November 2nd sees the release of a superb, new 6-disc boxed set encapsulating legendary English rock-band Mott the Hoople’s recorded output for Island Records, to whom they were signed, between 1969 and 1971.
LISTEN TO PREVIOUSLY UN-RELEASED VERSION OF “ROCK AND ROLL QUEEN“
Bringing together all of their albums from the period, the set also includes bonus material plus BBC sessions and live concerts. The studio albums have all been remastered from the original tapes (where available) by renowned engineer Andy Pearce and have been complemented by bonus tracks selected by Mott the Hoople expert, Kris Needs.
Disc 5 comprises more unheard and, in some cases, unreleased music from the Island archive and Disc 6 rounds everything off with live material recorded at Fairfield Hall, Croydon on 13th September 1970 plus a BBC Radio One In Concert from the Paris Theatre, London on 30th December 1971. The CDs are housed in a shoe box style package with a 50-page booklet designed by Phil Smee who scoured the archives for rare photos and memorabilia, tracing the evolution of the band. It is completed with comprehensive sleeve notes by Kris Needs.
Disc Titles:
Disc One: Mott the Hoople plus bonus tracks
Disc Two: Mad Shadows plus bonus tracks
Disc Three: Wildlife plus bonus tracks
Disc Four: Brain Capers plus bonus tracks
Disc Five: The Ballads of Mott The Hoople
Disc Six: It’s Live and Live Only
Mott the Hoople were one of the most prolific and important British rock bands of the early 1970s and have been cited as a major influence by members of a raft of subsequent groups, including Queen, Def Leppard, Oasis, R.E.M., Kiss, Motley Crue and The Clash. They continue to perform, in their current line-up, with Ian Hunter at the helm.
Pre-order the boxset, available November 2nd at mottthehoople.lnk.to/MentalTrain & listen to a previously unreleased version of “Rock and Roll Queen” from the set, here.
—
TRACKLISTING:
CD1 – MOTT THE HOOPLE
Originally released November 22 1969 – Island Records ILPS 9108
You Really Got Me
At the Crossroads
Laugh at Me
Backsliding Fearlessly
Rock and Roll Queen
Rabbit Foot and Toby Time
Half Moon Bay
Wrath and Wroll
Bonus Tracks
If Your Heart Lay with the Rebel (Would You Cheer the Underdog?) (Instrumental Take 2)
Rock and Roll Queen (Single A side)
Road to Birmingham (Single B side)
Road to Birmingham (Guy Steven’s Mix)
You Really Got Me (Complete take)
You Really Got Me (Vocal mix)
Rock and Roll Queen (Guy Steven’s Mono Mix)
Rock and Roll Queen (Kitchen Sink Instrumental)
Little Christine (2 Miles)
CD2 – MAD SHADOWS
Originally released September 1970 – Island Records ILPS 9119
Thunderbuck Ram
No Wheels to Ride
You Are One of Us
Walking with a Mountain
I Can Feel
Threads of Iron
When My Mind’s Gone
Bonus Tracks
Thunderbuck Ram (BBC Session)
Thunderbuck Ram (Original Take with Organ)
No Wheels to Ride (Demo)
Moonbus (Baby’s Got a Down on Me)
The Hunchback Fish (Vocal Rehearsal)
You Are One of Us (Take 9)
Going Home (2 Miles)
Keep A-Knockin’ (Studio version)
CD3 – WILDLIFE
Originally released March 1971 – Island Records ILPS 9144
Whiskey Women
Angel of Eighth Avenue
Wrong Side of the River
Waterlow
Lay Down
It Must Be Love
The Original Mixed Up Kid
Home Is Where I Want to Be
Keep A-Knockin’ (Live)
Bonus Tracks
Midnight Lady (Single A side)
The Debt (Single B side)
Downtown (Single A side)
Brain Haulage (Whiskey Woman)
Growing Man Blues (Take 10)
Long Red (Demo)
The Ballad of Billy Joe
Lay Down (Take 8
CD4 – BRAIN CAPERS
Originally released December 1971 – Island Records – ILPS 9178
Death May Be Your Santa Claus
Your Own Backyard
Darkness, Darkness
The Journey
Sweet Angeline
Second Love
The Moon Upstairs
The Wheel of the Quivering Meat Conception
Bonus Tracks
Mental Train (The Moon Upstairs)
How Long? (Death May Your Santa Claus)
Darkness, Darkness
Your Own Backyard (Complete Take)
Where Do You All Come From (Backing Track)
One of the Boys (Take 2)
Movin’ On (2 Miles)
Black Scorpio (Mommas Little Jewel)
CD5 – THE BALLADS OF MOTT THE HOOPLE
Unheard and unreleased music from the Island archive
Like a Rolling Stone (Fragment)
No Wheels to Ride (1st House)
Angel Of 8th Avenue (Tape 816)
The Journey
Blue Broken Tears (Tape 816)
Black Hills (Full Ralph’s Version)
Can You Sing the Song That I Sing (Full Take)
Till I’m Gone (2 Miles)
The Original Mixed Up Kid (BBC Session)
Ill Wind Blowing (2 Miles)
I’m A River (Vocal Rehearsal)
Ride on The Sun (Sea Diver) (2 Miles)
CD6 – IT’S LIVE AND LIVE ONLY
– Tracks 1 – 7: Fairfield Hall, Croydon, 13 September 1970
– Tracks 8 to 12: Paris Theatre, London, BBC Radio One, In Concert, 30 December 1971
Rock and Roll Queen
Ohio
No Wheels to Ride / Hey Jude
Thunderbuck Ram
Keep A-Knockin’
You Really Got Me
The Moon Upstairs
Whiskey Women
Your Own Backyard
Darkness, Darkness
The Journey
Death May Be Your Santa Claus
