Excerpt:
Originally I Wish I Was Your Mother was the closing track on the Mott The Hoople Mott release and later popped up throughout Ian's solo career. One thought at the time of the original release is that the song is one of the most personal Hunter songs, not a band track, and not surprisingly he has returned to it during his solo releases. The lyrics are highly personal to Ian and his frustration of not having an ideal upbringing. The song was prompted by his wife's more normal family and his desire to have had a better childhood with parents and siblings. The song is about heavy jealousy. People warned others about a troubled Hunter with his unhealthy background, most notably, Trudi's own mother who when she heard the song exclaimed: `get rid of him.'
As a part of live sets it was performed at appearances throughout 1979-1980, Strings Attached in 2002, another in 2004, and as an acoustic release in 2008.
Also recorded at the Rockpalast TV Show, Grugahalle, Essen Germany 19th April 1980 and is on Collateral Damage.
On Track Ian Hunter is shipping soon. Want to promote Ian? The publisher is marketing the book but asked for help from us fans in the Hunter orbit. If you have contacts with podcasts, magazines, or other music outlets let me know so we can promote Ian's music. I'm open for interviews to talk about Hunter's catalog. Thanks!
Great news! Advance copies of On Track Ian Hunter have reached the publisher and will be available soon! I even saw an advance copy on eBay.
On Track Ian Hunter https://www.amazon.com/dp/1789523044...
Upcoming Podcast Appearances! More details soon:
The Book 101 interview about On Track Ian Hunter will be released soon!
Better To ...? Podcast, recorded a terrific conversation, due for release 2 August 2024.
In the meantime, listen to previous appearances!
Yeah Uh-Huh by Lisa and Phil https://youtu.be/r46AbOSo-MM?si=uuWy3T8rQjhnGkwS
Tell Me About Your Book, The Phenomenal Musician John Christian
https://www.facebook.com/.../pfbid09pnutefvQEpSF8uz8jMTip...
Set Lusting Bruce with Jesse Jackson https://podcasts.apple.com/.../set.../id1038228650...
HODGEPOD with Rob Fredette https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-bgfx7-14962b2
Full of Words
About writing including On Track Ian Hunter: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2129805/14708009
Frankly Francisco Podcast:
Mostly about Burning America but On Track Ian Hunter is mentioned as well:
https://open.substack.com/pub/micksmith/p/who-was-on-the-frankly-francisco?r=e00v8&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
Toby Gribben Show, awesome show, and live 8 February 2024!
Sign up now for behind the scenes information about On Track Ian Hunter at TheDoctorOfDigital@pm.me!
To book and interview: TheDoctorOfDigital@pm.me
What is the difference between a Beatles biography or a song by-song review of the Beatles career?
https://micksmith.substack.com/p/what-is-the-difference-between-a-9fc
Sign up now for the pre-release of Ian Hunter On Track for Sonicbond Publishing at TheDoctorOfDigital@pm.me!
Ian Hunter On Track for Sonicbond Publishing, TheDoctorOfDigital@pm.me
I Wish I Was Your Mother
(Ian Hunter)
I scream at you for sharing
'n I curse you just for caring
I hate the clothes you're wearing, they're so pretty
'n I tell to not to see me
'n I tell you not to feel me
'n I make your life a drag, it's such a pity
'n I watch your warm glow palin'
'n I watch your sparkle fadin'
As you realise you're failin', cos you're so good
Now I don't mean to upset you
But there's so much crime to get through
If only I could make it easier, then I would
Oh I wish I was your mother
I wish I'd been your father
'n then I would have seen you
Would have been you as a child
Played houses with your sisters
And wrestled with all your brothers
And then who knows
I might have felt a family for a while
It's no use me pretendin'
You give and I do the spendin'
Is there a happy ending, I don't think so
Cos even if we make it
I'll be too far out to take it
You'll have to try and shake it from my head
Oooooh I wish I was your mother
I wish I'd been your father
'n then I would have seen you
Would have been you as a child
Played houses with your sisters
And wrestled with all your brothers
And then who knows
I might have felt a family for a while
These lyrics have been determined after careful listening to the tracks in question, and are provided for educational purposes only. Due to the possibility of mis-hearing, we cannot vouch for their accuracy. Copyright remains vested in the lawful copyright holders.
Mott The Hoople LP/CD: "Mott"
Sleeve and track listing
Columbia/Legacy 82796938102.
Sleeve variations
The (rare) UK Gatefold sleeve
The most common UK sleeve
Review
Mott started 1973 with no tour commitments and no album already in the can - a first for them. They broke with Mainman (who wanted to concentrate on Bowie), and so after a handful of hastily-arranged club dates in the UK (during which they parted company with organist Verden Allen) they entered the studios to record their sixth album.
A couple of the producers they wanted were unavailable, so they decided to produce it themselves. The result is one of the best albums of the 70's. The songs are there, the playing is top notch, the arrangements are spot on, the production is superb... There is nothing to fault this album. It is the fan's favourite by a mile, while Rolling Stone magazine has called it "one of the great lost masterpieces of modern rock". If you are just a casual fan and are looking to buy just one Mott The Hoople album, then make it this one.
The 2006 reissue sees excellent sound quality, with the "moan" at the start of Whizz Kid thankfully restored. However, All The Way From Memphis appears to be a different mix, with the sax more prominent and Mick Ralphs' guitar mixed down in places. The bonus tracks are also odd - demos of Honaloochie Boogie and Nightmare, but no sign of the demo of Hymn For The Dudes - odd!
The booklet includes the lyrics and informative notes by Keith Smith, but few band photos.
Mott asked noted designers Hipgnosis to design a sleeve for the album. Their best design was one of a girl's face, with a tear running down her cheek - and no mouth. This totally freaked CBS, and they refused to use it. Roslav Szaybo came up with the "boy" cover, which was used in the UK. Columbia in the USA refused even to use the "compromise" cover, and instead used a group photo from a "do not use" set.
The familiar "boy" (UK) cover was originally issued as a gate-fold sleeve, with a photo-montage in the middle, and the boy's outline replaced with a transparent window. This proved expensive to make, so only a few thousand of the gatefold sleeve were ever produced.
This album has been issued on CD several times. Columbia released it in the USA (with the group photo cover). Castle released it in the UK in 1987, with poor packaging and average sound quality. Sony/Rewind re-issued it in the UK in 1995 ("boy" cover) - excellent packaging and excellent sound quality, but the "moan" at the start of Whizz Kid was inexplicably omitted. None of the previous CDs had any bonus tracks.
| I Wish I Was Your Mother (live 5-11th November 1979) | 6:33 | Originally a Mott The Hoople track. This live version (recorded at The Roxy, Los Angeles CA) was originally issued on Welcome to the Club and on the compilations The Best of Ian Hunter and From The Knees Of My Heart. Note that the rather ham-fisted editing at the end of the track (leading in to Irene Wilde) that were present on the original vinyl and 1994 CD has been fixed on subsequent issues (making it shorter than the original 6:48). |
| I Wish I Was Your Mother (live 22nd November 1979) | 6:30 | 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). |
| I Wish I Was Your Mother (live 19th April 1980) | 6:53 | This live version (recorded Rockpalast TV Show, Grugahalle, Essen Germany) was issued on Collateral Damage. It can also be found (in much better sound quality) on Live At Rockpalast. Not on the box set. |
| I Wish I Was Your Mother (live 29/30th January 2002) | 5:48 | This live version (recorded Sentrum Scene, Oslo Norway) was issued on Strings Attached. |
| I Wish I Was Your Mother (live 28th May 2004) | 6:38 | 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 |
| I Wish I Was Your Mother (live 2nd March 2008) | (6:42) | This live version (recorded at the Mick Jagger Centre, Dartford England) was issued on Acoustic Shadows (box set only). |
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