The opening song on this CD gets off to a smoking start with the top-notch Comfortable (Flyin' Scotsman) which is a powerful full-paced rocker with guitars and a subtle use of saxes along the lines of a Hoople-flavored flashback. The record would not be out of place for Jerry Lee Lewis' piano or Little Richard and the Upsetters saxophone.
With Ian's Scot background the song can be seen from a first-person perspective. The song is a tribute to his roots and although he was born in Oswestry, Shropshire, England, as many children in his generation, World War II necessitated a move to safer climes. The family moved to Hamilton, South Lanarkshire to live with his Aunt Nettie in Peacock Cross with his Scottish father's family. Hunter was brought up there until the age of six and has stated that he considers himself a Scot, but he also identifies as English and British (after years in the US maybe a bit American as well).
The lyrics are cloying and clever as he imagines time with a lady: "I bet those twins ain't identical" so once Hunter liked the line and imagines a "slip into something more comfortable" he had the key word imagination and the verses came easily. It's a song of seduction with more than just false bravado but with a bit of wit and fun since it is not in strict time. There are some songs of Hunter's that are just fun and not on serious topics as Ian noted: "It's just a bluesy fun song."
Ian Hunter On Track for Sonicbond Publishing, TheDoctorOfDigital@pm.me
Aunt Nettie's family lived in Peacock Cross and my dad's brother lived in the same tenement
Exclusive: Mott the Hoople legend recalls his roots in wartime Scotland
Comfortable (Flyin' Scotsman)
(Ian Hunter)
Imagination's all in the mind
Why don't you come up and see me some time
Get wild get weird get wonderful
And we can slip into something more comfortable
Imagination's up in the air
You wanna stretch it, it'll go anywhere
I bet those twins ain't identical
Why don't we slip into something more comfortable
What's that sound, what's that sound
The Flyin' Scotsman's back in town
Can you hear that lonesome whistle call,
Why don't you slip into something more comfortable
Imagination - there ain't any tax
On imagining this and imagining that
It's the only thing left that's a free-for-all
Why don't we slip into something more comforatable
Gather round, gather round
The Flyin' Scotsman's back in town
A fully operational
Why don't we slip into something more comforatable
Imagination's a beautiful book
Well take a look, why don't you take a look
Extra large, large, medium, small
Why don't we slip into something more comfortable
Hit the sack, hit the sack
The Flyin' Scotsman's back on track
All hail rock 'n' roll
Why don't we slip into something more comfortable
Why don't we slip into something more comfortable
Why don't we slip into something more comfortable
Why don't we slip into something more comfortable
Why don't we slip into something, slip into something
Slip into something, slip into something more comfortable
Ian Hunter and The Rant Band CD: "When I'm President"
Sleeve and track listing
Proper Records PRPCD104
- Comfortable (Flyin' Scotsman)
- Fatally Flawed
- When I'm President
- What For
- Black Tears
- Saint
- Just The Way You Look Tonight
- Wild Bunch
- Ta Shunka Witco (Crazy Horse)
- I Don't Know What You Want
- Life
Review
Now this is more like it. Ian's new album is a welcome return to form. The good news is this album is chock full of rockers. The bad news is... well, there isn't any. In the fullness of time this album could well turn out to be his best in many years.
The run of good albums that started with Rant and continued with Shrunken Heads continues here. Guitars are to the full, with strong solos from both James Mastro and Mark Bosch. Ian's singing is strong without ever sounding strained and the rhythm section is as tight as a duck's whatsit.
What helps of course is that the songs are top-notch. Comfortable (Flyin' Scotsman) sets the tone, being a powerful full-paced rocker with guitars and subtle use of saxes. The title track is also strong, a mid-paced rocker with a repeated keyboard refrain reminiscent of The Who's Won't Get Fooled Again.
What For is another rocker with strong guitars and piano reminiscent of early Mott The Hoople. Ian hasn't rocked like this for years, and it sounds like he's having fun. Black Tears is slower but powerful and moody with a guitar solo that reminds me of the much-missed Mick Ronson. Saint is another up-tempo rocker, this time it reminds me at times of Twisted Steel. Wild Bunch meanwhile is a rocker that reminds me of The Faces.
There are so many good songs on this album it is hard to pick out highlights. What's interesting is that this album is credited to Ian Hunter And The Rant Band. This is much more of a band album than most of Ian's recent albums, and it is much the better for it.
What more can I say? It's brilliant... 'nuff said,
Comfortable (Flyin' Scotsman) | 3:02 | Originally issued on When I'm President. |