Mott the Hoople are an English rock band with strong R&B roots, popular in the glam rock era of the early to mid-1970s. They are probably 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. (Read more at Wikipedia )
Links To Peel[]
Mott The Hoople was one of the bands Peel championed in the late 60s - early 70s. They were one of the first "progressive" bands to record for Island Records, and were publicised by articles in the underground press when their first album was released in 1969. It showed the influence of musical styles Peel liked, both the country-rock of its period (the notes to their BBC audition tape described them as a "Dylan influenced group") and the rock and roll of the late 1950s. They were booked to do a session for Top Gear in 1970, but as he told Melody Maker's Michael Watts, it didn't quite live up to his hopes:
"You tend to get carried away by atmospheres in the studio which don’t come across on the radio. The classic example of that were Mott the Hoople, who came down and did very much the same thing they’d do in a club, which was ‘Clap your hands, come on everybody,’ which is nice in a club and went all right in the studio, but when it went out on the radio it sounded silly, really. It’s trying to put out a three-dimensional thing over a two-dimensional transmitter. You’re just bound to lose part of it."[1]
Yet Mott, and frontman Ian Hunter in particular, were more extroverted on stage than the typical bands of their time, which contributed to their later chart success in the glam rock years. As with many bands of the era, Peel's interests moved on to other grounds after they dissolved, but did keep some interest in the band's post break up career, especially with two follow up bands after Ian Hunter left - Mott and British Lions, which Peel played some tracks from, as well as a session from the latter.
Mott The Hoople's drummer Dale Griffin was the producer of numerous Peel sessions from 1981 to 1994, including ones by Pulp, Smashing Pumpkins, Nirvana, Carcass and Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark.
Sessions[]
- Two sessions. "Thunderbuck Ram" from #1 has been released on "Original Mixed Up Kids " (Windsong – WINCD 084).
1. Recorded: 1970-02-03. First broadcast: 21 February 1970. Repeated: 25 April 1970.
- Laugh At Me / At The Crossroads / Thunderbuck Ram
2. Recorded: 1971-07-06. First broadcast: 24 July 1971. Repeated 27 October 1971
- Midnight Lady / Like a Rolling Stone / Angel of 8th Avenue
Live[]
One of the two sets is available as an unofficial recording. It is still under debate from which of the two John Peel's Sunday Concert appearances it comes from.
- Recorded 1970-04-23. Aired: 03 May 1970. No known commercial release.
- Set details uncertain and may be as below (file also circulated as 25 October 1970).
- Recorded 1970-10-15. Aired: 25 October 1970. No known commercial release.
- Ohio
- No Wheels To Ride
- Rock and Roll Queen
- The Debt
- Walkin' With a Mountain
Other Shows Played[]
(Please add more information if known)
- 1969
- 08 November 1969: Rock And Roll Queen (LP – Mott The Hoople) Island ILPS 9108
- 06 December 1969: You Really Got Me (LP - Mott The Hoople) Island ILPS 9108
- 20 December 1969: At The Crossroads (LP - Mott The Hoople) Island ILPS 9108
- 1970
- 24 January 1970: At The Crossroads (LP - Mott The Hoople) Island ILPS 9108
- 13 June 1970: Thunderbuck Ram (LP - Mad Shadows) Island ILPS 9119
- 03 October 1970: Walking With A Mountain (LP - Mad Shadows) Island ILPS 9119
- 1971
- 08 May 1971: Wrong Side Of The River (album - Wildlife) Island ILPS 9144
- 1972
- 28 July 1972: All The Young Dudes (single) CBS
- 01 August 1972: One Of The Boys (single b-side All The Young Dudes) CBS
- 08 August 1972: All The Young Dudes (single) CBS
- 08 September 1972: Soft Ground (LP - All The Young Dudes) CBS
- 15 September 1972: Jerkin’ Crocus (LP - All The Young Dudes) CBS
- 1973
- 29 May 1973: Drivin’ Sister (LP – Mott) CBS
- 31 May 1973: Violence (LP – Mott) CBS
- 07 June 1973: Ballad Of Mott (LP: Mott) CBS
- 21 June 1973: All The Way From Memphis (LP: Mott) CBS
- 28 June 1973: I Wish I Was Your Mother (LP: Mott) CBS
- 05 July 1973: Drivin’ Sister (LP – Mott) CBS
- 10 July 1973: Whizz Kid (LP – Mott) CBS
- 12 July 1973: Rose (single – Honaloochie Boogie b-side) CBS
- 17 July 1973: Ballad Of Mott (LP: Mott) CBS
- 24 July 1973: All The Way From Memphis (LP: Mott) CBS
- 02 August 1973: 'Hymn For The Dudes (LP-Mott)' (CBS)
- Ian Hunter
- 05 April 1975 (Rock Week): Once Bitten, Twice Shy (LP - Ian Hunter) CBS
- 05 April 1975 (Rock Week): Who Do You Love (LP - Ian Hunter) CBS
- 05 April 1975 (Rock Week): Lounge Lizard (LP - Ian Hunter) CBS
- 05 April 1975 (Rock Week): Boy (LP - Ian Hunter) CBS
- 23 April 1979: Life After Death (LP - You're Never Alone With A Schizophrenic) Chrysalis
- 24 April 1979: unknown LP track announced only
- 25 April 1979: Bastard (LP - You're Never Alone With A Schizophrenic) Chrysalis
See Also[]
- 1973 Top Ten Albums
- 1974 Top Fifty One Singles
- Singles Reviews
- Sounds Playlist
- Gigography 1970
- Gigography 1971
- Disc & Music Echo: Peel Columns
- Sounds