Monday, July 31, 2023

Letter To Britannia From The Union Jack, Ian Hunter, All American Alien Boy

The title track started with Gerry Weems' piercing guitar which cut in sharply on the fade out of Letter To Britannia From The Union Jack. Originally entitled To Rule Britannia from Union Jack the opening track of the LP addresses a concern about Great Britain that Ian raises from time to time and increasingly and profoundly throughout his career. Not surprisingly, on an album about his first impressions of America from a recent transplant he reviews his thoughts about his homeland England. He recognizes the slow decline of Britannia symbolized as the helmeted female warrior holding a trident and shield from the perspective of the Union Jack flag. It is a lament about England as "just a victim of your history" but the glory of England remains firmly on the masted flag. The Union Jack pleads "do not lower me by half." The sentiment of the song is sad but it implies the hope that Britannia may rise again. The song was a comment on Ian's feelings about the sorry state of Seventies England; his feelings are complicated but this is how he felt at the time. 

There are two live versions from 1979 and it was also performed live in 2008. There is an alternate original version of Letter to Britannia From the Union Jack on the 2006 CD reissue of All American Alien Boy. 

Also recorded at the Park West, Chicago IL 22nd June 1979 on Missing In Action.

For more information Ian Hunter On Track for Sonicbond Publishing, TheDoctorOfDigital@pm.me

To Rule Britannia From The Union Jack4:08An alternate version of Letter To Britannia From The Union Jack is on the 2006 CD reissue of All American Alien Boy.

is the national personification of Britain as a helmeted female warrior holding a trident and shield

Letter To Britannia From The Union Jack

(Ian Hunter)

Poor Britannia - drowning in your waves
With the Body of the unknown soldier and the best of the brave
I have known you ever since I was a child
How come you don't salute me - now - when I smile

You was always so young and on all o' that money
How come new mourners pass you by and think it's so funny
I'd be there with you but I'm chained unto this stake
For I am loyalty but my mast I cannot forsake

I looked down on a bunch of amusements, I looked down walls
I've looked on hangings 'n parades 'n city halls
And I've seen love in so many living rooms
And I've seen rich men slowly die inside their tombs

I know we're just two charms but it's heavy on my mind
Have faith in me I said, now, look at time
I know you're just a victim of your history but
Have faith in me, I said and you would be free....

You pull me up and you pull me down
And when the Queen's in residence I hang around
I don't wave madly 'cos the climate's civilised
Just flutter sadly 'cos I'm old 'n I'm wise

And you-you been up, and you - you been down
You been through many things I know you been around
I have fought armies for you in the conflicts of the past
Britannia, I implore you, do not lower me by half.



Ian Hunter LP/CD: "All American Alien Boy"

Sleeve and track listing

Sony BMG 82876 769432. (4.5 stars!)

  1. Letter to Britannia From the Union Jack
  2. All American Alien Boy
  3. Irene Wilde
  4. Restless Youth
  5. Rape
  6. You Nearly Did Me In
  7. Apathy 83
  8. God (Take 1)
  9. To Rule Britannia From Union Jack (session outtake)1
  10. All American Alien Boy (early single version)1
  11. Irene Wilde (Number One) (session outtake)1
  12. Weary Anger (session outtake)1
  13. Apathy (session outtake)1
  14. (God) Advice To A Friend (session outtake)1

1 Bonus track on the 2006 reissue

Sleeve variations

The 1998 UK sleeve

The original sleeve

Review

Ian recorded his second solo album in NYC, and this finds him in an altogether softer mood - there are none of Ian's trademark rockers on this album. Management differences meant that Mick Ronson was absent ("I'll never work with Mick again so long as Tony DeFries is his manager" - Ian), so Ian brought in Chris Stainton on keyboards to act as a balancing force in the studio ("I need someone who'll argue with me").

Highlight of the album is Irene Wilde (which Ian maintains is a true story), and You Nearly Did Me In(which features Queen's Freddie Mercury, Brian May and Roger Taylor on backing vocals).

The 2006 reissue sees excellent sound quality, and a host of bonus tracks none of which have been released before. It also comes with an excellent booklet written by Campbell Devine. The original version of Rape has been restored, which some may see as a disappointment compared with the rare intro on the previous 1998 CD.

This is the third release of this album on CD. This album was previously available on a USA CD. Sound quality was good, considering that by all accounts the master tapes were not in good shape. No bonus tracks. In 1998 this album was issued in the UK as part of Sony's Rewind series. Sound quality was excellent, audibly better than the USA CD. The 1998 CD also came with a previously-unavailable version of Rape, which had the Singin' In The Rain intro. This version was previously available only on a few US test pressings and had never been issued officially before!

To Rule Britannia From The Union Jack4:08An alternate version of Letter To Britannia From The Union Jack is on the 2006 CD reissue of All American Alien Boy.


Letter To Britannia From The Union Jack3:49Originally released on All American Alien Boy, also on the compilations Gold, The Journey, Once Bitten - the CBS Collection, Once Bitten Twice Shy and The Singles Collection 1975-83. See also To Rule Britannia From The Union Jack.
Letter To Britannia From The Union Jack (live 22nd June 1979)3:03This live version (recorded at Park West, Chicago IL) was released on Missing In Action (not on the box set).
Letter To Britannia From The Union Jack (live 7th July 1979)3:51This live version (recorded at Berkeley Community Theater, Berkeley CA) is on the 30th Anniversary issue of You're Never Alone With a Schizophrenic, and on If You Wait Long Enough For Anything, You Can Get It On Sale(box set only).
Letter To Britannia From The Union Jack (live 2nd March 2008)(10:08)This live version (recorded at the Mick Jagger Centre, Dartford England) was issued on Acoustic Shadows (box set only).
at

Sunday, July 30, 2023

Leave Me Alone, Ian Hunter, Short Back and Sides

From an album with mixed tracks and problematic production comes Leave Me Alone which is one of those young love ballads that Ian writes consistently. But, there is a twist with this one as the guy desires the girl who teases him because she already has a boyfriend. She's a flirt so the guy pleads with her to leave him alone. It might have been written for fun.  

The song had been around since Overnight Angels and written for airplay but Ian wishes he had never written it. He tried the same with To Love A Woman didn't get either of these two songs right. They both seemed like singles but neither came off well. This is the problem Ian has expressed elsewhere; if you try to write in an artificial manner the songs don't come off but strong songs and singles are similar to gifts. They just come direct. 

Ian Hunter On Track for Sonicbond Publishing, TheDoctorOfDigital@pm.me

Leave Me Alone

(Ian Hunter)

I love your sulky eyes,
I love your raven hair.
I often fantasize
a beautiful affair,
a broken paradise
'cause you don't even care.
I love your sultry smile,
I love to see you dance.
Sometimes it drives me wild
to know I've got no chance.
Your boyfriend doesn't see
you're flirting, teasing me.

Why don't you leave me alone,
leave me alone?
Won't you leave me alone,
leave me alone.

Sometimes I'll act OK,
sometimes I'll try and hide.
But when you look at me,
I fall apart inside.
Across a broken sea
you took me for a ride.

Why don't you leave me alone,
leave me alone?
Won't you leave me alone,
leave me alone.

Other lovers go home
and I'm left here alone
with my heart in my hand.
I just can't understand
why you treat me this way.
I just got to say.

Why don't you leave me alone,
leave me alone?
Won't you leave me alone,
leave me alone.

Why don't you leave me alone,
leave me alone?
Won't you leave me alone,
leave me alone.

(Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh,
why don't you leave me,
leave me alone, oh)



Ian Hunter LP/CD: "Short Back 'n' Sides"

Sleeve and track listing

Chrysalis CDCHR 6074. (1.5 stars!)

Disc 1 (Short Back 'n' Sides)

  1. Central Park n' West (4:00)
  2. Lisa Likes Rock n' Roll (3:56)
  3. I Need Your Love (3:34)
  4. Old Records Never Die (4:18)
  5. Noises (5:51)
  6. Rain (5:54)
  7. Gun Control (3:12)
  8. Theatre of the Absurd (5:49)
  9. Leave Me Alone (3:29)
  10. Keep on Burning (4:46)

Running time: 44m 55s

Disc 2 (Long Odds And Out-takes)

  1. Detroit (rough mix - instrumental) (3:42)
  2. Na Na Na (4:13)
  3. I Need Your Love (rough mix) (3:46)
  4. Rain (alternate mix) (5:50)
  5. I Believe In You (4:15)
  6. Listen to the Eight Track (6:08)
  7. You Stepped Into My Dreams (4:41)
  8. Venus In The Bathtub (4:29)
  9. Theatre of the Absurd (6:08)
  10. Detroit (out take 5 - vocal) (4:00)
  11. Na Na Na (extended mix) (4:29)
  12. China (Ronson vocal) (4:36)
  13. Old Records Never Die (version 1) (4:18)

Running time: 60m 43s

Review

At the end of 1980 Ian returned to the studio to record the follow-up to Schizophrenic and Welcome To The Club. Mick had effectively stopped playing live earlier in the year, and Ian himself was unsure which (musical) direction to take. He got Mick Jones as producer, and on paper the fusion of Mott The Hoople with The Clash should have produced a phenomenal album.

I'll make no bones about it - I hate this album. The material is mixed, and the production (and all the sound effects Mick Jones added) IMO ruined the good songs on it. At the time Ian liked the album, with Mick using different production techniques in the studio. But today he hardly ever plays material from it, a sure sign that it ain't up there with the best.

The 2-CD set offers excellent packaging and excellent sound quality. The original album is on one CD, and a second CD ("Long Odds and Out-takes") containing alternate mixes and unreleased material from the Chrysalis era.

Leave Me Alone3:29Originally issued on Short Back and Sides and on the compilation From The Knees Of My Heart.
at

Saturday, July 29, 2023

Laugh At Me (Sonny Bono), Ian Hunter, Mott The Hoople 1st LP

Sonny Bono's Laugh at Me (originally issued by Sonny & Cher on their second full-length album in 1966, but without vocals from Cher) was certainly instrumental in Ian's career since he sang it while auditioning for Mott The Hoople. He openly admired Bono's less than stellar  singing style and related singers. Hunter can relate to the song as people used to laugh at him. He wore shades before it was fashionable and people associated sunglasses with having a big head and Hunter admits he does. Ian gives off an arrogant vibe and that's how he likes it along with lyrics that Hunter can relate to as he felt like an outsider growing up. The song became part of the 1979-1980 sets and is available in four live releases. A story is told that may be apocryphal but Cher supposedly heard the song in 1979 at the Roxy in LA and disliked it so much that she walked out. 

Also recorded at the Park West, Chicago IL 22nd June 1979 on Collateral Damage.

Ian Hunter On Track for Sonicbond Publishing, TheDoctorOfDigital@pm.me

Laugh at Me

(Sonny Bono)

Well how can I be like any guy
Why do they have to make me run
What do they care about the clothes that I wear
What do they get from making fun
Well they got a lot of space
And if you don't like my face
It ain't me who's going anywhere
Cause I don't care
Let them laugh at me
If that's so fair
Well then I don't have to care
To be free until they laugh at me
And I'll cry for you
And I'll pray for you
And I'll do everything that the man upstairs said to do
I'll do it all for you babe
Yes well I'll do it all for you
It's got to be sometime
It's got to be somewhere
I'm going to make that other cheek mine
Then maybe the next time
That you don't wear a silk tie
And I can walk by and say hi
Say hi instead of why
Instead of why babe
Instead of why
Instead of why babe
Yeah!
Instead of why babe
Instead of why babe
Instead of why babe
Instead of why babe
Why do you laugh at me
Why do you laugh at me
Why do you laugh at me
Why do you laugh at me
Yeah!
Mott the Hoople
(fade)


Laugh At Me (live 22nd June 1979)3:41Originally a Mott The Hoople track. This live version (recorded at Park West, Chicago IL) was released on Collateral Damage. Not on the box set.
Laugh At Me (live 5-11th November 1979)3:40This live version (recorded at The Roxy, Los Angeles CA) was released on Welcome to the Club, and on the compilation From The Knees Of My Heart.
Laugh At Me (live 22nd November 1979)4:06This live version (recorded Hammermith Odeon, London England) is on the 30th Anniversary issue of You're Never Alone With a Schizophrenic, and on If You Wait Long Enough For Anything, You Can Get It On Sale (box set only).
Laugh At Me (live 19th April 1980)4:26This live version (recorded Rockpalast TV Show, Grugahalle, Essen Germany) was originally issued on Live At Rockpalast (not on the box set)
at

Friday, July 28, 2023

Knockin' On Heaven's Door (Bob Dylan), Ian Hunter, Bag Of Tricks (Vol 2) (box set only).

The Bob Dylan song Knockin' On Heaven's Door reflects the widely acknowledged influence as Hunter's most inspirational and favorite artist. He used Dylan-like vocals to get his words across to listeners. Ian also thought The Rolling Stones influenced his writing when he was addressing the topic of those he admired. Dylan got Hunter off the ground and thinks he is absolutely wonderful. The only difference was that Ian was using his own vocals to get his words and messages across to audiences. It was recorded at The Life Cafe, Manchester UK 19th May 2002.

Ian Hunter On Track for Sonicbond Publishing, TheDoctorOfDigital@pm.me

Ooh-ooh-oohOoh-ooh-oohOoh-ooh-ooh
Mama take this badge off of meI can't use it anymoreIt's getting dark, too dark to seeI feel I'm knockin' on heaven's door
Knock-knock-knockin' on heaven's doorKnock-knock-knockin' on heaven's doorKnock-knock-knockin' on heaven's doorKnock-knock-knockin' on heaven's door
Mama put my guns in the groundI can't shoot them anymoreThat long black cloud is comin' downI feel I'm knockin' on heaven's door
Knock-knock-knockin' on heaven's doorKnock-knock-knockin' on heaven's doorKnock-knock-knockin' on heaven's doorKnock-knock-knockin' on heaven's door
Ooh-ooh-ooh


Ian Hunter Box Set: "Stranded In Reality"

Ian Hunter

  1. Once Bitten Twice Shy
  2. Who Do You Love
  3. Lounge Lizard
  4. Boy
  5. 3,000 Miles From Here
  6. The Truth, The Whole Truth, Nuthin' But The Truth
  7. It Ain't Easy When You Fall/Shades Off
  8. I Get So Excited
  9. Colwater High
  10. One Fine Day
  11. Once Bitten Twice Shy (single edit)
  12. Who Do You Love (single edit)
  13. Shades Off (poem)
  14. Boy (edit)

All American Alien Boy

  1. Letter To Britannia From The Union Jack
  2. All American Alien Boy
  3. Irene Wilde
  4. Restless Youth
  5. Rape
  6. You Nearly Did Me In
  7. Apathy 83
  8. God (Take 1)
  9. To Rule Britannia From Union Jack (session outtake)
  10. All American Alien Boy (early single version)
  11. Irene Wilde (Number One) (session outtake)
  12. Weary Anger (session outtake)
  13. Apathy (session outtake)
  14. (God) Advice To A Friend (session outtake)

Overnight Angels

  1. Golden Opportunity (4:31)
  2. Shallow Crystals (3:58)
  3. Overnight Angels (5:12)
  4. Broadway (3:46)
  5. Justice of the Peace (3:01)
  6. (Miss) Silver Dime (4:34)
  7. Wild n' Free (3:08)
  8. The Ballad of Little Star (2:32)
  9. To Love a Woman (3:54)
  10. England Rocks(2:53)

You're Never Alone With A Schizophrenic

  1. Just Another Night
  2. Wild East
  3. Cleveland Rocks
  4. Ships
  5. When the Daylight Comes
  6. Life After Death
  7. Standin' In My Light
  8. Bastard
  9. The Outsider
  10. Don't Let Go (demo)
  11. Ships (take 1)
  12. When The Daylight Comes (early version)
  13. The Other Side of Life (Just Another Night early version)
  14. Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On

Welcome To The Club

Disc 1

  1. FBI
  2. Once Bitten Twice Shy
  3. Angeline
  4. Laugh at Me
  5. All the Way From Memphis
  6. I Wish I Was Your Mother
  7. Irene Wilde
  8. Just Another Night
  9. Cleveland Rocks
  10. Standin' In My Light
  11. Bastard

Disc 2

  1. Walkin' With a Mountain/Rock 'n' Roll Queen
  2. All the Young Dudes
  3. Slaughter On Tenth Avenue
  4. One of the Boys
  5. The Golden Age of Rock 'n' Roll
  6. When the Daylight Comes
  7. Once Bitten Twice Shy/Bastard/Cleveland Rocks (medley)
  8. We Gotta Get Out of Here
  9. Silver Needles
  10. Man O' War
  11. Sons and Daughters

Short Back And Sides

  1. Central Park n' West 
  2. Lisa Likes Rock n' Roll
  3. I Need Your Love
  4. Old Records Never Die
  5. Noises
  6. Rain
  7. Gun Control
  8. Theatre of the Absurd
  9. Leave Me Alone
  10. Keep on Burning
  11. I Need Your Love (rough mix)
  12. Old Records Never Die (version 1)
  13. Rain (alternate mix)
  14. Theatre of the Absurd (alternate version)

All Of The Good Ones Are Taken

  1. All of the Good Ones Are Taken
  2. Every Step of the Way
  3. Fun
  4. Speechless
  5. Death 'n' Glory Boys 
  6. That Girl Is Rock 'n' Roll
  7. Somethin's Goin' On
  8. Captain Void 'n' the Video Jets
  9. Seeing Double
  10. All of the Good Ones Are Taken
  11. Traitor (12" single b-side)
  12. Somethin's Goin' On (single radio edit)

YUI Orta

  1. American Music
  2. The Loner
  3. Women's Intuition
  4. Tell It Like It Is
  5. Livin' In a Heart
  6. Big Time
  7. Cool
  8. Beg a Little Love
  9. Following In Your Footsteps
  10. Sons 'n' Lovers
  11. Pain
  12. How Much More Can I Take
  13. Sweet Dreamer

Ian Hunter's Dirty Laundry

  1. Dancing on the Moon
  2. Another Fine Mess
  3. Scars
  4. Never Trust a Blonde
  5. Psycho Girl
  6. My Revolution
  7. Good Girls
  8. Red Letter Day
  9. Invisible Strings
  10. Everyone's a Fool
  11. Junkee Love
  12. The Other Man

BBC Live In Concert

  1. Once Bitten Twice Shy
  2. How Much More Can I Take
  3. Beg a Little Love
  4. Following In Your Footsteps
  5. Just Another Night
  6. Sweet Dreamer
  7. (Give Me Back My) Wings
  8. Standin' In My Light
  9. Bastard
  10. The Loner
  11. You're Never Too Old To Hit The Big Time
  12. All The Way From Memphis
  13. Irene Wilde

The Artful Dodger

  1. Too Much
  2. Now Is The Time
  3. Something To Believe In
  4. Resurrection Mary
  5. Walk On Water
  6. 23A, Swan Hill
  7. Michael Picasso
  8. Open My Eyes
  9. The Artful Dodger
  10. Skeletons (In Your Closet)
  11. Still The Same
  12. Fuck It Up (1996 single track)

Rant

  1. Ripoff
  2. Good Samaritan
  3. Death of a Nation
  4. Purgatory
  5. American Spy
  6. Dead Man Walkin' (Eastenders)
  7. Wash Us Away
  8. Morons
  9. Soap And Water
  10. Knees Of My Heart 
  11. No One
  12. Still Love Rock 'n' Roll

Strings Attached

Disc 1

  1. Rest In Peace
  2. All Of The Good Ones Are Taken
  3. I Wish I Was Your Mother
  4. Twisted Steel
  5. Boy
  6. 23A Swan Hill
  7. Waterlow
  8. All The Young Dudes
  9. Irene Wilde
  10. Once Bitten Twice Shy

Disc 2

  1. Rollerball
  2. Ships
  3. A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square
  4. Michael Picasso
  5. Wash Us Away
  6. Don't Let Go
  7. All The Way From Memphis
  8. Roll Away The Stone
  9. Saturday Gigs
  10. Dead Man Walkin' (Eastenders) (bonus track)
  11. Your Way (bonus track)

Shrunken Heads

  1. Words (Big Mouth)
  2. Fuss About Nothin'
  3. When The World Was Round
  4. Brainwashed
  5. Shrunken Heads
  6. Soul Of America
  7. How's Your House
  8. Guiding Light
  9. Stretch
  10. I Am What I Hated When I Was Young
  11. Read 'em 'n' Weep
  12. Your Eyes (bonus EP track)
  13. Wasted (bonus EP track)
  14. Real Or Imaginary (bonus EP track)
  15. When The World Was Round (single radio edit)

Man Overboard

  1. The Great Escape
  2. Arms And Legs
  3. Up And Running
  4. Man Overboard
  5. Babylon Blues
  6. Girl From The Office
  7. Flowers
  8. These Feelings
  9. Win It All
  10. Way With Words
  11. River Of Tears

When I'm President

  1. Comfortable (Flyin' Scotsman)
  2. Fatally Flawed
  3. When I'm President
  4. What For
  5. Black Tears
  6. Saint
  7. Just The Way You Look Tonight
  8. Wild Bunch
  9. Ta Shunka Witco (Crazy Horse)
  10. I Don't Know What You Want
  11. Life
  12. When I'm President (radio edit single)

Live In The UK 2010

  1. Sea Diver
  2. Arms And Legs
  3. Words (Big Mouth)
  4. The Great Escape
  5. Ships
  6. Irene Wilde
  7. Flowers
  8. Soul Of America
  9. Man Overboard
  10. Waterlow
  11. Michael Picasso
  12. Wash Us Away
  13. 23A Swan Hill
  14. Sweet Jane
  15. All The Young Dudes

Tilting The Mirror - Rarities

Disc 1

  1. All-American Alien Boy (Single A-side)
  2. You Nearly Did Me In (Single A-side)
  3. Common Disease (Alien Boy Outtake)
  4. If the Slipper Don't Fit (Alien Boy Outtake)
  5. The Outsider (Early Version)
  6. Alibi (Schizophrenic Jam)
  7. When the Daylight Comes (Single A-side)
  8. Just Another Night (Electric version #3)
  9. Detroit (Rough Mix Instrumental)
  10. Na Na Na
  11. I Believe in You
  12. Listen to the Eight Track
  13. You Stepped Into My Dreams
  14. Venus in the Bathtub
  15. China (Ronson Vocal)
  16. Detroit (Outtake 5 - Vocal)
  17. Na Na Na (Extended Mix)

Disc 2

  1. Bluebirds (Demo)
  2. All is Forgiven (Demo)
  3. Sunshine Eyes (Demo)
  4. (I'm the) Teacher
  5. Great Expectations (You Never Know What To Expect)
  6. Good Man in a Bad Time
  7. Wake Up Call
  8. Ill Wind (Demo)
  9. Women's Intuition (Single Edit)
  10. Ain't No Way to Treat a Lady (Artful Dodger Outtake)
  11. Resurrection Mary (Trio Version)
  12. Something To Believe In (Trio Version)
  13. Waterlow (Trio Version)
  14. I'm In Awe (Rant Outtake)
  15. Avalanche (Rant Outtake)
  16. Morons (Early Version)
  17. One More Time

If You Wait Long Enough For Anything, You Can Get It On Sale

Disc 1

  1. FBI1
  2. Once Bitten Twice Shy1
  3. One Of The Boys1
  4. Laugh At Me1
  5. I Wish I Was Your Mother1
  6. Sons and Daughters1
  7. Irene Wilde1
  8. Just Another Night1
  9. Life After Death1
  10. Sweet Angeline1
  11. Standin' in My Light1
  12. Bastard1
  13. The Golden Age of Rock 'n' Roll1
  14. All The Way From Memphis1

Disc 2

  1. All The Young Dudes1
  2. Walkin' With A Mountain/Rock 'n' Roll Queen1
  3. Cleveland Rocks1
  4. When The Daylight Comes1
  5. Letter to Britannia From The Union Jack2
  6. Ships3
  7. Gun Control4
  8. Violence4
  9. Is Your Love In Vain4
  10. Lisa Likes Rock n' Roll4
  11. Theatre Of The Absurd4
  12. Walkin' With A Mountain4

1Recorded at Hammersmith Odeon, London 22nd November 1979

2Recorded at Berkeley Community Theater, Berkeley CA 7th July 1979

3Recorded at My Fathers Place, Long Island NY 12/13th June 1979

4Recorded at The Old Waldorf, San Francisco CA 26-28th October 1981

Bag Of Tricks - Live Rarities Vol 1

  1. A Sane Revolution
  2. Wild East1
  3. (I'm The) Teacher1
  4. While You Were Looking at Me1
  5. Day Tripper2
  6. Pain3
  7. Resurrection Mary4
  8. Michael Picasso4
  9. Shades Off/Boy5
  10. Ill Wind5
  11. Good Samaritan6
  12. Purgatory6
  13. American Spy6
  14. Death of a Nation6

1Recorded at Rock and Roll Heaven, Toronto ON 11th November 1987

2Recorded at Rock and Roll Heaven, Toronto ON 11th June 1988

3Recorded at The Caberet, San Jose CA 16th December 1989

4Recorded at Hammersmith Apollo, London 29th April 1994

5Recorded at The Robin 2, Bilston UK 19th May 2000

6Recorded at The Life Cafe, Manchester UK 19th May 2002

Bag Of Tricks - Live Rarities Vol 2

  1. Rock And Roll Queen/Death May Be Your Santa Claus1
  2. One Of The Boys1
  3. The Original Mixed-Up Kid1
  4. Knockin' On Heaven's Door1
  5. Twisted Steel1
  6. 23a Swan Hill1
  7. Dead Man Walkin' (EastEnders)1
  8. Knees of My Heart2
  9. The Truth, The Whole Truth And Nothing But the Truth2
  10. Rollerball2
  11. Irene Wilde2
  12. Roll Away The Stone2
  13. Lounge Lizard3
  14. The Outsider4

1Recorded at The Life Cafe, Manchester UK 19th May 2002

2Recorded at The Bikini, Barcerlona Spain 12th June 2004

3Recorded at SxSW, Town Lake Stage, Austin TX 18th March 2005

4Recorded at Nidaros Blues Festival, Kongressal, Trondheim Norway 29th April 2005

Bag Of Tricks - Live Rarities Vol 3

  1. Hymn For The Dudes1
  2. All-American Alien Boy1
  3. Morons/Marionette/Broadway1
  4. Following In Your Footsteps2
  5. Dancing On the Moon3
  6. Shallow Crystals3
  7. The Ballad of Little Star3
  8. Just The Way You Look Tonight4
  9. Black Tears4
  10. Isolation4
  11. Alice4
  12. The Moon Upstairs4
  13. (Ta Shunka Witco) Crazy Horse4
  14. When I'm President5
  15. Now Is The Time6
  16. Shades Off

1Recorded at Nidaros Blues Festival, Kongressal, Trondheim Norway 29th April 2005

2Recorded at the Lowry Theatre, Manchester England 23rd February 2008

3Recorded at The Journal Tyne Theatre, Newcastle England 11th October 2010

4Recorded at John Dee, Oslo Norway 8th October 2012

5Recorded at Memorial Hall, Sheffield England 20th March 2013

6Recorded at Garden Shimokitazawa, Tokyo Japan 16/17/18th January 2015

Acoustic Shadows - Live

  1. Where Do You All Come From
  2. Wash Us Away
  3. The Other Man
  4. Scars
  5. Soul of America/I Wish I Was Your Mother
  6. Shrunken Heads
  7. Rain
  8. Sons 'n' Lovers
  9. Sweet Jane
  10. Irene Wilde/Ships/Letter to Britannia from the Union Jack
  11. Honaloochie Boogie/How's Your House
  12. Twisted Steel
  13. When the World Was Round
  14. Once Bitten Twice Shy

Recorded at The Mick Jagger Theatre, Dartford, Kent 2nd March 2008

Experiments - Previously Unreleased Recordings

  1. You're Messin' With The King Of Rock 'n' Roll
  2. Money Can't Buy Love
  3. More To Love
  4. Look Before You Leap
  5. My Love (The Jar)
  6. Demolition Derby
  7. Just Want It Real
  8. Coincidence
  9. Big Black Cadillac
  10. San Diego Freeway
  11. Nobody's Perfect
  12. Too Much (All I Ever Wanted) (early version)
  13. Artful Dodger (early version)
  14. Michael Picasso (early version)
  15. A Little Rock 'n' Roll (Artful Dodger outtake)
  16. Testosterone (Artful Dodger outtake)
  17. The Man In Me (Ian Hunter and Tribes)
  18. Salvation

It Never Happened - DVD

DVD 1

  1. Once Bitten Twice Shy (CBS promo video 1975)
  2. All-American Alien Boy (Studio film 1975)
  3. Standin' in My Light (Fragment) (Top Pop TV - Holland 1979
  4. Irene Wilde (Chrysalis promo film 1980)
  5. Once Bitten Twice Shy (Chrysalis promo film 1980)
  6. We Gotta Get Out Of Here (Chrysalis promo film 1980)
  7. Laugh at Me (Rockpalast 1980)
  8. Irene Wilde (Rockpalast 1980)
  9. I Wish I Was Your Mother (Rockpalast 1980)
  10. All of The Good Ones Are Taken (CBS promo video 1983)
  11. While You Were Looking At Me (Toronto 1988)
  12. Day Tripper (Toronto 1988)
  13. Beg a Little Love (The Dominion, London 1989)
  14. Following in Your Footsteps (The Dominion, London 1989)
  15. (Give Me Back My) Wings (The Dominion, London 1989)
  16. The Loner (The Dominion, London 1989)
  17. American Music (PolyGram promo video 1990)
  18. My Revolution (Scandinavian NRK TV Session 1995)
  19. Michael Picasso (MTV Take It To The Bridge Session 1997)
  20. Irene Wilde (MTV Take It To The Bridge Session 1997)
  21. When the World Was Round (Jerkin' Crocus Promo Video 2007)
  22. Flowers (BBC Jools Holland Show 2009)
  23. Once Bitten Twice Shy (BBC Jools Holland Show 2009)
  24. When I'm President (Proper Promo Film 2012)

DVD 2

Ryerson Theatre Toronto, Canada 1979

  1. Trailer and Interview
  2. Life After Death
  3. Just Another Night
  4. The Golden Age of Rock 'n' Roll
  5. Standin' in My Light
  6. Bastard
  7. Cleveland Rocks
  8. All The Young Dudes
  9. When The Daylight Comes
  10. Slaughter On 10th Avenue

Ian Hunter Rocks (Dr. Pepper Festival, New York 1981)

  1. Once Bitten Twice Shy
  2. Gun Control
  3. Central Park n' West
  4. All The Way From Memphis
  5. I Need Your Love
  6. Noises
  7. Just Another Night
  8. Cleveland Rocks
  9. Irene Wilde
  10. All the Young Dudes

Strings Attached (The Sentrum, Oslo, Norway 2002)

  1. Rest in Peace
  2. All of The Good Ones Are Taken
  3. I Wish I Was Your Mother
  4. Twisted Steel
  5. Don't Let Go
  6. Boy
  7. Wash Us Away
  8. 23a Swan Hill
  9. Waterlow
  10. All the Young Dudes
  11. Irene Wilde
  12. Once Bitten Twice Shy
  13. Rollerball
  14. Ships
  15. A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square
  16. All the Way from Memphis
  17. Saturday Gigs
  18. Michael Picasso
  19. Roll Away the Stone

Review

It was 2013 when fans were first teased with "coming soon... the ultimate Ian Hunter box set". Well, over three years in the making and what was originally going to be a 24-disc set is now a 30-disc whopper. And yes, it has been worth the wait.

OK, so what's in the box? Well there's every (regular) album that Ian has ever released, with the exception of 2016's Fingers Crossed and 2004's live double The Truth...Every album has been remastered, in some cases with bonus tracks (eg single edits) that haven't appeared on previous issues. Each is presented in a mini-LP replica sleeve, complete with an inner sleeve (for the CD itself) and a booklet. Sound quality is excellent throughout.

In addition, there are a further nine discs of rare and previously-unreleased material. There is an acoustic gig (Acoustic Shadows) from 2008, which is an interesting contrast to the (also acoustic) Live In The UK 2010 disc (also included here). Two discs of rarities (Tilting The Mirror) gather together bonus tracks that have appeared on "bonus CDs" on previous releases. Bag Of Tricks gather together various live tracks recorded over the years, including the 2002 Manchester gig that was previously thought to be "lost". It neatly showcases the last 30 years of live shows, from Toronto in 1987 through to Sheffield in 2013 and Tokyo in 2015. Fascinating.

Then there's If You Wait Long Enough... which included for the first time the 1979 Hammersmith Odeon gig. OK, an hour of this show was broadcast on BBC Radio One but this is the full show (nearly two hours!) and an improvement on the original BBC mix. We also get a 1981 show recorded in San Fransisco. This is interesting because it features Robbie Alter on guitar and Mick Ronson - on keyboards!

Experiments is fascinating. These are demos and (complete) unreleased tracks from the past thirty or so years. Look Before You Leap is a great power ballad (is that Ronno on guitar?), while Salvation (written in 1997 but not recorded until 2008) is a great way to close the collection. Ian has said it would be on his last record, and Proper's track listing has Experiments as the last disc... if this is really the last one (and Ian says it's not) then there's no finer way to finish.

Then there's two DVDs. The first is a motley collection of promo films, TV appearances and concert clips from the past 40 years. Disc 2 includes the 1979 Rhyerson Theatre show from Toronto which was broadcast on TV and has circulated amonst fans for years. There's also the Ian Hunter Rocks show from 1981, previously only issued on VHS (and Laserdisc). Then there's the Strings Attached show from Oslo in 2002. This has two tracks not included on the original DVD and a great way to round off a fascination collection. The 'Strings Attached' show is also in real-time sequence (unlike the original).

There is also a lavish hard-cover book which presents a biography of Ian's career so far, together with a track-by-track run-down of all the material in this collection, with Ian's (at times) brutally honest opinion. The book ends with tributes from a whole host of fellow musicians, all of whom are unstinting in their praise. Whorrabloke!

There is also a replica music paper, which contains reproductions of album and gig reviews from the past forty years. Finally, there is an Alien Boy-era lithograph (why don't they call it a photo?), signed by Ian.

The whole is presented in a large presentation case, complete with Escher-inspired artwork.

The whole collection is limited to just 2500 copies and Proper have stated that none of the (extra) discs will be available separately. So if you want any of these extras, you need to buy this box!

The cost is a whopping £250. This collection, therefore, is not aimed at the casual fan but the dedicated Ian Hunter fan (albeit one with very deep pockets). Given that such a fan will already own most if not all of the regular discs, this works out at £250 for the just nine "new" CDs and two DVDs. Whether this is worth the cost is a question for the individual fan to answer.

Ian has said his career isn't yet finished (he turned 77 in 2016!), but if it were to end now this set is an excellent way to bring the curtain down on the career of one of Britain's finest-ever rock stars.

Unsurpassable.


Knockin' On Heaven's Door (live 19th May 2002)5:04This live track (recorded Life Cafe, Manchester England) was issued on Bag Of Tricks (Vol 2) (box set only).
at