The opening track on his first solo album really kicks off the LP and demonstrates what the combination of Hunter-Ronson could have been in Mott The Hoople. Ian looked for a swing drummer and Dennis Elliott added that critical combination. The songs were imaginative and colorful with Ronson's sparkling guitar. Critics on both sides of the Atlantic were enthusiastic as the LP had lyrical injections of intellectual substance. The LP peaked at #21 in Britain and #50 in America. The single hit #14 in Britain. In one of the misfortunes of the music business Hunter-Ronson were called to England to perform on Top of the Pops which would have driven the sales higher; unfortunately, getting off at Heathrow Airport Hunter discovered that Mick was not in the musician's union and the appearance was cancelled.
One of the best summaries of how the Hunter Ronson collaboration was a peak came from Jac Holzman, the founder of Elektra Records, noting the LP was "an impressive and assured album showcasing vivid rock, emotional ballads, acerbic lyrics, imaginative poetry and some of Ronson's most inspirational musicianship--an ebullient and colorful record, enveloped by bastardized Escher artwork into the bargain."
This track is about the most well-known, most performed, and most associated with Ian's solo career. Hunter calls it "70s Chuck Berry. Simple with a twist!" and that does just about sum it up. It took Ian ten hours at Mick Ronson's place to write it. The words and music came together quickly. Marc Bolan popped into the studio when it was being recorded and he admitted that he always underestimated Ian; in short, Hunter got the seal of approval from the regal star. Ian thought it was a hit from the beginning and it was a UK Top 20 and Guns N' Roses wanted to record it but the manager of Great White pushed it and their cover went US Top 5. Unfortunately, the Guns LP sold 7 million while White's only 2 million or Ian would have picked up a few more bob there. It is bewildering to consider but White's lead singer was nominated for a Grammy.
The song was released originally as both an album and a single version. There are various live interpretations including the song as part of a medley in 1979, also another version with strings in 2002, and as late as a 2008 version. The lyrics are straightforward and is one of those classic rock life tales of women and music.
Once Bitten Twice Shy
(Ian Hunter)
Well the times gettin' hard for you little girl
I'm a hummin' and a strummin' all over God's world
you don't remember when you got your last meal
and you forgot just how a woman feels
you didn't know what rock n' roll was
until you met a drummer on a Greyhound bus
I got there in the nick of time
before he got his hands across your state line
well in the middle of the night
on the open road
and the heater don't work and it's oh-so cold
you're gettin' tired, you're lookin' kinda beat
the music of the street, drive you off your feet
you didn't know how rock n' roll looked
until you caught your sister with a guy from the group
half-way home in the parking lot
by the look in her eyes she was givin' what she got
Once bitten twice shy, babe
Woman you're a mess gonna die in your sleep
There's blood on my amp and my Les Paul's beat
I can't leave you home cos you're runnin' around
my best friend told me you're the best trick in town
You didn't know that rock n' roll burned
so you bought a candle and you loved and you learned
you got the rhythm, you got the speed
mamma's little baby likes it short and sweet
Once bitten twice shy, babe
I didn't know ya got a rock n' roll record
until a saw your picture on another guy's jacket
you told me I was the only one
and look at you now, well it's dark as it's dumb
Once bitten twice shy, babe
| Once Bitten Twice Shy | 4:44 | A single and album track, originally issued on Ian Hunter, and on the compilations The (MTH) Collection, Gold,The Golden Age 1969-1997, The Journey, Old Records Never Die, Once Bitten - the CBS Collection, Shades of Ian Hunter: The Ballad of Ian Hunter and Mott the Hoople and The Very Best of Ian Hunter. |
| Once Bitten Twice Shy (single version) | 3:52 | The single version can be found on the 30th Anniversary (2005) and 2016 (box set) issues of Ian Hunter and the compilations Once Bitten Twice Shy and The Singles Collections 1975-83. |
| Once Bitten Twice Shy (live 12th June 1979) | 4:56 | This live version (recorded at My Father's Place, Roslyn NY) was released on Collateral Damage. Not on the box set. |
| Once Bitten Twice Shy (live 18th June 1979) | 4:56 | This live version (recorded at the Agora, Cleveland OH) is on the 30th Anniversary issue of You're Never Alone With a Schizophrenic. Not on the box set. |
| Once Bitten Twice Shy (live 5-11th November 1979) | 5:27 | This live version (recorded at The Roxy, Los Angeles CA) was released on Welcome to the Club and on the compilations The Best of Ian Hunter, The Collection, From The Knees Of My Heart and Shades of Ian Hunter. |
| Medley: Once Bitten Twice Shy/Bastard/Cleveland Rocks (live 5-11th November 1979) | (6:13) | This live medley (recorded at The Roxy, Los Angeles CA) was originally the b-side to We Gotta get Out Of here. It can be found on Welcome to the Club and on the compilation The Singles Collection 1975-83. |
| Once Bitten Twice Shy (live 22nd November 1979) | 5:31 | This live version (recorded Hammermith Odeon, London England) was originally issued on If You Wait Long Enough For Anything, You Can Get It On Sale (box set only). |
| Once Bitten Twice Shy (live 19th April 1980) | 5:24 | This live version (recorded Rockpalast TV Show, Grugahalle, Essen Germany) was originally issued on Live At Rockpalast (not on the box set). |
| Once Bitten twice Shy (live 11th September 1981) | 5:34 | This live version (recorded Dr. Pepper Music Festival, Pier 84, New York NY) was originally issued on the Ian Hunter Rocks video (VHS/Laserdisc only). The video (DVD) can also be found on It Never Happened (box set only); the audio can be found on From The Knees Of My Heart (not on the box set). |
| Once Bitten Twice Shy (live 15th February 1989) | 4:59 | This live version (recorded The Dominion, London England) was released on BBC Live in Concert. |
| Once Bitten Twice Shy (live 29th April 1994) | 5:16 | This live version (recorded Hammersmith Apollo, London England) was released on The Mick Ronson Memorial Concert. |
| Once Bitten Twice Shy (live 29/30th January 2002) | 5:29 | This live version (recorded Sentrum Scene, Oslo Norway) was issued on Strings Attached. |
| Once Bitten Twice Shy (live 28th May 2004) | 5:11 | This live version (recorded The Astoria, London England) was released on The Truth, The Whole Truth and Nuthin' But The Truth and on Behind The Shades and Greatest Hits Live In London. Not on the box set. |
| Once Bitten Twice Shy (live 2007) | 5:41 | This live version (recorded at an unknown venue) was on the CD-single version of When The World Was Round. |
| Once Bitten Twice Shy (live 2nd March 2008) | 6:01 | This live version (recorded at the Mick Jagger Centre, Dartford England) was issued on Acoustic Shadows (box set only). |
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