The Witching Hour Sessions – 22/01/2018

Mott The Hoople

Mott The Hoople were an English rock band with strong R&B roots, popular in the glam rock era of the early to mid-1970s. They are best known for the song ‘All the Young Dudes’, written for them by David Bowie and appearing on their 1972 album of the same name. Mott the Hoople were formed in 1966 with Mick Ralphs on guitar, Stan Tippins on vocals, and Pete Overend Watts on bass.

The band’s debut album, ‘Mott the Hoople’ (1969), was a cult success. The second album, ‘Mad Shadows’ (1970), sold poorly and received generally negative reviews.Even though the group was building a decent following, ‘Brain Capers’ (1971) failed to sell well and the group decided to split. David Bowie had long been a fan of the band. After learning from Watts that they were about to split, he persuaded them to stay together and offered them ‘Suffragette City’ from his then yet to be released ‘Ziggy Stardust’ album. They turned it down. Bowie also penned ‘All the Young Dudes’ for them and it became their biggest hit and kick started the band’s most successful period.

Tonight’s listening:

1 – All the Young Dudes (1972)

Just at the moment Mott the Hoople were calling it a day, David Bowie swooped in and convinced them to stick around. Bowie spearheaded an image makeover, urging them to glam themselves up. He gave them a surefire hit with ‘All The Young Dudes’. had them cover his idol’s ‘Sweet Jane’, and produced ‘All the Young Dudes,’ the album that was designed to make them stars. Lo and behold, it did, which is as much a testament to Bowie’s popularity as it is to his studio skill.

2 – Mott (1973)

‘All the Young Dudes’ actually brought Mott the Hoople success, but you wouldn’t know that from its sequel, Mott. Ian Hunter’s songs are a set of road tales fraught with exhaustion, disillusionment, and dashed dreams, all told with a wry sense of humor so evident on Mott’s earlier work. To top it all off, Hunter writes the best lament for rock ever with ‘Ballad of Mott the Hoople’, a song that conveys just how heartbreaking rock & roll is for the average band. If that wasn’t enough, he trumps that song with the closer ‘I Wish I Was Your Mother’. a peerless breakup song that still surprises. It’s a graceful way to close a record that stands as one of the best of its era.

3 – The Hoople (1974)

‘Mott’ was so good that the sequel, appropriately named ‘The Hoople’, has been unfairly dismissed as not living up to the group’s promise. Still an entertaining listen, even if it doesn’t compare to Mott’s earlier masterpieces. A fine record.