Invisible Strings, Ian Hunter, Ian Hunter's Dirty Laundry.

Invisible Strings is part of the Dirty Laundry output but was solely composed by Ian despite the generally collaborative nature of the project. The release is strong enough to appear on a regular Hunter album but it has not and as such this is one of the most intriguing of the songs on the collection where the group nature of the project worked. 

The song is about the hold that a girl can have in dreams. The invisible strings are the metaphor of how much control that girls can have. At the end or "when the fat lady sings" that girl will still have the tie of invisible strings and the guy can't shake her. Hunter thought the song was strong but too wordy to perform live but reflects a genuine conversation. 

Perhaps a shame, no? 

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

Invisible Strings

(Ian Hunter)

One, two, three
Well I woke up this morning - there's a girl in my bed.
How did she get there? Was it something I said?
I don't understand it but somehow it seems
She visits me in invisible dreams.
Over and over I try to explain
How did that girl get into my veins?
Did somebody send her - was it my velvet wings?
And how does she touch my invisible strings?
Invisible Strings - Invisible Strings
These are a few of my favorite things Now it's all over when the fat lady sings
I'll still be playing my invisible strings

Well maybe she don't have a world of her own
Maybe she's using me just like a phone
And sometimes she's cool and sometimes she stings
And I'm all tangled up in invisible strings
Invisible Strings - Invisible Strings
These are a few of my favorite things When you're wearing black and I'm wearing wings,

We'll still be playing those invisible strings

Well she never leaves - I'm never alone
I ain't in the book but she's still calling home
I tried to lose her - watch the TV
But that woman's always picking on me
Well, there's strings round my body, strings round my heart
I'd like to know where the string-pulling starts
I'd give anything to meet the angel who sends
Invisible ink to my invisible pen
Invisible Strings - Invisible Strings
These are a few of my favorite things When you're wearing black and I'm wearing wings,
We'll still be playing our invisible strings
Invisible Strings - Invisible Strings
These are a few of my favorite things Now it's all over when the fat lady sings
We'll still be playing our invisible strings
Invisible Strings - Invisible Strings Oh yeah

Ian Hunter CD: "Ian Hunter's Dirty Laundry"

Sleeve and track listing

Cherry Red CDM RED 321. 

1. Dancing on the Moon (5:24)
2. Another Fine Mess (3:28)
3. Scars (5:04)
4. Never Trust a Blonde (5:19)
5. Psycho Girl (2:48)
6. My Revolution (4:08)
7. Good Girls (4:01)
8. Red Letter Day (5:11)
9. Invisible Strings (3:53)
10. Everyone's a Fool (2:41)
11. Junkee Love (2:46)
12. The Other Man (5:23)

Running time: 50m 12s

Review

This 1995 album is an oddity. Not quite a full solo album, but more than just a collaboration. It started life as a project by Norwegian keyboardist Casino Steel with Ian invited to sit in in the studio. It soon became much more than that, with Ian writing a number of songs (some of which were written in the studio) and contributing to a few others. More importantly, it marked the return of Ian to the recording studio following the death of his long-time friend Mick Ronson.

With vocal duties shared as well this has something of a "band" feel to it. Despite being recorded at a number of studios, it also has a good live feel to it, which is no bad thing. Dancing On The Moon opens things up nicely, while Another Fine Mess looks back to life on the road with Ronson. My Revolution is another standout track, this time looking back to Ian's Mott days - fans will appreciate the reference to "a revolution for fun", while Ian acknowledges the advancing years in the next line with "you'd better lock up yer mums!" Sheer brilliance.

Darrel Bath's Never Trust a Blonde is great fun, as is Honest John Plain's Psycho Girl and Good Girls. All have a good, earthy 1950's rock n roll feel to them. The album ends with a trademark Ian weepie, this time the great The Other Man in which he forgives his lady but not the guy who shagged her.

This album originally came out with little fanfare in 1995 on a small Norwegian label, with the US label Cleveland International also picking it up. In the days before Amazon, etc, it meant getting hold of copies in the UK was difficult (but not impossible). This release on Cherry Red, therefore, makes it the first time this album has been available in the UK. This time round you also get a good booklet, explaining the background to the recording of the album.

This is a fun album. Not Ian's best but by no means his worst and certainly worthy of consideration.

Invisible Strings

3:53

Originally issued on Ian Hunter's Dirty Laundry.