Ian Hunter | ||
| Allmusic Biography : With Mott the Hoople, guitarist/vocalist Ian Hunter established himself as one of the toughest and most inventive hard rock songwriters of the early 70s, setting the stage for punk rock with his edgy, intelligent songs. As a solo artist, Hunter never attained the commercial heights of Mott the Hoople, but he cultivated a dedicated cult following. Hunter was born in Owestry, Shropshire, but was raised in cities throughout England since his father worked in the British Intelligence agency called MI5 and had to move frequently. Eventually, the family returned to Shrewsbury, where the teenaged Hunter joined a band called Silence in the early 60s. Silence released an album, but it received no attention. In the years following Silence, Hunter played in a handful of local bands and worked a variety of jobs. In 1968, Hunter began playing bass with Freddie "Fingers" Lee and the duo played around Germany. Shortly afterward, Hunter became the vocalist for Mott the Hoople. During the next six years, Hunter sang and played piano and guitar with the band, becoming its lead songwriter within a few albums. Although few of their records sold, Mott the Hoople was one of the most popular live bands in England. In 1972, David Bowie produced their breakthrough album, All the Young Dudes, which brought the band into the British Top Ten and the American Top 40. For the next two years, the group had a consistent stream of hits in both the U.K. and the U.S. Toward the end of 1973, the band began to fall apart, as founding member and lead guitarist Mick Ralphs left the band. Hunter carried on through another album, but he left the group in late 1974, taking along former Bowie guitarist Mick Ronson, who had just joined Mott. Just prior to leaving the group, Hunter published Diary of a Rock Star, an account of his years leading Mott the Hoople, in June 1974. Hunter moved to New York, where he and Ronson began working on his solo debut. Released in 1975, Ian Hunter spawned "Once Bitten, Twice Shy," a Top 20 U.K. hit. Following its release, Hunter and Ronson embarked on a tour. After its completion, the pair parted ways, although they would reunite later in the 80s. All-American Alien Boy, Hunters second solo album, was recorded with a variety of all-star and session musicians, including members of Queen. Released in the summer of 1976, All-American Alien Boy was a commercial failure. It was followed in 1977 by Overnight Angels, an album that saw Hunter moving closer to straightforward rock & roll; disappointed with the completed album, Hunter decided to leave it unreleased in America. Following the mainstream approach of Overnight Angels, Hunter became involved with Englands burgeoning punk rock movement, producing Generation Xs second album, 1979s Beyond the Valley of the Dolls. For Hunters next solo album, he reunited with Mick Ronson, who produced and arranged 1979s Youre Never Alone with a Schizophrenic. The album was a hit, especially in America, where it peaked at number 35. Hunter and Ronson set out on another tour, which resulted in the 1980 double live album, Ian Hunter Live/Welcome to the Club. In 1981, Hunter released Short Back N Sides, which was produced by the Clashs Mick Jones. Two years later, he released All of the Good Ones Are Taken. After its release, Ian Hunter became a recluse, spending the next six years in silence; occasionally, he contributed a song to a movie soundtrack. In 1989, he resumed recording, releasing YUI Orta with Ronson. After its release, Hunter remained quiet during the 90s, appearing only on Ronsons posthumous 1994 album Heaven and Hull, and at tribute concerts for Ronson in 1994 and Freddie Mercury in 1992. Hunter returned to recording with Artful Dodger, which was released in Britain and Europe in the spring of 1997. After a Columbia/Legacy compilation titled Once Bitten Twice Shy offered a wealth of Hunter solo titles in the year 2000, much attention was paid to 2001s fine Rant. In 2002, Hunter performed a pair of semi-acoustic concerts in Oslo, Norway, which were recorded for later release on CD and home video; the resulting project, called Strings Attached, introduced some new songs, including "Twisted Steel," inspired by the events of September 11, 2001. Shrunken Heads, a collection of all-new material, was released in 2007 on the Yep Roc label, followed by Man Overboard in 2009 from New West Records. That same year, Hunter unexpectedly reunited with Mott the Hoople for a series of concerts at the end of the year; Live at HMV Hammersmith Apollo 2009 documented these well-reviewed gigs. After a couple of quiet years, Hunter returned in the fall of 2012 with When Im President, another critically acclaimed collection of rock & roll. Live in the UK 2010, a document from the Man Overboard tour, arrived in 2014, and in 2016 Hunter released another studio album, Fingers Crossed. | ||
 | Album: 1 of 21 Title: Ian Hunter Released: 1975 Tracks: 8 Duration: 40:36 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Once Bitten Twice Shy (04:44) 2 Who Do You Love (03:51) 3 Lounge Lizard (04:32) 4 Boy (08:52) 5 3,000 Miles From Here (02:48) 6 The Truth, the Whole Truth, Nuthin’ but the Truth (06:11) 7 It Ain’t Easy When You Fall / Shades Off (05:46) 8 I Get So Excited (03:50) |
| Ian Hunter : Allmusic album Review : After leaving Mott the Hoople in early 1975, Ian Hunter quickly threw himself into recording this eponymous solo debut. Not surprisingly, it contains a lot of the glam rock charm of Hunters old group: "The Truth, the Whole Truth, Nothing But the Truth" and "I Get So Excited" are fist-pumping tunes that combine punchy hard rock riffs with intelligent lyrics in a manner similar to Mott the Hooples finest moments. However, Ian Hunter pulls off this grandiose sound without the overtly ornate production that defined the final Mott the Hoople albums because Mick Ronsons cleverly crafted arrangements manage to create a big wall of sound without utilizing a huge amount of instruments or overdubs. As a result, Ian Hunters lyrics shine through in each song and show off his totally personalized mixture of attitude and intelligence: the legendary and oft-covered "Once Bitten, Twice Shy" is a cheeky, clever exploration of rock & rolls ability to corrupt the innocent, and "Boy" is a critique of a rocker who has allowed his pretensions to overpower his heart (many say this tune was aimed at fellow star and onetime Mott the Hoople producer David Bowie). Another highlight is "It Aint Easy When You Fall," a moving tribute to a fallen friend that gracefully builds from delicate verses into a soaring chorus. The end result is a memorable debut album that gives listeners their hard rock fix and manages to engage their brains at the same time. Anyone interested in the finest moments of 1970s glam rock should give this classic a spin. | ||
 | Album: 2 of 21 Title: All‐American Alien Boy Released: 1976 Tracks: 8 Duration: 41:16 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Letter to Britannia From the Union Jack (03:49) 2 All American Alien Boy (07:07) 3 Irene Wilde (03:43) 4 Restless Youth (06:17) 5 Rape (04:04) 6 You Nearly Did Me In (05:46) 7 Apathy 83 (04:43) 8 God (take 1) (05:44) |
| All‐American Alien Boy : Allmusic album Review : After the relative success of his debut, it would have been very easy for Ian Hunter to continue in the glam-inspired vein that made that album so successful. Instead, he twisted his sound in a jazz direction for All American Alien Boy, a partially successful attempt to open up his sound from its traditional rock & roll routes. Since Hunter couldnt utilize the producing and arranging skills of longtime cohort Mick Ronson because of a dispute with Ronsons manager, Hunter took the reins himself and invited a diverse cast of session musicians that included everyone from journeyman drummer Aynsley Dunbar to jazz bass wizard Jaco Pastorius. The resulting album mixture of conventional Mott the Hoople-style rock and sonic experiments never truly gels, but does contain some fine tracks. The experiments are hit and miss: the title track is a funky, sax-flavored exploration of Hunters adjustment to life in America that works nicely, but the interesting lyrics of "Apathy 83" get buried in an uncharacteristically bland soft rock arrangement. The songs that work best are the more traditional-sounding numbers: "Irene Wilde" is a delicately crafted autobiographical ballad about the rejection that made Hunter decide to "be somebody, someday," and "God - Take 1" is a stirring, Dylan-styled rocker featuring witty lyrics that illustrate a conversation with a weary and down-to-earth version of God. However, the true gem of the album is "You Nearly Did Me In," an elegant and emotional ballad about the emptiness that follows a romantic breakup. It also notable for the stirring backing vocals from guest stars Queen on its chorus. In the end, All-American Alien Boy lacks the consistency to fully succeed as an album but still offers enough stellar moments to make it worthwhile for Ian Hunters fans. | ||
 | Album: 3 of 21 Title: Overnight Angels Released: 1977-05 Tracks: 9 Duration: 34:45 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Golden Opportunity (04:31) 2 Shallow Crystals (03:59) 3 Overnight Angels (05:13) 4 Broadway (03:47) 5 Justice of the Peace (03:01) 6 (Miss) Silver Dime (04:35) 7 Wild n’ Free (03:08) 8 The Ballad of Little Star (02:32) 9 To Love a Woman (03:56) |
| Overnight Angels : Allmusic album Review : With Ian Hunter coming off two solidly excellent solo albums, hopes for his third were sky high, all the more so since he had returned, nominally at least, to a band format with the Earl Slick fired Overnight Angels. The truth of the matter, however, was incomparably sadder, as the ensuing disc emerged bloated, tired and almost wholly lacking in the energies that had hitherto fired Hunters work. Overnight angels? More like overweight. There were some moments of greatness -- "Justice of the Peace" is a bouncy pop confection detailing a shotgun wedding, while "The Ballad of Little Star" leads off a handful of cuts that delve deep into the Americana lore and legend with which Hunter, newly transplanted to the United States, was surrounding himself. Unfortunately, that might well be the albums greatest problem. As a songwriter with both Mott the Hoople and alone, Hunters greatest strength was his ability to detail emotions -- usually his, but other peoples too. Overnight Angels, however, has no unifying theme beyond an attempt to "be" American -- a state of being that a thirty-something guy from Shropshire, England, was never going to achieve. With the band similarly uncertain about precisely what they are trying to do, the entire album founders and it is ironic indeed that the only song from the entire Overnight Angels period that had any kind of lifespan ahead of it was a catchy little rocker that Hunter buried away on a B-side, "England Rocks." Retitled "Cleveland Rocks" and unleashed on his next tour, the song has since become established among Hunters all-time greats. | ||
 | Album: 4 of 21 Title: Shades of Ian Hunter: The Ballad of Ian Hunter & Mott the Hoople Released: 1979 Tracks: 23 Duration: 1:30:57 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 All the Young Dudes (03:30) 2 One of the Boys (02:46) 3 Sweet Jane (03:12) 4 All the Way From Memphis (02:59) 5 I Wish I Was Your Mother (04:50) 6 The Golden Age of Rock ’n’ Roll (03:23) 7 Roll Away the Stone (03:09) 8 Marionette (live) (05:11) 9 Rose (03:54) 10 Foxy Foxy (03:30) 11 Where Do You All Come From (03:25) 12 Rest in Peace (03:51) 13 Saturday Gigs (04:17) 1 Once Bitten Twice Shy (04:44) 2 3,000 Miles From Here (02:47) 3 I Get So Excited (03:50) 4 You Nearly Did Me In (05:43) 5 All American Alien Boy (07:07) 6 England Rocks (02:51) 7 Wild n’ Free (03:09) 8 Justice of the Peace (03:01) 9 Overnight Angels (05:13) 10 Golden Opportunity (04:31) |
 | Album: 5 of 21 Title: You’re Never Alone With a Schizophrenic Released: 1979-03-27 Tracks: 28 Duration: 2:17:23 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Just Another Night (04:36) 2 Wild East (03:58) 3 Cleveland Rocks (03:48) 4 Ships (04:11) 5 When the Daylight Comes (04:27) 6 Life After Death (03:49) 7 Standin’ in My Light (04:35) 8 Bastard (06:37) 9 The Outsider (05:58) 10 Don’t Let Go (demo) (04:14) 11 Ships (take 1) (05:24) 12 When the Daylight Comes (early version) (04:38) 13 Just Another Night (early version) (a.k.a. the Other Side of Life) (04:42) 14 Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On (02:23) 1 F.B.I. (04:55) 2 Once Bitten Twice Shy (04:55) 3 Life After Death (04:46) 4 Sons and Daughters (04:57) 5 Laugh at Me (04:01) 6 Just Another Night (05:30) 7 One of the Boys (05:14) 8 Letter to Brittania From Union Jack (03:51) 9 Bastard (06:40) 10 All the Way From Memphis (07:21) 11 Cleveland Rocks (06:53) 12 All the Young Dudes (04:21) 13 When the Daylight Comes (06:06) 14 Sweet Angeline (04:30) |
| You’re Never Alone With a Schizophrenic : Allmusic album Review : This classic album from 1979 is considered by many to be the high point of Ian Hunters solo career. Although its sales never matched up to the enthusiastic critical reaction it received, this polished hard rock gem has held up nicely through the years and is definitely deserving of its strong cult reputation. Youre Never Alone with a Schizophrenic also marked the reunion of Hunter with his finest creative ally, Mick Ronson, who had been forced to sit out of Hunters last few albums due to management problems. Together, the reunited duo put together an album that matches Hunters literate lyrics to a set of catchy, finely crafted tunes brimming with rock & roll energy. Two of the finest tracks are "Cleveland Rocks," an affectionate, Mott the Hoople-styled tribute to an unsung rock & roll city that later became the theme for The Drew Carey Show, and "Ships," a heartrending ballad built on a spooky and ethereal keyboard-driven melody that was later covered with great success by Barry Manilow. Elsewhere, the album features plenty of tunes that soon became mainstays of Hunters live show: "Just Another Night" is a rollicking rocker with an infectious, piano-pounding melody reminiscent of 1970s-era Rolling Stones, and "Bastard" is a pulsating rocker that features guest star John Cale contributing to its ominous hard rock atmosphere. However, the unsung gem of the album is "When the Daylight Comes," a beautifully crafted mid-tempo rocker that balances a soulful, organ-driven melody with rousing guitar riffs and surprisingly vulnerable lyrics about romance. It should also be noted that Youre Never Alone with a Schizophrenic benefits from a sterling mix by Bob Clearmountain, who gives the sound a muscular quality that makes it leap out of the stereo speakers. In the end, Youre Never Alone with a Schizophrenic is not only Ian Hunters finest and most consistent album but one of the true gems of late-70s rock & roll. | ||
 | Album: 6 of 21 Title: Welcome to the Club Released: 1980-03-26 Tracks: 22 Duration: 1:54:15 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 F.B.I. (03:52) 2 Once Bitten Twice Shy (05:25) 3 Angeline (04:56) 4 Laugh at Me (03:40) 5 All the Way From Memphis (03:33) 6 I Wish I Was Your Mother (06:47) 7 Irene Wilde (04:13) 8 Just Another Night (06:03) 9 Cleveland Rocks (06:01) 10 Standin’ in My Light (05:49) 11 Bastard (08:11) 1 Walking With a Mountain / Rock ’n’ Roll Queen (04:20) 2 All the Young Dudes (03:29) 3 Slaughter on Tenth Avenue (02:25) 4 One of the Boys (07:36) 5 The Golden Age of Rock and Roll (04:01) 6 When the Daylight Comes (09:00) 7 Medley: Once Bitten Twice Shy / Bastard / Cleveland Rocks (06:10) 8 We Gotta Get Outta Here (03:14) 9 Silver Needles (05:56) 10 Man O’War (04:19) 11 Sons and Daughters (05:03) |
| Welcome to the Club : Allmusic album Review : One of the key double live albums of the late 70s, at a time when the very idea of such things had been ground into disrepute by so many mass-marketed clinkers, Welcome to the Club: Live captures Ian Hunter and lieutenant Mick Ronson back on the road together for the first time in four years, and firing on more cylinders than most bands could even dream of activating. The backing group behind them is solid if a little full of itself -- live footage shot at the same Cleveland show where this was taped reveals a stageful of face-pulling hairies, strutting their stuff like the greatest superstars on earth -- while the superstars themselves are retiring enough to be almost unnoticeable. Still they captivate, however -- Hunter with his unflappable menace, Ronson with his unquenchable cool, and the three sides of vinyl that capture the music echo that calm, at the same time as serving up a set that cant sit still. Opening with a ferocious guitar duel through the oldie "FBI," and roaring past selections from Hunters latest Youre Never Alone with a Schizophrenic (including a positively tumultuous "Bastard"), the band tracks back through the best of his three previous solo sets, then shakes the Mott the Hoople songbook too. The ballads "Irene Wilde" and "I Wish I Was Your Mother" are outstanding, while a so-slow drift into "All the Young Dudes" restates all that songs power to evoke wired emotion. And theres a closing outstanding "Slaughter on 10th Avenue" that sends the audience home like a funeral cortege. But the magic doesnt end there. The concert over, four "new" songs include one more live cut, the marvelously maudlin "Sons and Daughters" plus three studio tracks that, had they only been held over for Hunters next album, might have saved us all a lot of heartache. The low-key "Silver Needles" and the pounding "Man OWar" highlight the wild extremes of Hunters best work, while "We Gotta Get Outta This Place" is a churning duet with Ellen Foley that includes one of the best boy- and girlfriend battles ever committed to wax. The line about staying home to watch the Muhammad Ali/Marlene Dietrich fight will keep you intrigued for weeks. The U.K. CD reissue appends three further live tracks, including a great "One of the Boys," plus a studio-made "live medley" previously available only on a British B-side. | ||
 | Album: 7 of 21 Title: Short Back n’ Sides Released: 1981 Tracks: 10 Duration: 44:53 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Central Park n’ West (04:00) 2 Lisa Likes Rock & Roll (03:56) 3 I Need Your Love (03:34) 4 Old Records Never Die (04:18) 5 Noises (05:51) 6 Rain (05:54) 7 Gun Control (03:12) 8 Theatre of the Absurd (05:49) 9 Leave Me Alone (03:29) 10 Keep On Burning (04:45) |
| Short Back n’ Sides : Allmusic album Review : Ian Hunter had been revitalized by punk rock, as Short Back and Sides shows. Featuring the Clashs Mick Jones on guitar, the music is a tougher and spikier take on Hunters rock & roll, and his songwriting is at a near-peak. | ||
 | Album: 8 of 21 Title: All of the Good Ones Are Taken Released: 1983 Tracks: 10 Duration: 41:20 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 All of the Good Ones Are Taken (03:37) 2 Every Step of the Way (03:50) 3 Fun (04:16) 4 Speechless (03:44) 5 Death ’n’ Glory Boys (05:52) 6 That Girl Is Rock ’n’ Roll (03:15) 7 Somethin’s Goin’ On (04:31) 8 Captain Void ’n’ The Video Jets (04:10) 9 Seeing Double (04:20) 10 All of the Good Ones Are Taken (03:45) |
| All of the Good Ones Are Taken : Allmusic album Review : With its slightly dated and stiff sound, All of the Good Ones Are Taken is a step down from the vibrant Short Back and Sides, yet a handful of songs manage to break free of the restrictions placed on them by the production. | ||
 | Album: 9 of 21 Title: Shades of Ian Hunter Released: 1988 Tracks: 15 Duration: 1:05:34 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Just Another Night (04:36) 2 Cleveland Rocks (03:48) 3 Ships (04:11) 4 Standin’ in My Light (04:35) 5 Bastard (06:37) 6 When the Daylight Comes (04:27) 7 Old Records Never Die (04:19) 8 Noises (05:51) 9 Gun Control (03:11) 10 Lisa Likes Rock ’n’ Roll (03:55) 11 Central Park n’ West (03:59) 12 Once Bitten, Twice Shy (live) (05:27) 13 All the Way From Memphis (live) (03:41) 14 All the Young Dudes (live) (03:36) 15 We Gotta Get Out of Here (live) (03:15) |
| Shades of Ian Hunter : Allmusic album Review : Shades of Ian Hunter may not be the most comprehensive of hits packages from this longtime rock & roller, but it does combine the best tracks from three of his most successful recordings. With 15 songs, this minor compilation pulls his best material from the outstanding Youre Never Alone With a Schizophrenic album, as well as the off-the-wall Short Back N Sides release from 1981 and the live Welcome to the Club offering from 1980. The first seven tunes from Schizophrenic include "Just Another Night" and the monumental "Cleveland Rocks," as well as the gorgeous "Ships." The next five are taken from Short Back N Sides, highlighted by the haunting "Old Records Never Die." "Gun Control" rolls along firmly with its jittery pace, and the dissonance of "Central Park N West grows with a strange appeal every time its heard. The last three tracks that are taken from the live album include two of Mott the Hooples biggest tunes in "All The Way From Memphis" and the teen rock anthem "All the Young Dudes." Ending the album with songs from his former band is an effective finish to this compilation, which makes for an abbreviated but pleasant listen. | ||
 | Album: 10 of 21 Title: YUI Orta Released: 1989 Tracks: 10 Duration: 50:36 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 American Music (04:12) 2 The Loner (04:47) 3 Womens Intuition (06:30) 4 Cool (04:28) 5 Big Time (04:00) 6 Livin’ in a Heart (04:30) 7 Sons ’n’ Lovers (04:55) 8 Beg a Little Love (06:26) 9 Tell It Like It Is (04:22) 10 Sweet Dreamer (06:24) |
| YUI Orta : Allmusic album Review : After being intermittently active during the mid-80s, Ian Hunter returned full force to the world of rock & roll with this 1989 album. As usual, Mick Ronson plays an important role, making a substantial contribution to the songwriting and supplying an array of tasty guitar licks. The result is a strong outing that brings Hunters classically styled rock up to date: the standout example of this is "American Music," a heartfelt tribute to the music that inspired "Hunter" as a child that combines power chords with a slickly harmonized chorus to create a punchy slice of pop-flavored rock & roll. YUI Orta is the slickest-sounding album in Hunters catalog thanks to the efforts of Bernard Edwards, the producer best known for being half of the creative brain trust behind Chic and producing slick outings for the Power Station and Robert Palmer. This pairing might seem odd in concept but it results in an effective sound that rocks hard but offers enough ear candy elements to make the whole package listener friendly. For instance, Edwards adds a serpentine horn riff to "Cool" that cleverly enhances its soulfulness without taming the songs hard rock edge. YUI Orta also benefits from a strong, thoroughly engaging positivity in Hunters lyrics: examples include "The Loner," a song that points out how its a good thing to stand apart from the crowd, and "Big Time," an exuberant, rollicking tune that tells the listener, "youre never too small to hit the big time." Although it never achieved the sales it deserved, YUI Orta remains an exciting album that is worthy of rediscovery by both anyone interested in Ian Hunters work and anyone interested in good, old-fashioned rock & roll. | ||
 | Album: 11 of 21 Title: Dirty Laundry Released: 1995 Tracks: 12 Duration: 50:11 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Dancing on the Moon (05:24) 2 Another Fine Mess (03:28) 3 Scars (05:04) 4 Never Trust a Blonde (05:19) 5 Psycho Girl (02:48) 6 My Revolution (04:08) 7 Good Girls (04:01) 8 Red Letter Day (05:11) 9 Invisible Strings (03:53) 10 Everyone’s a Fool (02:41) 11 Junkee Love (02:46) 12 The Other Man (05:23) |
| Dirty Laundry : Allmusic album Review : Dirty Laundry is actually a glorious accident, as Ian Hunter originally intended to record only a few songs at Abbey Road, but was swept up in the energy from a knock-out band, resulting in one of his best works. As Hunters output lessens, every nugget dispensed from this sultan of snarl has merit, but all 12 of these tracks are quality songs, most written on-the-spot in the studio. Hunter seems relaxed and happy to jam with an all-star band of talented unknowns. One of Hunters many enduring and endearing traits is his unwavering knack for writing slight, meaningless rock tunes. His gift for garnishing the obvious is laced with gnarly slide and female backup for a great opener, "Dancing on the Moon." The hidden prize is the prime "Psycho Girl" by pseudo-legend Honest John Plain, who also provides the golden "Good Girls (a single)." "Another Fine Mess" (evoking the spectre of late soulmate Mick Ronson) and "Scars" are the types of hangover meditation Hunter always pulls off. "Invisible Strings" maintains Dirty Laundrys pick-up pub feel, but the playing holds together and no cut goes on too long. "Junkee Love" showcases smokin guitar and the Bo Diddley beat. Dirty Laundry doesnt lapse into depression until the close, because no one wants to go home. Hunter proves to be one of the most consistently strong singer/songwriters yet. His status as king of the cut-out bins adds credibility to his lyrics and believability to his singing. His music is now essential listening -- collectors items teetering on the brink of obscurity; but there will always be a place for a genuine treasure like Ian Hunter. | ||
 | Album: 12 of 21 Title: The Artful Dodger Released: 1996 Tracks: 11 Duration: 55:19 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Too Much (04:43) 2 Now Is the Time (04:54) 3 Something to Believe In (05:46) 4 Resurrection Mary (06:11) 5 Walk on Water (03:50) 6 23A, Swan Hill (04:52) 7 Michael Picasso (05:46) 8 Open My Eyes (05:43) 9 The Artful Dodger (04:20) 10 Skeletons (In Your Closet) (04:02) 11 Still the Same (05:06) |
| The Artful Dodger : Allmusic album Review : As Ian Hunters first record since his 1989 collaboration with Mick Ronson, Artful Dodger appropriately offers a tribute to the late guitarist in "Michael Picasso," but a greater tribute to the guitarist is the fact that the album could have used some of his focused production skills. Hunter still has his cynical wit and skill for catchy, intelligent rockers, but the material on the record is disarmingly uneven, considering that it took him seven years to make the album. A sharper production could have saved the weaker moments, but the sound is a bit too pedestrian and the focus a bit too fuzzy to make the record a true return to form. | ||
 | Album: 13 of 21 Title: Secret Sessions Released: 1999-02-09 Tracks: 10 Duration: 00:00 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Easy Money (?) 2 Silent Movie (?) 3 I Ain’t No Angel (?) 4 The Best Thing (?) 5 I Hate Dancin’ (?) 6 The Outsider (?) 7 Just When I Needed You Most (?) 8 Lowdown Freedom (?) 9 On My Way to Georgia (?) 10 Growin’ Old With Rock ’n’ Roll (?) |
 | Album: 14 of 21 Title: Missing in Action / Collateral Damage Released: 2000 Tracks: 26 Duration: 2:09:59 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Life After Death (04:37) 2 Ships (06:47) 3 Letter to Brittania From Union Jack (03:03) 4 We Gotta Get Out of Here (03:45) 5 While You Were Looking at Me (04:24) 6 (I’m the) Teacher (04:03) 7 American Music (03:50) 8 Day Tripper (05:16) 9 Tell It Like It Is (06:26) 10 Pain (05:54) 11 Women’s Intuition (06:14) 12 Wild East (04:30) 13 Na Na Na (05:06) 1 FBI (04:58) 2 Once Bitten, Twice Shy (04:56) 3 When the Daylight Comes (06:18) 4 Laugh at Me (03:41) 5 I Wish I Was Your Mother (06:26) 6 Cleveland Rocks (06:16) 7 Bastard (06:20) 8 Standing in the Light (04:44) 9 Angeline (04:14) 10 All the Way From Memphis (07:17) 11 Walking With a Mountain (04:23) 12 All the Young Dudes (03:40) 13 Slaughter on 10th Ave (02:51) |
 | Album: 15 of 21 Title: Once Bitten Twice Shy Released: 2000 Tracks: 38 Duration: 2:38:53 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Once Bitten Twice Shy (03:53) 2 Who Do You Love (03:17) 3 Colwater High (session outtake) (03:12) 4 One Fine Day (session outtake) (02:19) 5 The Truth, the Whole Truth, Nuthin’ but the Truth (05:58) 6 All American Alien Boy (03:52) 7 Common Disease (03:53) 8 Justice of the Peace (03:00) 9 When the Daylight Comes (03:45) 10 Cleveland Rocks (03:48) 11 Bastard (06:34) 12 Gun Control (03:11) 13 Speechless (03:39) 14 Traitor (03:57) 15 (I’m the) Teacher (04:00) 16 Great Expectations (You Never Know What to Expect) (03:54) 17 Good Man in a Bad Time (03:41) 18 Women’s Intuition (04:22) 19 Ain’t No Way to Treat a Lady (04:32) 20 All the Young Dudes (live) (04:00) 1 Shades Off (poem) (01:37) 2 Boy (06:25) 3 Letter to Britannia From the Union Jack (03:47) 4 You Nearly Did Me In (03:30) 5 (God) Advice to a Friend (05:28) 6 Shallow Crystals (03:57) 7 Ships (04:09) 8 Standing in My Light (04:34) 9 The Outsider (05:58) 10 Junkman (feat. Genya Ravan) (05:52) 11 Old Records Never Die (04:15) 12 All of the Good Ones Are Taken (03:44) 13 Seeing Double (04:23) 14 Bluebirds (04:18) 15 Sunshine Eyes (04:21) 16 Ill Wind (03:22) 17 All Is Forgiven (03:14) 18 Michael Picasso (live) (06:52) |
| Once Bitten Twice Shy : Allmusic album Review : Is this two-CD compilation a career retrospective (covering the years 1975-1996) or a rarities collection? Does it aim to present the best of Ian Hunter, or a selection of representative work from various phases of his solo career, or a combination of crowd-pleasing favorites and things that he or Columbia thinks should be heard? The answers are not clear from Once Bitten Twice Shy, which combines tracks from his solo albums with a dozen previously unreleased cuts and various hard to find items from singles and soundtracks. It has that feeling of a project thats designed to please everyone and ends up satisfying almost no one. While fans will relish some of the unreleased material, particularly a few outtakes and alternates from Ian Hunter, those otherwise unavailable songs are not that great, and it will not amuse many that two of the Ian Hunter outtakes have vocals recorded in 1999. Also, some of the rarities should have remained rare, such as an irrelevant live 1996 version of "All the Young Dudes" with Def Leppard. But the biggest problem with the material, outweighing collector concerns, is that the quality goes steadily downhill the later the years get, particularly from the early 80s onward. The decision to split the package into one "rockers" disc and one "ballads" disc isnt so astute, either. The "ballads" disc is the much inferior component, the production and songwriting venturing into crummy adult contemporary music on the tracks from the 1980s. One does wish it was otherwise, but really theres not much reason to hear Hunters post-70s solo work, and its post-70s material that comprises about half of this anthology. | ||
 | Album: 16 of 21 Title: Rant Released: 2001-04-21 Tracks: 12 Duration: 56:41 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Still Love Rock and Roll (04:34) 2 Wash Us Away (03:56) 3 Death of a Nation (05:35) 4 Morons (05:32) 5 Purgatory (04:46) 6 American Spy (04:30) 7 Dead Man Walkin’ (East Enders) (06:20) 8 Good Samaritan (04:06) 9 Soap ’n’ Water (05:18) 10 Ripoff (04:50) 11 Knees of My Heart (03:35) 12 No One (03:35) |
| Rant : Allmusic album Review : The musical statement that is Rant includes textures and ideas that pick up where Brain Capers by Mott the Hoople left off. "Still Love Rock and Roll" ignites this set; it rocks with an authority that "All the Way From Memphis" only hinted at. As Dion DiMuccis Shu Bop album redefined the position of a 60s artist and delivered the goods, Hunters Rant reveals a 70s artist refining his philosophy. Rant he does, with eloquence and a new fire. Every track works, entertaining and enlightening, taking the listener through curves and turns, reaching the zenith in track ten, "Ripoff." From the "thats all youve got to live for" lyric to the song title itself, this song is a perfect pop tune, full of anger, passion, slashing guitar sounds, a condescending vocal, and hooks that are real magnetic grabbers. With production that is absolutely topnotch, Hunter bids adieu to his homeland. Although "Ripoff" is guaranteed to keep "Sir" from being added to Hunters name, he should still be knighted for delivering a kick-in-the-pants rock & roll song that every car radio should be blasting. The Rolling Stones havent injected this much majesty into a single tune, let alone an album, in over a decade. R.E.M. could learn a thing or two from "Knees of My Heart"; it has the jangle jangle guitar, but where R.E.M. seems stuck in some past groove, Hunter utilizes that Nick Lowe/Bob Dylan/Byrds melancholic musical essay to great and satisfying effect. This album smartly moves sounds from guitar to keys, shifting moods, making a grand musical statement. "No One" is Hunter delivering a ballad with drive. This isnt "Ships," his Barry Manilow hit, nor is it Mad Shadows pre-"All the Young Dudes" composition "You Are One of Us"; this has flavors of early British pop, guitar sounds from the George Harrison textbook, and a meaningful vocal from this rock & roll troubadour. Rant is a record that transcends so much of what is going on right now in music, a record that is much too good for radio today. The Columbia/Legacy compilation Once Bitten Twice Shy delivered 38 Ian Hunter solo titles in the year 2000, giving the world a clear picture of his post-Hoople work and paving the way for this sensational recording. | ||
 | Album: 17 of 21 Title: Strings Attached Released: 2003 Tracks: 19 Duration: 1:42:03 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify AlbumCover | 1 Rest in Peace (06:31) 2 All of the Good Ones Are Taken (03:32) 3 I Wish I Was Your Mother (05:48) 4 Twisted Steel (03:10) 5 Boy (09:10) 6 23A, Swan Hill (05:23) 7 Waterlow (03:49) 8 All the Young Dudes (05:43) 9 Irene Wilde (04:06) 10 Once Bitten Twice Shy (05:29) 1 Rollerball (05:27) 2 Ships (06:10) 3 A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square (03:59) 4 Michael Picasso (08:21) 5 Wash Us Away (04:28) 6 Dont Let Go (03:56) 7 All the Way From Memphis (05:29) 8 Roll Away the Stone (05:03) 9 Saturday Gigs (06:29) |
 | Album: 18 of 21 Title: Shrunken Heads Released: 2007-05-15 Tracks: 14 Duration: 1:03:06 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Words (Big Mouth) (05:03) 2 Fuss About Nothin’ (03:44) 3 When the World Was Round (04:50) 4 Brainwashed (03:40) 5 Shrunken Heads (07:45) 6 Soul of America (04:43) 7 How’s Your House (04:18) 8 Guiding Light (04:09) 9 Stretch (04:12) 10 I Am What I Hated When I Was Young (03:05) 11 Read ’Em ’n’ Weep (05:01) 1 Your Eyes (03:50) 2 Wasted (05:06) 3 Real or Imaginary (03:40) |
| Shrunken Heads : Allmusic album Review : Even when he was a young man Ian Hunter was the crankiest guy in rock & roll, so old age suits him, since it gives him a guilt-free license to be a curmudgeon -- but that doesnt mean hes settling into complacency. Far from it, actually, as his absolutely tremendous 2007 album Shrunken Heads proves. Hunter is thrillingly alive on Shrunken Heads, producing an album thats as vital as the best of his work with Mott the Hoople. His achievement is all the more remarkable because it has nothing to do with musical reinvention but rather reclamation, as he finds new depths in his signature rock & roll, equal parts Dylan and the Stones but sounding not quite like either. Thats always been true of Hunter, but theres a down-and-dirty, lived-in depth to Shrunken Heads that gives it muscle and immediacy as pure music. On that level alone the album would be more than worthwhile, but theres also a reason that his backing band -- featuring producer/guitarist/keyboardist Andy Burton, drummer Steve Holley, keyboardist Andy Burton, bassist Graham Maby, guitarists Jack Petruzzelli and James Mastro, plus cameos from Jeff Tweedy and Soozie Tyrell -- sounds so vigorous: theyre playing one of Hunters best sets of original songs. With its crunching hard rock and handful of wistful ballads born out of Blonde on Blonde, the album may stir up memories of his older work, but this is surely a contemporary record, roiling with anger at the state of the world today. Perhaps it took a songwriter born in Britain to see the soul of modern America as clearly as Ian Hunter does, for no other songwriter in the 2000s has addressed the disarray of modern life as directly, or as savagely, as he does here. He bristles at consumer culture, seethes about the celebration of stupidity, rails against disastrous response to Hurricane Katrina, gripes about how he liked it better "When the World Was Round," since theres too much information now, finally coming to the self-deprecating conclusion that "I Am What I Hated When I Was Young." This is furious stuff, but in typical Hunter fashion, its witheringly funny, tremendously hard rocking, and above all, a whole bunch of fun, even when things get serious. Thats because Ian Hunter always plays for keeps: hes always been a true rock & roll believer. Its whats sustained him throughout his career, and its what makes him capable of delivering an album this timely, this fearless, and this good as he approaches his 70th birthday. | ||
 | Album: 19 of 21 Title: Old Records Never Die: The Mott the Hoople / Ian Hunter Anthology Released: 2008-08-26 Tracks: 32 Duration: 2:18:31 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Rock and Roll Queen (05:10) 2 Walking With a Mountain (03:49) 3 Whiskey Women (03:38) 4 Sweet Angeline (04:52) 5 Death May Be Your Santa Claus (04:53) 6 All the Young Dudes (03:35) 7 Sweet Jane (04:21) 8 Sucker (05:01) 9 All the Way From Memphis (05:01) 10 Honaloochie Boogie (02:44) 11 Violence (04:50) 12 The Ballad of Mott the Hoople (26th March 1972, Zurich) (05:25) 13 Roll Away the Stone (03:07) 14 Crash Street Kidds (04:31) 15 The Golden Age of Rockn Roll (03:25) 16 Saturday Gigs (04:17) 1 Once Bitten Twice Shy (04:44) 2 Who Do You Love? (03:52) 3 3,000 Miles From Here (02:47) 4 You Nearly Did Me In (05:43) 5 Justice of the Peace (03:01) 6 Cleveland Rocks (03:48) 7 Just Another Night (04:36) 8 Ships (04:11) 9 When the Daylight Comes (04:27) 10 Old Records Never Die (04:19) 11 Central Park n’ West (03:59) 12 Speechless (03:52) 13 Women’s Intuition (06:30) 14 The Artful Dodger (04:20) 15 Still Love Rock and Roll (04:34) 16 Words (Big Mouth) (05:03) |
 | Album: 20 of 21 Title: Man Overboard Released: 2009-07-21 Tracks: 11 Duration: 47:22 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 The Great Escape (04:29) 2 Arms and Legs (04:34) 3 Up and Running (03:47) 4 Man Overboard (05:16) 5 Babylon Blues (04:54) 6 Girl From the Office (04:35) 7 Flowers (03:32) 8 These Feelings (04:01) 9 Win It All (02:24) 10 Way With Words (04:15) 11 River of Tears (05:35) |
| Man Overboard : Allmusic album Review : Ian Hunter sounded younger than his years on 2007s Shrunken Heads, but on its 2009 sequel, Man Overboard, he shows signs of age in his weathered rasp as well as the albums slower tempos and greater emphasis on ragged acoustic arrangement. Older doesnt necessarily mean any less vigorous, though, at least not in Hunters case. He writes and sings like a man who thinks he might have seen it all but isnt quite sure, so he keeps going, turning out tunes that feel familiar in form but fresh in substance. Since Man Overboard doesnt always rock as furiously as Shrunken Heads, its easier to appreciate his songcraft and how deeply felt the performances are, whether Hunter is nimbly leading his band of pros through the country-rock ramble of "The Great Escape," cranking up the boogie on "Up and Running," writes a rock & roll love song as funny and knowing as "The Girl from the Office," or turning in another finely honed bittersweet epic on the closer, "River of Tears." Nothing here is flashy, which is keeping in a long tradition of Hunters and is yet another reason why hes often called underrated, but when hes making records as rich and resonant as Man Overboard at the age of 70, its hard not to listen with not a small degree of wonder. | ||
 | Album: 21 of 21 Title: The Singles Collection: 1975–83 Released: 2012-06-18 Tracks: 29 Duration: 1:57:35 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Once Bitten Twice Shy (03:53) 2 3,000 Miles From Here (02:46) 3 Who Do You Love (03:17) 4 Boy (04:01) 5 All American Alien Boy (03:52) 6 Rape (04:04) 7 You Nearly Did Me In (03:30) 8 Letter to Britannia From the Union Jack (03:49) 9 Justice of the Peace (03:01) 10 The Ballad of Little Star (02:32) 11 England Rocks (02:51) 12 Wild n’ Free (03:09) 13 When the Daylight Comes (03:45) 14 Life After Death (03:49) 15 Ships (04:11) 16 Wild East (03:58) 1 Cleveland Rocks (03:39) 2 Bastard (06:36) 3 We Gotta Get Outta Here (03:14) 4 Medley: Once Bitten Twice Shy / Bastard / Cleveland Rocks (06:10) 5 Sons and Daughters (05:03) 6 One of the Boys (05:05) 7 Lisa Likes Rock & Roll (03:56) 8 Noises (05:51) 9 All of the Good Ones Are Taken (03:43) 10 Death ’n’ Glory Boys (05:59) 11 Traitor (03:57) 12 Somethin’s Goin’ On (03:55) 13 All of the Good Ones Are Taken (slow version) (03:50) |
| The Singles Collection: 1975–83 : Allmusic album Review : Plenty of Ian Hunter compilations have appeared over the years but the 7Ts labels 2012 double-disc set The Singles Collection: 1975-83 offers a distinctive spin: it offers the A- and B-sides from Hunters post-Mott commercial peak of the late 70s and early 80s. Many of Hunters classics are here -- "Once Bitten Twice Shy," "All American Alien Boy," "England Rocks"/"Cleveland Rocks," "Ships" -- and plenty of his quirkier overlooked rockers from the time like "Justice of the Peace." Although this certainly sags a bit toward the end as Hunter tackles the synth-heavy 80s, compared to Legacys earlier double-disc set Once Bitten Twice Shy this is stronger -- that 2000 comp was heavy on rarities and this provides a better overall portrait of Hunter at his best. | ||