Mott (album)

Mott is a 1973 album by British band Mott the Hoople. "All the Way from Memphis", an edited version of which was released as a single, received considerable airplay on U.S. radio and captured the band many overseas fans, as well as reaching the UK Top 10.

It was clear by the time Mott was released that Ian Hunter had become the dominant figure of the band. Aside from the lead track, the album includes introspective songs such as "Ballad Of Mott The Hoople", which exposes Mott’s near break-up, and the peculiar "I Wish I Was Your Mother", featuring multi-tracked mandolin, in which Hunter sings of his wish to see his love as a child. Hard rockers are given their due with "Whizz Kid", "Drivin’ Sister", "Violence" and "Honaloochie Boogie", the last-named being another UK single. A fine performance is delivered by Hunter in the almost religious "Hymn For The Dudes."

The album has featured different covers in the UK and U.S. releases, as well as remastered tracks on some editions. The US cover featured a photo of the four band members with the big word MOTT on it , with Mott The Hoople written in the O. The UK front cover featured a motif based on the bust of a Roman Emperor, with a strange text. Initial copies had a gatefold sleeve with the Emperor motif printed on a transparent plastic sheet. The emperor motif would appear again of the inner sleeve of The Hoople, the band's next and final album in both the US and UK. A remastered and expanded version was released by Sony's Columbia/Legacy imprint in the United States in 2006.

Reception

In 2003, the album was ranked number 366 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.

Track listing

All songs written by Ian Hunter, except where indicated

Vinyl

Side one

1. "All the Way from Memphis" – 4:55
2. "Whizz Kid" – 3:05
3. "Hymn For The Dudes" (Verden Allen, Hunter) – 5:15
4. "Honaloochie Boogie" – 2:35
5. "Violence" (Hunter, Ralphs) – 4:37

Side two

1. "Drivin’ Sister" (Hunter, Ralphs) – 4:42
2. "Ballad Of Mott The Hoople (26th March 1972, Zürich)" (Hunter, Dale "Buffin" Griffin, Peter Watts, Ralphs, Allen) – 5:40
3. "I’m A Cadillac / El Camino Dolo Roso" (Ralphs) – 9:40
4. "I Wish I Was Your Mother" – 4:41

CD

1. "All the Way from Memphis" – 5:02
2. "Whizz Kid" – 3:25
3. "Hymn For The Dudes" (Verden Allen, Hunter) – 5:24
4. "Honaloochie Boogie" – 2:43
5. "Violence" (Hunter, Ralphs) – 4:48
6. "Drivin’ Sister" (Hunter, Ralphs) – 3:53
7. "Ballad Of Mott The Hoople (26th March 1972, Zürich)" (Hunter, Dale "Buffin" Griffin, Peter Watts, Ralphs, Allen) – 5:24
8. "I’m A Cadillac / El Camino Dolo Roso" (Ralphs) – 9:41
9. "I Wish I Was Your Mother" – 4:52

Bonus tracks (2006 reissue)

1. "Rose" (Hunter, Ralphs, Watts, Buffin) – 3:56 B-side of "Honaloochie Boogie"; produced by Mott The Hoople
2. "Honaloochie Boogie" (Demo version) – 3:07
3. "Nightmare" (Demo) (Allen) – 3:36
4. "Drivin' Sister" (Hunter, Ralphs) – 4:30 Live 1973 at the Hammersmith Odeon; produced by Dale "Buffin" Griffin

Personnel

• Ian Hunter – lead vocals, piano, guitar
• Mick Ralphs – guitar, lead vocals, organ, moogotron, mandolins, tambourine
• Pete "Overend" Watts – bass guitar, backing vocals
• Dale "Buffin" Griffin – drums, vocals, percussion, backing vocals

Additional personnel

• Paul Buckmaster – electric cello on "Honaloochie Boogie"
• Morgan Fisher – piano, synthesizer, backing vocals on "Drivin' Sister" (live)
• Mick Hince – bells on "I Wish I Was Your Mother"
• Andy Mackay – saxophone on "All The Way From Memphis" & "Honaloochie Boogie"
• Graham Preskett – violin on "Violence"
• Thunderthighs (Karen Friedman, Dari Lalou, Casey Synge) – backing vocals on "Hymn For The Dudes"

Charts

Album