Customer Reviews

Mott

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

No longer obscure or in Bowie's shadow, Mott shone brightly on their first entirely self produced album. Ian Hunter had clearly taken control of the band authoring or co-authoring 8 of the 9 songs. This doesn't diminish Mick Ralphs contributions--his guitar playing is terrific and his single solo composition(He wrote three other tracks with Hunter) is a terrific song.

Along with Brain Capers, this is the band's finest hour. After this Ralphs left the band leaving a gaping hole that, perhaps, only Mick Ronson could have filled if he and Hunter had stayed with the band. I Wish I Was Your Mother and Violence are two of the highlights from this terrific album.

Now if only Columbia would remaster this as well as they did the Import of All The Young Dudes, it would be a perfect album!

Mott the Hoople was one of those great rock and roll bands that was unfortunately just a tad too quirky to ever be accepted by mainstream audiences. Though it doesn't contain thier best known song (the David Bowie penned "All the Young Dudes"), "Mott" still gets the nod as the band's best album.

The album features a healthy does of everything that made them great: unpredictable songwriting, fine guitar playing from Mick Ralphs (later of Bad Company), and the theatrical vocals of front man Ian Hunter. The highlights include the catchy, horn laden "All the Way from Memphis" that kicks things off, the sequel to their David Bowie hit "Hymn for the Dudes," the downcast autobiographical story song "Ballad of Mott the Hoople" and the goofy but sweet ballad "I Wish I Was Your Mother" that closes the record. In between is a lot of typical Mott glam rock weirdness like "I'm a Cadilac" and "Violence." Though it lacks liner notes, the CD booklet does feature a full lyrics sheet.

Overall, a terrific classic rock album from an underappreciated band.

Through the years I have listened to hundreds of albums and CD's. Most are not so good. Some are great. A few are brilliant. Then there is this album, "Mott", by Mott the Hoople. This is #1, the best of the very best, my favorite all time album. Every note is perfect, every lyric is perfect. There are no flaws anywhere on this album. It has a perfect mixture of thundering rock songs, beautiful ballads, silly foot tapping songs, songs of love, songs of despair, songs of hope. Most of the lyrics are written by one of the greatest rock composers ever, Ian Hunter. Guy's a genius. He's the perfect foil for the more bluesy guitarist Mick Ralphs. Mott was never afraid to think outside the box on this record.Bassist Overend Watts, drummer Dale (Buffin) Griffin and keyboardist Verfen Allen are top notch musicians that round out the band. Sorry "Stairway to Heaven" and "Freebird" fans, the rollicking "All The Way From Memphis" is THE greatest rock-n-roll song ever written. To appreciate this song however, one must know and understand the history of Mott the Hoople. Buy Ian Hunter's book (diary)"Reflections of a Rock Star", and Mott's music and lyrics will make more sense. Also take the time to buy 2 of Mott's previous albums, "All the Young Dudes" and "Brain Capers".You just can't go wrong. Finally, check out Ian Hunter's solo albums. Trust me!

Bill Wood

This is got to be one of the greatest albums of all time!
The songwriting, production, playing everything. Too bad
it was Mick Ralph's last album. I first heard this from
my older brother and I was just blown away. Drivin'
Sister is just a rocking classic. All the way to Memphis
should be played on every classic rock station. Also
Honolochi Boogie should've been a mega hit. If if was
released today, it would be considered genius. It's so
ashame Mott was overlooked. One of my favorites is the
Mick Ralph's I'm a Cadillac. awesome. If your buying a
Mott album for the first time, this is the one.

If Mott the Hopple didn't help invent punk, they certainly were the midwives that helped with the delivery. Mott was a unique band--with they were never less than soulful even on their weakest material. Ian Hunter's Sonny Bono/Bob Dylan delivery gave an impression of what the Pretty Things or Stones would have sounded like with either one of those singer/songwriters as their front man.

Mott is a nearly flawless album. Hunter came into his own as a songwriter. I Wish I was Your Mother, All the Way to Memphis and Ballad of Mott (co-written with all the band members) all manage to capture Hunter's gritty and blunt assessment of the world packaged in a melodic and colorful box.

Ralphs contributes a couple of strong tracks as well although his contributions are a bit more subdued than on All the Young Dudes. Clearly Hunter had taken Bowie's advice and stepped to the forefront as both frontman and songwriter. This managed to make the band better and also caused the original line up to splinter with Hunter the next casuality.

The problem with this great album is the sound quality. The CD sounds flat and muddy. When you compare the sound quality here to the remastered editions of both All the Young Dudes and The Hoople, it's clear that this album is in bad need of a facelift. If you're a fan of the band let Sony/Columbia know that this needs all the attention, remixing and remastering that was applied to both the selections from the box set and the other two MTH Columbia studio albums.

Oh, and pick up Hunter's Rant. He's in fine form again and it's evident he hasn't lost his edge.

Though it doesn't contain the David Bowie penned "All the Young Dude's" (their most well-known song), "Mott" is easilly their best album. This is creative challenging hard rock that transcends the usual limitations of the genre. "All the Way From Memphis," the achingly pretty "The Ballad of Mott the Hoople," and the gloriousluy goofy love song "I Wish I Was Your Mother," are the best tracks. Most hard rock bands take themselves way too seriously. Mott the Hoople's campiness was also part of their charm.

Greatest ever? Yes. Without a doubt. Comparisons? More poetic than "Exile on Main Street." Harder and louder than "Ziggy." More focused than the first New York Dolls album. "Mott," along with those 3 and "London Calling," comprise the 5 greatest rock'n'roll records ever made. "Drivin' Sister" is a heavy metal Rolling Stones song. "Ballad of Mott the Hoople" and "Hymn for the Dudes" are Dylan done with flash. This was the pinnacle of glam rock, but also a precusor of punk. There is none better.

It's 1973. I'm 14 years old, laying on the bedroom floor, leafing through Circus magazine. There's an article about some band with a weird name -- Mott the Hoople? Says they're a cross between Dylan and the Stones. Maybe I'll check it out. Down at the record store (the vinyl kind, kiddies) I find the LP. Wow, what a cool cover! What cool clothes! This has to be cool. Buy it, take it home, put it on the turntable, and WOW! this IS cool! Not long after everyone at school (my friends, anyway) are talking about this band, trying to pound out All The Way From Memphis on the piano in the music room. (But what about that GAY song All The Young Dudes?) Too bizarre, dude, this it COOL! Almost 30 years later I'm still listening, still digging it, buying Ian Hunter's Rant CD, and thinking about what it was like to be 14 in 1973...

If you want to pick up an album that defines rock and roll circa 1973, this is it. Forget the glam associations with David Bowie, these guys were about sweaty rock and roll and having a great time. There is not a loser on this record. Check out "Drivin' Sister". Ya know she's much too much on the clutch!

Bowie saves band on verge of breakup
Mott takes 'Dudes' instead of 'Suffragette City'
History
Songs and production, my keys to a great LP (yea I'm old)
This is an 'every instrument' in your face LP. To me this is the new Wall Of Sound. Guitars, drums, bass, vocals and everything else is up loud and mixed appropriately.
This is enhanced by the songs. At my funeral, I want Hymn for the Dudes to be played. Poigniant lyrics and a melody to die for (no pun). As the song quiets down, the vocals get more pronounced, and the the instrumental break/guitar comes in even louder.....Ian and the boys knew what they were doing.
'Ballad of' recounts Ian take on the band while becoming huge.
'..Cadillac' falls into the same vein as 'Ready For Love... on the ATYD LP. 'Memphis, Honaloochie, Drivin' Sister, and Violence' just straight out rock.
It's no wonder that most seasoned critics rank this LP highly in the Best Of All Time catagory.
A Keeper