Drive On (Mott album)

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Drive On is a 1975 album by British band Mott (one year before, named Mott the Hoople). It was released on the CBS label in the UK and the Columbia label in the United States. A remastered version was released in CD format in 2006 by Wounded Bird Records in US. It is the first album without the lead singer Ian Hunter, and includes two new members: Ray Major and Nigel Benjamin.

The album features the singles "Monte Carlo / Shout It All Out" and "By Tonight / I Can Show You How It Is".

Background

In the afterglow of The Hoople (1974), a live album Live was quickly released, after which the guitarist Mick Ronson replaced Ariel Bender. Mott The Hoople ended when vocalist/songwriter/guitarist Ian Hunter left the group to form a solo band, with accompaniment from Ronson.

In January 1975, Ray Major and the lead singer Nigel Benjamin were added to continue the group, which abbreviated its name to Mott. The new line-up consisted of Pete Watts, Dale Griffin and Morgan Fisher, along with guitarists Ray Major (formerly of Opal Butterfly, Hackensack, and a brief stint with Andy Fraser and Frankie Miller) and an unknown Benjamin.

Watts did the lion's share of songwriting, supplemented by Griffin and Major. Mott "arranged, produced and directed" Drive On, and it was co-engineered by Geoff Emerick.

This line-up released only one more album, Shouting and Pointing (1976), which also sold poorly. Drive On was the last studio album in British charts for the band.

Track listing

All tracks written by Pete Overend Watts, except as noted.

LP side A:

1. "By Tonight" - 3:46
2. "Monte Carlo" - 4:35
3. "She Does It" - 3:26
4. "I'll Tell You Something" - 4:30
5. "Stiff Upper Lip" 4:30

LP side B:

1. "Love Now" - 2:45
2. "Apologies" (Ray Major) - 0:50
3. "The Great White Wail" - 5:06
4. "Here We Are" - 5:25
5. "It Takes One To Know One" (Dale Griffin) - 4:30
6. "I Can Show You How It Is" (Watts, Griffin) - 2:30

Personnel

Mott

• Nigel Benjamin - lead vocals, rhythm and acoustic guitars
• Ray Major – lead and slide guitars, backing vocals
• Morgan Fisher – piano, backing vocals, organ, synthesizer
• Pete Overend Watts – bass, backing vocals
• Dale "Buffin" Griffin – drums, backing vocals, percussion

Technical personnel

• Engineer - Alan Harris, Geoff Emerick
• Mastered By – Arun Chakraverty
• Arranged By, Producer – Mott
• Art Direction – Roslav Szaybo
• Management – Fred Heller Enterprises Ltd.
• Mastered By – Allen Landau, Arun Chakraverty
• Mixed By – Gary Edwards, Geoff Emerick, Pete Henderson
• Photography By – Mike Putland, Peter Lavery
• Photography By [Front Cover] – Roger Bamber
• Recorded By – Alan Harris, Ron Fawcus

Charts

References

External links

• Drive On review
• Drive On at Discogs