Brain Capers

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Brain Capers
Studio album by Mott the Hoople
Released 1971
Recorded Island Studios, London
November - December 1970
Genre Rock
Length 38.03
Label (UK) Island Records
Producer Guy Stevens
Professional reviews
Mott the Hoople chronology
Wildlife
(1971)		 Brain Capers
(1971)		 All the Young Dudes
(1972)

Brain Capers is the fourth album by the band Mott the Hoople.

It was originally released in November 1971 in the UK by Island Records under catalogue number ILPS 9178 and was reissued in 2003 0n Angel Air SJPCD160. Despite its return to the harder, heavier style of Mad Shadows (and being recorded almost live in the studio) the album was not a commercial success. In fact, it is the only Mott the Hoople album that failed to chart in either the UK or US.

Its working title was "AC/DC" though this was abandoned in favour of either "Brain Damage" or "Bizarre Capers" before a compromise was settled on. Earlier sessions, self-produced by the band, were also abandoned when svengali Guy Stevens was called in to rescue the album but a number of these recordings have resurfaced on All the Young Dudes: The Anthology and as bonus material on Angel Air's re-issues of Mott the Hoople albums.

Brain Capers has often been ignored by professional critics but was listed at #98 in Joe S. Harrington's Top 100 Albums in 2001-2003. "The Moon Upstairs" was later covered by the Dictators).

[edit] Track listing

  1. Death May Be Your Santa Claus (Hunter/Allen) 4.55
  2. Your Own Back Yard (Dion Dimucci) 4.13
  3. Darkness, Darkness (Young) 4.33
  4. The Journey (Hunter) 9.15
  5. Sweet Angeline (Hunter) 4.53
  6. Second Love (Allen) 3.46
  7. The Moon Upstairs (Hunter/Ralphs) 5.07
  8. The Wheel of the Quivering Meat Conception (Hunter/Stevens) 1.21
  9. Midnight Lady ( Hunter/Ralphs - 2003 re-issue bonus) 3.33
  10. The Journey (Hunter - 2003 re-issue bonus) 9.47

[edit] Trivia

  • "Darkness, Darkness" is actually sang by guitarist Mick Ralphs instead of Ian Hunter.