You're Never Alone with a Schizophrenic

Ian Hunter

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 18, 1993)
• Original Release Date: 1979
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Razor & Tie
• ASIN: B000002Z7K
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #8,851 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Digitally Remastered with Updated Sleeve Notes. Produced by the E-street Band's Keyboardist Roy Bittan, this Album Stands as One of Hunter's Best Solo Albums after his Tenure in Mott the Hoople. Cameo Appearances Abound from Bittan's Fellow E-streeters. Includes the Hits "Cleveland Rocks" (Later the Theme of TV'S "The Drew Carey Show"), "Ships" (Which Became a Top Hit for Barry Manilow), "Standing in My Light" and the Concert Favorite "Bastard" . --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars YOUR NEVER ALONE WITH MOTT, March 12, 2002

By	Kim Fletcher (Pattaya, Chonburi Thailand) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Slip this wonderfully newly remastered version of Ian Hunters Classic album from 1979 into your player and out bursts Dam-Dah-Ram-Dam, then drums followed by guitar with keyboards, and there you are in the middle of the Schizophrenic world of Ian Hunter. The nine songs featured on this collection used to comprise five on side A and four on side B in the days of good old vinyl. The Schizophrenic title wasnt meant to be wholly serious (it was actually taken from graffiti on a New York toilet wall), however, listening to the record it soon became clear that musically it was split. Side one featured five relatively commercial songs, and side two four longer more heavy introverted pieces that dwelt on past influences on Ians life and showed the darker side of his character.

After the fire and spat of opener Just Another Night comes swaggering to a halt, it immediately merges into the bump and groove of Wild East, a mildly energetic and melodic piece with a sax-based riff concerning the crazed east side of New York City. It had an undoubted Springsteen and Dylan flavour, which is not highly surprising as joining Hunter in the studio were 3 of Springsteens E-street band in Ray Bitten (Piano), Gary Tallent (Bass) and Max Weinberg (Drums) alongside guitar ace Mick Ronson who had just come off Dylans Rolling Thunder tour.

Next up is Ian Hunters anthem to Cleveland, Cleveland Rocks (now used as the theme tune for the Drew Carey show). It opens with a spoken section from the infamous Alan Freed before Ronson fires the whole thing off with some guitar pyrotenics, now a staple of all Ian Hunters concerts.

Hunter included a touching hymn-like ballad, Ships, concerning his relationship with his father. Ships was subsequently covered by Barry Mannilow and charted as a hit single, probably earning more money in royalties for Ian Hunter then hed ever made before. Funny old world this Rock n Roll, aint it.

Closing side one was Mick Ronsons favorite track When The Daylight Comes, a light and simple song that Ian encouraged Mick to sing duel lead vocals on.

Side two opens with Life After Death, which allowed Ian to explore metaphysical issues with an all out belting rocker. Standing In My Light shifts moods and dynamics in gospel fashion. It builds up slowly and compellingly in terms of musical anger as Ian gives a stately account of a new beginning in his life.

Bastard is a powerful piece of macho-funk with a throbbing beat and percussion that recalls the Rolling Stones Black & Blue era. Built on a relentless grinding slow burn the track concerns some poor unfortunate who crossed Ian and incurred his wrath.

The Outsider closes the record in dramatic fashion, employing arresting drum and vocal echoes, topped with more scorching Ronson lead guitar.

With three months of pre-production the record produced by Mick & Ian, engineered by the notorious Bob Clearmountain, took only one week to record, a further three weeks to mix, and then went straight into the Billboard top forty and became Ian Hunters most successful solo project to this day.

Overall the album was a hard hitting surging rock record with superb studio sound.

Mott The Dog

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ian Hunter's Magnum Opus., February 26, 2002

By	Anthony Accordino (Massapequa Park, New York United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

In 1979 former Mott The Hoople lead man Ian Hunter released "You're Never Alone With a Schizophrenic". The album is easily his greatest work and quite possibly the most overlooked rock n roll album ever made. There is no filler with this package. The song "Just Another Night" received decent radio airplay on most AOR radio stations which helped give Ian some long overdue recognition. This cd just rocks with tunes like "Cleveland Rocks"[His Overnight Angels album has a european version England Rocks]. I can't say enough about the quality of the songs like "Wild East", "Bastard", "Standin In My Light" and the fantastic ballad "Ships"[Barry Manilow had a big hit with it, but Ian's version blows Manilow's out of the water]. If you like well played rock n roll and have not heard any of Ian Hunter's work I guarantee this cd will turn you into one of his fans. His most recent release "Rant" proves Ian Hunter has not lost his touch.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The more the merrier on this great album, August 6, 1998

By	Wayne Klein "If at first the idea is not absu... (My Little Blue Window, USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)

One of Ian Hunter's best albums, YOU'RE NEVER ALONE, is a focused, thought provoking, fun and altogether delightful album. Easily Hunter's best album since MOTT(1973), this album displays all the Dylan-like quirks that have appeared since Mott the Hopple's debut. Here, though, Hunter as a solo artist finds his voice as a solo artist.

From the moment of Hunter's count-in, this he grabs the listener by the shirt and drags him/her along for the ride. "Just another night" and "Wild East" are both delightful rockers. The addition of the E Street band's Max Weinberg and Roy Bittan give the album the flavor of Springsteen's BORN TO RUN (and since Hunter has many of the same influences as the Boss, it makes for a very interesting, lively combination), mixed with Hunter's Dylanesque lyrics and delivery.

This isn't imitation--this is alchemy! Hunter and his producing partner Mick Ronson(David Bowie's ZIGGY STARDUST)distill all their classic influences(Ala! n Freed's 50's rock shows, Dylan, the Beatles, Phil Spector)and make these ifluences their own.

This album along with IAN HUNTER,( the flawed, but more ambitious) ALL AMERICAN ALIEN BOY and ARTFUL DODGER is among Hunter's best and allows one to make a strong argument for Hunter as one of the best songwriters of the 70's singer/songwriter era.

Highly recommended!