned "All The Young Dudes". Also featuring the guitar of Mick Ralphs, who left to form the non-glam Bad Company in 1974, the band recorded a number of excellent albums, both in their pre-glam hard rock days and after the Bowie song hit. Hunter was a great frontman; never seen without his shades, his hair an enormous curly mane, his voice alternately sneering or sensitive, he seemed a natural for a successful solo career. Ian Hunter, released on Columbia in 1975, was an excellent start. It still had the glam elements and Mick Ronson's guitar was everything Ralphs' was, perhaps moreso. "Once Bitten, Twice Shy" has become an oft-covered rock 'n' roll anthem. "The Truth, The Whole Truth, Nothin' But The Truth" is great hard rock. "I Get So Excited" hits hard. Elsewhere, he touches on his sensitive side, as in the eulogy "It Ain't Easy When You Fall/Shades Off" which ends in a spoken recitation over the band. The album only reached #50, and his subsequent albums sold even more poorly. He always handled the tough stuff better than the sensitive stuff, and Ian Hunter does get spotty in places. But ultimately Hunter and the band succeed, as does Ronson's wall-of-sound-on-$5-a-day production. Six bonus cuts, including a poem-only "Shades Off", an outtake of "Once Bitten", others. New liner notes, remastered, a good 30th anniversary package.

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